Building capacity for mainstreaming nature-based solutions into environmental policy and landscape planning

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBS) is a term often used to refer to adequate green infrastructure that provides multiple benefits to society whilst addressing societal challenges. They are defined as actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits. Malta, the smallest member state of the EU, has been characterised by rapid economic growth and urbanisation and Maltese citizens had the highest rate of exposure to pollution, grime or other environmental problems, in the EU. The project ReNature aims to establish and implement a nature-based solutions research strategy for Malta with a vision to promote research and innovation and develop sustainable solutions whilst improving human well-being and tackling environmental challenges. Here, we introduce the opening of ReNature collection of research articles in the Open Access Research Ideas and Outcomes (RIO) journal to publish unconventional research outputs and training materials. It will host key outputs relating to the sustainable use of biodiversity, biodiversity – ecosystem functioning, green infrastructure and ecosystem service assessments across rural-urban gradients, equitable access to the benefits derived from nature in cities and socio-environmental justice, payments for ecosystem services, and designing nature-based solutions.

Renaturing Malta: Developing a Capacity-Building Strategy for the Mainstreaming of Nature-Based Solutions

“…Open science is one of the key pillars of the ReNature project (http://renature-project.eu/), which has already openly shared access to developed training material and scientific outcomes. Similarly, the ReNature Nature-based Solutions Compendium (http://renature-project.eu/compendium) has collated information about NbS in Malta and shared data openly with all interested users and practitioners [11,20]. The compendium is growing to include submissions from across the Mediterranean climatosphere.…”

“…Over the past few years, Malta has experienced strong tourism and economic growth, but is increasingly vulnerable to climate change and to growing pressures on its limited natural resources. [9] Socio-economic inequalities in life expectancy and health status have been identified as a persistent concern [10][11] and Maltese citizens had the highest rate of exposure to pollution, grime or other environmental problems in the EU in 2017 [11][12]. The region is also characterised by an increased risk to human life driven by a strong rise in the frequency and intensity of heat waves towards the south of Europe and an upsurge in drought conditions, as a consequence of climate change [11,13].…”

“…[9] Socio-economic inequalities in life expectancy and health status have been identified as a persistent concern [10][11] and Maltese citizens had the highest rate of exposure to pollution, grime or other environmental problems in the EU in 2017 [11][12]. The region is also characterised by an increased risk to human life driven by a strong rise in the frequency and intensity of heat waves towards the south of Europe and an upsurge in drought conditions, as a consequence of climate change [11,13]. The implementation of NbS therefore creates an opportunity to improve resilience and to foster adaptation to climate and environmental changes, the latter including rapid urbanisation and the steep growth in demand for energy and water resources [9].…”

How do nature-based solutions contribute to urban landscape sustainability?

“…As mentioned above, one of the most significant aims of NBS is paying attention to the sustainability of the landscape. Landscape sustainability is enhanced by the implementation of NBS and their related delivery of ecosystem services in urban regions (Balzan et al, 2020).…”

“…Another sustainable landscape characteristic is providing a situation for recreation and social interaction that NBS can help to create this condition, especially by the restoration of existing green and blue spaces (Kabisch et al, 2016). Therefore, environmental, sociocultural, and economic benefits provided by NBS can lead to the sustainability of the landscape (Balzan et al, 2020). This paper identifies the elements and indicators of urban landscape sustainability and then shows the contributions of NBS to them.…”