Implementation Of Nature-based Solutions Research Articles

Community-engaged flood mitigation and ecological restoration on a university campus

Abstract Urban flooding is a major climate change risk that can be mitigated with green infrastructure such as tree plantings and restored naturalised buffers along watercourses. The creation and maintenance of green infrastructure projects for climate change adaptation provides opportunities for community partnerships and programming with co-benefits for human well-being and biodiversity. Here we present findings of action research on a flooding adaptation and education that was implemented on an urban higher education institution’s campus in partnerships within the university and with local Indigenous peoples, the regional conservation authority, the municipal government, and the public library. Through participatory workshops, we applied bioengineering and mixed planting methods to restore a creek bank. Using a combination of oral storytelling, digital media, and visual art that integrated perspectives across disciplines and knowledge systems, we situated our creek restoration project within a framework of environmental justice, emphasising specific acts of stewardship to improve watershed health and advance reconciliation. We produced digital resources and outreach materials to disseminate lessons from the project into the community and to support similar flooding adaptation efforts at local and global scales. Our project demonstrates how incorporating partnerships into the design and implementation of nature-based solutions can build cross-cultural ecological knowledge, forge important on and off-campus relationships, and create place-based opportunities for students to take direct and measurable action on climate change.

Scientific evidence of the hydrological impacts of nature‐based solutions at the catchment scale

AbstractThe introduction of nature‐based solutions (NbS) in catchments has the potential to increase the cost‐effectiveness, flexibility, and reliability of water management practices aimed at improving water security. However, the scientific‐evidence base of the hydrological impacts of NbS is still weak, and there is therefore a risk that catchment interventions might not lead to the desired hydrological outcomes. This is especially important when assessing NbS‐based catchment interventions before their implementation, as this requires robust simulation tools capable of effectively managing the uncertainties associated with future forecasts. This study aims to review the hydrological impacts of different NbS intervention types for water management. First, we present an NbS typology and the corresponding dominant hydrological impacts. We then use this typology to review the strength of the current evidence of the effect of NbS interventions on the hydrological response at the catchment‐scale. Our results demonstrate that the effectiveness of each NbS type hinges on specific conditions such as location, design, and environmental factors. For instance, micro‐reservoirs notably enhance surface storage and evaporation, while infiltration trenches reduce runoff but can increase soil erosion. Our global analysis highlights the need for an improved understanding of NbS catchment impacts and careful planning of NbS interventions as a key for successful long‐term implementation of NbS. These include participatory approaches with stakeholder involvement in NbS co‐design, knowledge co‐production, and novel data collection to support locally relevant adaptation strategies, and to increase water security on the long term.This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Hydrological Processes Engineering Water > Planning Water Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness

DAPSI(W)R(M) put into practice for a nature-based solution: Framework applied to the coastbusters approach

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can be applied to alleviate negative human impacts on ecosystems and promote the general health or well-being of the environment. Human-induced activities, including installation of NbS, are governed by legislative requirements (e.g. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)), especially when such activities occur in Marine Protected Areas (MPA's). A correct and thorough description of the legislative framework governing the application and development of NbS is therefore essential. The Drivers-Activities-Pressures-State change-Impacts (on human Welfare)-Responses (using Measures) or DAPSI(W)R(M) framework is valuable when environmental assessment procedures include a NbS, as well as when policy and industry require guidance for the practical application of a NbS concept. In this study, we applied the DAPSI(W)R(M) framework to the Coastbusters approach, in which mussel beds (Mytilus edulis) and tubeworm aggregations (Lanice conchilega) are installed in the Belgian part of the North Sea with the aim of improving coastal resilience and maritime infrastructure works. Within the context of the Coastbusters approach, the various elements of the DAPSI(W)R(M) framework were elucidated. Coastal defense is a driver, with activities including the integration of coastal infrastructure and aquaculture practices. Pressures related to these activities on benthic habitats were described using the MarESA sensitivity approach. State change assessments were performed based on the various marine regulations (e.g. Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Habitat Directive, Water Framework Directive) which together outline a precise set of criteria and indicators designed to assess the sustainability and health of ecosystems. The present study provides a detailed framework for the environmental evaluation of seaward NbS, from state changes to impacts on human welfare. Three quantitative estimations of ecosystem service indicators (coastal protection, carbon retention and water quality (N) regulation) were used, with the indicators quantified by in-situ measurements and data from literature. Subsequently, the 10-tenets approach for taking measures (e.g. use of biodegradable material, local species, etc.) was used to develop responses that facilitate the optimal implementation of NbS. The approach outlined in this study can be used as a guide for stakeholders as they move through the environmental evaluation processes that are required for successful development of a seaward NbS. Our results underscore the importance of a favorable institutional environment for NbS and suggest that public acceptance and stakeholder involvement play a crucial role in successful implementation. This study contributes to the understanding and operationalization of Nature-based Solutions in coastal management.

