Smart and Sustainable Cities: From Environmental Threats Towards Nature Based Solutions and Sustainable Management

Vasenev, Viacheslav; Dovletyarova, Elvira A.; Veretelnikova, I.; Calfapietra, Carlo; Cheng, Zhongqi; Fatiev, M M; Valentini, Riccardo

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-16091-3_1

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…As human beings embark into a new era marked by the intensification of global-wide social, economic and environmental problems and overt disconnection from nature (Lehmann, 2019;Vasenev et al, 2020), it is evident in academic and practical arenas that the sustainability transitions, which have traditionally been oriented by technological innovations, are gradually shifting to the multifunctionality of nature (as an innovative form of soft technology). The gradual shift is to address and mitigate societal, economic, and environmental/ecological challenges simultaneously, especially in urbanised and re-urbanising cities across the globe (Lafortezza and Sanesi, 2019;Hanson et al, 2020;van der Jagt et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The European Union roadmap for implementing nature-based solutions: A review

Davies

Chen

Sanesi

et al. 2021

Environmental Science & Policy

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The present paper traces a chronological history, or roadmap, of the documentation produced by the European Union (EU) to promote and implement nature-based solutions (NBS) as an innovation action aiming to establish a socially inclusive, economically vibrant and ecologically resilient society. The EU's ambition is to position Europe as the world leader in NBS Research (via scientific research aiming at generating knowledge and theories) and Innovation (NBS implementation via identifying innovative approaches and best practices), as well as in a global market (for sharing, communicating, collaborating and promoting NBS). Considerable efforts have been made by the European Commission (the executive branch of the EU) as featured in a number of documents, funding programmes and Horizon 2020 (Research and Innovation) projects that span the period from 2012 to 2020. While the European Commission's commitment to promoting NBS within its Member States and beyond is still an ongoing process, we aim to review the efforts undertaken, knowledge gained, and practices accomplished. This roadmap intends to provide interested practitioners, policymakers, researchers, as well as civil organisations with an updated understanding of the leading role of the EU in NBS conceptualisation and operationalisation. This can inform future directions of NBS Research and Innovation actions, which in turn address environmental and societal challenges prompted by urbanisation/re-urbanisation, globalisation/de-globalisation, climate change and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The European Union roadmap for implementing nature-based solutions: A review

Davies

Chen

Sanesi

et al. 2021

Environmental Science & Policy

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“…At the beginning of the 21st century, urban areas faced increasing global social, economic and environmental problems. Population growth, urbanization, and climate change are particularly concerning issues [1][2][3]. The United Nations forecasts that urban areas will accommodate 68% of the world's population by 2050 [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review on the Application of Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Forest Planning and Sustainable Management

Zhao,

Davies,

Veal

et al. 2024

Forests

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Despite growing recognition of nature-based solutions (NBS), there remains a research gap in understanding their implementation in urban areas, which poses a significant challenge for urban forest development. Therefore, our paper aims to explore the intersection of NBS with urban forests (UF), identify current barriers, propose strategies to maximize the potential of urban forests as nature-based solutions (UF-NBS) in effectively improving the resilience of urban forests, and enhance the service capacity of urban forest ecosystems. To achieve our objective, we conducted a comprehensive analysis that included a bibliometric review to summarize the evolution of the UF-NBS literature and classify UF-NBS types for the first time. Subsequently, we identified and organized current challenges faced by UF-NBS. Additionally, we proposed an original technological framework system for urban forest development based on NBS principles. The results show the significance of UF-NBS for enhancing urban resilience and human wellbeing, with multiple successful implementations in both China and Europe, validating their effectiveness. However, the implementation of UF-NBS faces several challenges, including inadequate financing, the gap between scientific knowledge and practical implementation, the absence of region-specific information, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration. This study contributes to establishing a scientific theoretical basis for integrating UF and NBS and provides a systematic approach for decision-makers in urban forest management. Future research should focus on exploring the integration of UF within the NBS framework and prioritize knowledge sharing, international cooperation, and education initiatives to promote the global adoption of UF-NBS and address pressing urban challenges.

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