Nature-based solutions (NBS) are defined by the European Commission as “actions that are inspired by, supported by, or copied from nature…” and that solve societal challenges and multiple benefits. As a result, NBS are often promoted as alternative responses that solve complex societal challenges such as watershed management, while delivering a systemic approach of multiple benefits for well-being, human health, and sustainable use of resources. Despite rising interest in NBS, further identification of experiences implementing NBS could advance our understanding of the operationalization of this comprehensive concept. For this purpose, we analyzed 35 peer-reviewed articles on implementation experiences of NBS for water management in peri-urban areas, on aspects related to (i) NBS problem–solution: water challenges, ecosystem services, scales, and types; (ii) NBS governance and management. From the insights of the analysis, this paper asks what lessons are learned, and which barriers are identified, from implementing NBS for water management in peri-urban areas? As a result, this study presents a detailed analysis of each aspect. We conclude by highlighting accountancy, monitoring, and communication as potential success factors for integration and development while diminishing the overall barrier of complexity, which leads to technical, institutional, economic, and social uncertainty.

La complejidad de los desafíos sociales promueve enfoques con múltiples beneficios, como las soluciones basadas en la naturaleza (SBN). Las SBN integran aspectos ambientales, sociales y económicos a través de su enfoque exhaustivo, lo cual dificulta su operativización. Las SBN promueven una relación más dinámica de la ciudad con la naturaleza, que hace del verde urbano un área de innovación, implicando un mayor esfuerzo en la gestión urbana. Este artículo expone el caso de L’Eix Besòs en el Área Metropolitana de Barcelona desde la mirada de las SBN, analizando la transformación del Parque Fluvial del Besòs cómo una respuesta basada en aspectos medioambientales, sociales y de gestión urbanística. En las últimas décadas la transformación de L’Eix Besòs a través del frente de agua, la recreación, el pasear y la contemplación han facilitado que este paisaje de polígonos urbano y peri-urbano se convierta en un ejemplo de renaturalización. Actualmente, el encuentro del Río Besòs con el frente litoral Mediterráneo, es un paisaje en transformación que evidencia los desafíos de la metrópoli contemporánea, donde el enfoque exhaustivo de las SBN podría ser una ventaja para una transición urbana sostenible, a partir de un dialogo transdisciplinar, soportado en unas capacidades (sociales y técnicas) construidas. The complexity of societal challenges promotes multi-benefit approaches such as nature-based solutions (NBS). NBS integrate environmental, social and economic aspects through their exhaustive approach, which makes their operationalization difficult. NBS promote a more dynamic relationship between the city and nature, which makes urban green an area of innovation, implying a greater effort in urban management. This article presents the case of l’Eix Besòs in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area from the NBS perspective, analyzing the Besòs River Park intervention as a response based on environmental, social and urban management aspects. In recent decades, the l’Eix Besòs transformation through the waterfront, recreation, walking and contemplation have made this landscape of urban and peri-urban polygons an example of re-naturalization. Currently, the meeting of the Besòs River with the Mediterranean coastline is a landscape in transformation that shows the challenges of the contemporary metropolis, where the NBS exhaustive approach could be an advantage for a sustainable urban transition, based on a transdisciplinary dialogue, supported by built capacities (social and technical).