Sustainable nature‐based solutions require establishment and maintenance of keystone plant‐pollinator interactions

Abstract Many nature‐based solutions (NBS), including urban greenspaces, urban agriculture and agroforestry, depend upon animal‐pollinated plants to sequester carbon or to provide other ecosystem services. Thus, long‐term success of these solutions also depends upon resilient pollinator communities. Despite their importance to functioning communities, a literature search revealed that 0%–3% of papers on NBS and related topics considered pollinators or pollination. Pollinators were more likely to be considered in the subgroup of papers on NBS related to agricultural production, where 12.5% considered pollination. Conservation of species interactions is essential to conservation of biodiversity and the sustained benefits of NBS. By applying our understanding of the ecology of plant‐pollinator mutualisms to the implementation of NBS, we can promote their functioning under future climatic conditions. In particular, we point to the need to identify keystone plants and pollinators, those species that contribute most to biodiversity maintenance, community stability and ecosystem function, and to leverage these species and their interactions in NBS and conservation efforts. We further advocate for the use of phylogenetic trait‐based analyses to understand the characteristics associated with keystoneness. Synthesis: Resilience of pollination services rests upon the responses of keystone species and their partners, and the likelihood that they continue to express traits that confer mutual benefit under future climates. By understanding the traits of species of outsized importance to their communities, we gain insight into the mechanisms underlying the resilience of pollination services and the NBS that rely on those services in a changing world.

Strategic opportunities for nature-based solutions: Lessons for policy and practice from cross-city comparisons

Nature-based solutions (NbS) can address urban infrastructure challenges exacerbated by climate change (e.g., flooding) and contribute to citizens’ quality of life, supporting both environmental and social policy goals. Despite those advantages, NbS can be a difficult ‘sell’ for policy makers in a wider context of social uncertainty and austerity. To support greater insight into the issues affecting market uptake, this scoping study draws on data from a EU Horizons project. The experience of government and business stakeholders in six cities (Liverpool, Valladolid, Izmir, Mantua, Ludwigsburg, and Medellin), serve as illustrative cases of market uptake from the NbS provider perspective. Drawing on interview, survey and secondary data, three strategic drivers (and barriers) of NbS investment emerged: Socio-cultural, financial and governance. At operational level, four types of NbS (Grand, customized, large scale and niche) and four types of strategic opportunities emerged: Tolerable (low cost: low benefit), Ruinous (high cost: low benefit), Best case (low cost: high benefit) and Aspirational (high cost: high benefit). On the supply side, funding and maintenance capabilities are the primary barriers to NbS implementation. On the demand side, insight into public perception of NbS is crucial. Drawing from this data, the three pillars of successful NbS projects are: (1) Relevant policy frameworks (global, national and municipal), (2) supporting mechanisms and resources for public-private partnerships and (3) engaging all stakeholders through targeted communications emphasizing all forms of value.

Attitudes of political-administrative decision makers towards the implementation of nature-based solutions in water management – a case study on a hypothetical constructed wetland in the Tárcoles River basin

ABSTRACT Nature-based solutions (NBS) are actions that help communities address social-ecological challenges such as flooding and polluted groundwater. Nevertheless, research shows that in practice, NBS confront several barriers in planning and implementation, many of which are related to the different attitudes of political and administrative actors. There is knowledge missing on their viewpoints on NBS. We used Q-methodology to explore the attitudes towards the implementation of a constructed wetland as NBS, interviewing decision-makers from the Tárcoles River Basin Commission in Costa Rica, the administrative body in charge of the integrated management of the river. We determined three recognizable viewpoints: ‘the nature lover’, ‘the cost concerned’, and ‘the participation seeker’. Although all members of the commission shared a common vision, it was clear that their priorities differed. Regarding the ways of implementing NBS, interviewees agreed that the country urges a paradigm shift in policy design towards ecosystem-based approaches and emphasized the need for more cooperation among bodies of administration in river basin decision-making. We reflect on the lessons learned to improve planning and implementation of NBS, such as the importance of increasing knowledge and awareness of NBS, the support from all governance levels as well as the cooperation of researchers and policy-makers, and the consideration of NBS financing by private companies.

