Abstract
Urban planning is assumed to play an important role in developing nature-based solutions (NBS). To explore how NBS is addressed in urban development, municipal planning practices are analyzed based on three case studies in the Stockholm region of Sweden. Through focus group discussions, interviews and document studies, the planning and implementation of NBS and their intended contribution to regional green infrastructure (GI) and social and ecological qualities are investigated. The results show that the planning and design of urban green spaces engages the local community. Moreover, different conceptual frameworks are used to strengthen an ecological perspective and nurture expected outcomes, in particular ecosystem services and GI. Through competence development and collaborative approaches, the co-creation of innovative solutions for public and private green spaces is promoted. However, institutional conditions, e.g., legal frameworks and landownership shape the planning process and can challenge the ability to enhance social and ecological qualities. An assessment of the planning processes indicates a strong focus on ecosystem services and local GI, while the potential to contribute to regional GI differs widely between cases. The study concludes that a knowledge-driven and integrative planning process can foster the potential of NBS for green and sustainable cities.
Highlights
The crucial role of urban green space in future urban development is recognized in the UN 2030 Agenda, which is addressed in Sustainable Development Goal
In response to the identified need to integrate nature-based solutions (NBS) in institutional systems, this paper explores how NBS is addressed in municipal planning and urban development, and in what way the siting and design of green spaces benefit from policy frameworks for NBS, green infrastructure (GI), ecosystem services and biodiversity
There are large coherent rural areas and peri-urban green spaces with social and ecological qualities which contribute to the regional GI
Summary
Urban green spaces are under pressure as a result of the expansion and densification of urbanized areas, the exploitation of land for the development of buildings and roads, and the altering of landscapes and ecosystems [1]. The transformation of urban areas poses a threat to the social and ecological qualities that urban green spaces provide in terms of ecosystems services, biodiversity and wellbeing [2,3,4]. Preserving green spaces is a pressing global challenge [5] that calls for urban responses that can invert the trends and accelerate change towards both local and global sustainability [6]. The crucial role of urban green space in future urban development is recognized in the UN 2030 Agenda, which is addressed in Sustainable Development Goal
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