Can policy instruments enhance the benefits of nature-based solutions and curb green gentrification? The case of Genova, Italy

New policy solutions are necessary to make cities more liveable in a future that will be hampered by climate change, urbanization, landscape fragmentation and overall overexploitation of limited resources and space. There is an aspiration to continue to integrate Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) into global agendas to cope with climate change and urbanization due to their multiple benefits and co-benefits. Nevertheless, socio-economic and especially negative impacts of NBS are rarely considered and integrated into policy literature. Hence, the objective of this study is to address this gap by simulating three different policy instruments to mitigate green gentrification and enhance the impact of co-designed NBS in Genova. For that purpose, the spatially explicit hedonic pricing simulation model SULD (Sustainable Urbanizing Landscape Development) was used to simulate a linearly decreasing property tax to high-income households, a property tax subsidy provided to low and middle-income households and a zoning buffer policy around the NBS implementation area. Results show that all policy instruments have the ability to curb green gentrification, however the property tax subsidy led to added urban expansion, fostering urban sprawl. Both the zoning buffer and the property tax had better overall socio-economic and land use impacts by curbing green gentrification, posing little impact on low-income households and maintaining urban contraction, even though this contraction was smaller for the property tax instrument. Hence, it can be concluded that a policy mix including information, planning and economic instruments may be most effective to enhance the impact and mitigate green gentrification of NBS.

A framework for the successful application of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation on rail infrastructure developed through the examination of two case studies

The management of railway infrastructure to withstand more frequent and more extreme weather conditions caused by climate change presents a significant global challenge for the rail industry. Nature-based solutions (NbS) have been proposed as potential options to protect and adapt rail infrastructure to accommodate the impacts of climate change, and an initial framework to aid the implementation of NbS in the industry has been developed. Few examples of the application of NbS in the rail environment have been documented however, with a lack of awareness on the concept being cited as the most significant barrier to its dissemination. By examining the application of NbS on two rail case studies in Adelaide, Australia, and Yorkshire, UK, including focus groups and interviews with rail professionals involved in each, this research explores the barriers encountered and the aids to NbS implementation used in these live railway examples, enabling the testing and refinement of the NbS operationalisation framework to produce an improved tool for use by the rail industry. The rail-specific case study outputs contribute to industry knowledge and awareness on NbS, which is critical for its successful uptake on rail infrastructure for climate change adaptation, and will support the continued provision of safe, sustainable rail services.

Perceptions of stakeholders on nature-based solutions in urban planning: A thematic analysis in six European cities

A commonly addressed aspect of urban planning involves the integration of nature-based solutions (NBS). Before applying NBS, acquiring stakeholders' viewpoints, e.g., city councils, local governments, and academia, contributes to the successful application and thus to mitigation of global challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, water, and food scarcity. The present study explores how stakeholders across Europe view the role of NBS in urban planning. A thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns, themes, and concepts within interview transcripts gathered through semi-structured interviews held in Budapest, Cordoba, Ljubljana, Reykjavik, Vienna, and Zurich. The study resulted in 107 distinctive codes categorized into NBS benefits, challenges, opportunities, NBS actors, and regulations. The frequency of codes (Fr) mentioned by the interviewees showed that NBS benefit cooperation (Fr=125) between individuals, while the most challenging issue obstructing NBS implementation was the lack of NBS knowledge (Fr=93). The need for green areas (Fr=42) was identified as an opportunity that could give rise to NBS applications. This study also provides practical recommendations to overcome some barriers when implementing NBS.

Financing climate adaptation in Flemish cities: Unpacking financial strategies and policy dynamics for nature-based solutions

As climate change continues to impact cities, nature-based solutions (NBS) are being advanced as important adaptation strategies for mitigating these negative effects. As is the case throughout Europe, Flemish cities have enacted adaptation policies and plans outlining the importance of NBS. Nevertheless, the implementation of NBS has been slow. Local governments identify financing as an important barrier. Although private financing is often proposed as a solution, few studies have applied a public-financing perspective to generate insight into and remedies for such issues. In this article, we examine how four Flemish cities are financing NBS implemented in public spaces as climate adaptation strategies. Based on a multiple case study approach, our results uncover that different financing strategies are employed during the design, implementation and maintenance phase of developing NBS projects. Additionally, we learn that the interplay between policy and financing becomes an important catalyst for investments in public NBS. We identified three approaches administrations use to secure (public) resources. During the design phase, support is developed within the administration and politically through (1) fostering internal collaboration by developing integrated spatial NBS designs. In the implementation phase resources are attracted by (2) putting the developed spatial designs to work and seizing available funding opportunities. During the maintenance phase (3) strategic partnerships are established with NBS beneficiaries to alleviate costs for municipalities. We conclude that, in the absence of more long-term forms of public financing, these approaches offer smaller cities tools to overcome the financial barrier.

Site selection for nature-based solutions for stormwater management in urban areas: An approach combining GIS and multi-criteria analysis

In recent years, particularly following the definition of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have gained considerable attention, capturing the interest of both the scientific community and policymakers committed to addressing urban environmental issues. However, the need for studies to guide decision-makers in identifying suitable locations for NBS implementation within urban stormwater management is evident. To address this gap, the present study employs a methodological approach grounded in multi-criteria analysis integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify areas with potential for NBS implementation. In this process, ten NBS were proposed and tested in the drainage area of a shallow tropical urban lake in Londrina, southern Brazil. Additionally, the study investigates areas hosting lower-income populations, a relevant aspect for public managers given the diverse economic subsidies required to implement NBS. Furthermore, the study incorporates a preliminary analysis that evaluates the potential ecosystem benefits to determine the most suitable NBS for a specific site. The result shows that all the ten analyzed NBS were deemed suitable for the study area. Rain barrels had the highest percentage coverage in the study area (37.1%), followed by tree pits (27.9%), and rain gardens (25.4%). Despite having the highest distribution in the basin area, rain barrels exhibited only moderate ecosystem benefits, prompting the prioritization of other NBS with more significant ecological advantages in the final integrated map. In summary, the methodology proposed showed to be a robust approach to selecting optimal solutions in densely populated urban areas.

A community-scale study on nature-based solutions (NBS) for stormwater management under tropical climate: The case of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand

ABSTRACT Rapid urbanization and population growth are placing more demands on the world's natural water resources. New infrastructures are increasing the degree of surface sealing as well as the tendency for urban flooding and water quality degradation. These problems can be counteracted by nature-based solutions (NBS) for urban drainage in developed countries mostly having a temperate climate. Hence, there is a need to develop similar sustainable measures for tropical regions as currently there are no guidelines available. In this study, the multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach was utilized to identify the best site for NBS in the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok, Thailand. Then, Personnel Computer Storm Water Management Model (PCSWMM) software was used to develop a numerical model. It was found that the MCDA approach is appropriate to determine the best site for NBS implementation considering different aspects including economic, environmental, and technical ones. The results strongly suggested that Site-1 is a suitable alternative to implement NBS in the AIT campus. It was found that a bioretention system can reduce runoff volume by at least 14% and pollutants by at least 14–20%. The present study will provide a guideline for site selection and development of the NBS model for urban water management in a tropical climate.

Key Innovations in Financing Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Adaptation

The implementation of nature-based solutions (NBSs) for coastal adaptation to climate change is limited by a well-documented lack of finance. Scholars agree that financial innovation represents a solution to this problem, particularly due to its potential for mobilising private investments. It remains unclear however how exactly innovative solutions address the specific barriers found in NBS implementation and, given the distinctive local characteristics of NBSs, to what extent successful innovations can be replicated in other locations. This study addresses this issue by reviewing the literature and case studies of innovative financial solutions currently implemented in NBS projects, highlighting which financial barriers these arrangements address and which contextual conditions affect their applicability. We find that there is no “low-hanging fruit” in upscaling finance in NBSs through financial innovation. Innovative solutions are nevertheless expected to become more accessible with the increase in NBS project sizes, the increased availability of data on NBS performance, and the establishment of supportive policy frameworks. The flow of finance into NBS projects can be further enhanced through the external support of both public (de-risking and regulation) and private actors (financial expertise).

Microbial response to Nature-Based Solutions in urban soils: A comprehensive analysis using Biolog® EcoPlates™

The study presents a comprehensive examination of changes in soil microbial functional diversity (hereafter called microbial activity) following the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in urban areas. Utilizing the Biolog® EcoPlates™ technique, the study explored variations in microbial diversity in urban soil under NBSs implementation across timespan of two years.Significant differences in microbial activity were observed between control location and those with NBS implementations, with seasonal variations playing a crucial role. NBS positively impacted soil microbial activity especially at two locations: infiltration basin and wild flower meadow showing the most substantial increase after NBS implementation. The study links rainfall levels to microbial functional diversity, highlighting the influence of climatic conditions on soil microbiome. The research investigates also the utilization of different carbon sources by soil microorganisms, shedding light on the specificity of substrate utilization across seasons and locations. The results demonstrate that NBSs implementations lead to changes in substrate utilization patterns, emphasizing the positive influence of NBS on soil microbial communities. Likewise, biodiversity indices, such as Shannon-Weaver diversity (H′), Shannon Evenness Index (E), and substrate richness index (S), exhibit significant variations in response to NBS. Notably, NBS implementation positively impacted H′ and E indexes, especially in infiltration basin and wild flower meadow, underlining the benefits of NBS for enhancing microbial diversity.The obtained results demonstrated valuable insight into the dynamic interactions between NBS implementation and soil microbial activity. The findings underscore the potential of NBS to positively influence soil microbial diversity in urban environments, contributing to urban sustainability and soil health. The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring soil microbial activity to assess the effectiveness of NBS interventions and guides sustainable urban development practices.

Nature-based Solutions can help restore degraded grasslands and increase carbon sequestration in the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan grassland ecosystems possess significant carbon sink potential and have room for improved carbon sequestration processes. There is a need to uncover more ambitious and coherent solutions (e.g., Nature-based Solutions) to increase carbon sequestration. Here, we investigated the rationale and urgency behind the implementation of Nature-based Solutions on sequestering carbon using literature review and meta-analysis. We also project the changes in terrestrial carbon sink of Tibetan Plateau grassland ecosystems using model simulations with different future emissions scenario. The results show that the Nature-based Solution projects are expected to increase the carbon sink of Tibetan Plateau grassland ecosystems by 15 to 21 tetragrams of carbon by 2060. We defined a conceptual framework of Nature-based Solutions that integrates initiatives for the restoration of degraded grasslands and carbon sequestration. Our framework consists of four stages: theory, identification, practice, and goal. Traditional Tibetan knowledge plays an important role in reframing the proposed Nature-based Solutions framework. We also apply this framework to optimize ecological restoration techniques and projects and to evaluate the annual changes in the carbon sink under different socioeconomic pathway scenarios.

Aligning nature-based solutions with ecosystem services in the urban century

In an increasingly urbanized world, the concepts of ecosystem services and nature-based solutions can help tackle grand challenges. However, ambiguity in their definitions and in the relationship between the two concepts complicates comprehensive research efforts as well as their effective application in policy and planning in urban systems. This paper presents a framework to clarify and explicitly relate the two concepts, enhancing their applicability in the management of urban challenges. Within the framework, addressing urban challenges serves as the starting point for the development and implementation of nature-based solutions. Nature-based solutions alter the flows of ecosystem services that are produced by an ecosystem by altering the performance of the ecosystem or by changing how people engage with the ecosystem. This results both in changes in the target ecosystem services, as well as non-targeted ecosystem services, leading to benefits. Using two illustrative case studies, we show how the framework can be applied to two urban challenges that are expected to increase in intensity in cities across the world: stormwater management and urban heat stress. Moreover, we highlight key research topics that will benefit from more integrated use of nature-based solutions and ecosystem services. The framework helps emphasize co-benefits, and can be used to help make co-benefits and multifunctionality explicit in urban decision-making and planning processes.

Enhancing river floodplain management with nature‐based solutions: Overcoming barriers and harnessing enablers

AbstractFloodplains are regularly inundated areas of land that provide ecosystem benefits for the entire catchment area, along with numerous benefits for communities making them ideal for human settlement. The management of floodplains involves an ongoing dilemma; how best to balance the need to protect urban settlements from significant flood events with the benefits that inundation brings to the environmental and cultural values of the floodplain. These flood events have been traditionally addressed using technical flood protection measures. However, nature‐based solutions (NbS), provide a potential alternative approach. In this research, we analyze 29 global case studies centered on river floodplain management to investigate the barriers and enablers that affect the implementation of NbS, including floodplain restoration, mangroves, riparian forest restoration, wetland green infrastructure, among other strategies. The aim of this paper is to gain insights into improving floodplain management through the assessment of barriers and enablers evident in these case studies. The barriers and enablers were divided into six categories: social, technical, financial, political, institutional and economic and further into several sub‐divided categories. Social and technical categories were the most commonly described barriers and enablers closely followed by the institutional category. The discussion is centered around four topics: understanding community and decision‐maker risk perceptions, increased focus on stakeholders, managing multiple conflicting objectives, and consideration of multiple spatial scales. Further research on the uptake of NbS needs to focus on addressing risk communication and modeling, managing trade‐offs, and demonstration of delayed benefits.This article is categorized under: Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change

Nature-based Natural-hazard Preparedness: A Cross Section of Categorized Examples

Despite prevailing interests, no rigorous research has been conducted to examine the role of nature in natural-hazard preparedness. This systematic review aimed to describe how nature can reduce the impacts of natural hazards during the preparedness stage. The study focuses on the land, water, and air systems and on three types of stakeholders: international organizations, developed countries, and developing countries. Further, it provides supplementary strategies, such as immediate actions, local engagement, and research and development, that the stakeholders should apply to enhance their nature-based natural-hazard preparedness. We suggest integrating costs and benefits analysis, local culture, societal challenges, and environmental justice into the implementation of nature-based solutions. Finally, this review outlines the framework of nature-based natural-hazard preparedness by discussing the relationship between nature and society.

Home-buying decisions influenced by the implementation of nature-based solutions: The case of Sponge City, Guiyang SW China

Urban floods induced by the compound effects of climate change and rapid urbanisation are one of the key challenges facing many Chinese cities. In 2013, China initiated the Sponge City Program (SCP) to address this issue via constructing/restoring green-blue infrastructure as Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). Various green and blue spaces have been integrated into traditional grey facilities to mitigate urban floods, provide recreational venues, and enhance the natural aesthetics of urban landscapes. While housing development has been actively included in NBS provision, it remains unclear whether and how homebuying decisions might be influenced by NBS implementation under the framework of the Sponge City Program. Our study uses Guiyang, one of the pilots selected by the central government for the construction of “Sponge City” via implementing NBS. In-depth semi-structured interviews (n = 25) were used to examine whether the multiple benefits generated by newly established green-blue (sponge) facilities would affect residents’ home-purchasing preferences/decisions. We found that the provision of a green and blue facility, and whether it is part of the SCP or not, significantly influences a homebuyers’ choice. This study sheds additional light on the nexus of end users (homebuyers) and NBS provision (developers) under the framework of the Sponge City Program, generating practical implications for stakeholder engagement for NBS implementation to achieve sustainable urbanization.

A conceptual framework to help choose appropriate blue nature-based solutions

Biodiversity loss and climate change have severely impacted ecosystems and livelihoods worldwide, compromising access to food and water, increasing disaster risk, and affecting human health globally. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have gained interest in addressing these global societal challenges. Although much effort has been directed to NbS in urban and terrestrial environments, the implementation of NbS in marine and coastal environments (blue NbS) lags. The lack of a framework to guide decision-makers and practitioners through the initial planning stages appears to be one of the main obstacles to the slow implementation of blue NbS. To address this, we propose an integrated conceptual framework, built from expert knowledge, to inform the selection of the most appropriate blue NbS based on desired intervention objectives and social-ecological context. Our conceptual framework follows a four incremental steps structure: Step 1 aims to identify the societal challenge(s) to address; Step 2 highlights ecosystem services and the underlying biodiversity and ecological functions that could contribute to confronting the societal challenge(s); Step 3 identify the specific environmental context the intervention needs to be set within (e.g. the spatial scale the intervention will operate within, the ecosystem's vulnerability to stressors, and its ecological condition); and Step 4 provides a selection of potential blue NbS interventions that would help address the targeted societal challenge(s) considering the context defined through Step 3. Designed to maintain, enhance, recover, rehabilitate, or create ecosystem services by supporting biodiversity, the blue NbS intervention portfolio includes marine protection (i.e., fully, highly, lightly, and minimally protected areas), restorative activities (i.e., active, passive, and partial restoration; rehabilitation of ecological function and ecosystem creation), and other management measures (i.e., implementation and enforcement of regulation). Ultimately, our conceptual framework guides decision-makers toward a versatile portfolio of interventions that cater to the specific needs of each ecosystem rather than imposing a rigid, one-size-fits-all model. In the future, this framework needs to integrate socio-economic considerations more comprehensively and be kept up-to-date by including the latest scientific information.