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‘Technical solutions’ are the technical components that go into the planning, delivery and the long-term stewardship of nature-based solutions. Technical solutions would include, for example, the type of nature-based solution selected, the plants selected, anything that takes into account the local circumstances and, when it comes to the stewardship or ongoing management of the nature-based solution, feeding the results of evaluation and on-going measurement into the project is also considered a technical aspect., Suggested citation: Connop, S. & Nash, C. (2023). Technical Solutions: a Connecting Nature Guidebook. Brussels: DG Research & Innovation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7503898

Hyperlinks to EU and some non-EU funded Nature-based Solution projects and platforms, 2016 to 2026. Some projects do not have websites at the time of upload. This information will be updated on an annual basis. Now updated to include new projects for 2023., Suggested citation: Collier, M.J. (2022) Hyperlinked compendium of nature-based solutions projects 2016-2026. NovelEco Project. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7646914

A robust impact assessment framework entails careful reflection and planning of monitoring and evaluation processes that pertain to the design of nature-based solutions. By definition, nature-based solutions are multifunctional. NBS assessment is central to evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of specific interventions against strategic city goals. The ultimate goal is to gather long-term solid evidence about nature-based solutions performance in particular urban contexts and for different social groups. In turn, this evidence can support smart policy decisions and adaptive co-management aspects of the NBS stewardship once installed, as well as enhance sustainability, well-being, and resilience in cities. The Connecting Nature Impact Assessment Framework is a process aimed at supporting cities in developing and successfully implementing robust monitoring and evaluation plans that can deliver systematic and comparable evidence as to NBS effectiveness. This framework represents an essential tool for adapting NBS design and implementation in real-time. Consequently, NBS interventions performance increases, and NBS can be maintained and revitalized over time., Suggested citation: Dumitru, A., Tomé Lourido, D., Collier, M.J., Connop, S., Dick, G., Rhodes, M.-L., Sermpezi, R., and Young, C. (2022). Impact Assessment: a Connecting Nature Guidebook. Brussels: DG Research and Innovation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7503843

This guidebook offers a practical approach and toolbox for setting up and applying reflexive monitoring. It will help practitioners to deepen their understanding of reflexive monitoring’s methodology. Think of it like a cookbook that offers the ingredients, illustrations, and steps needed to get a great result, but instead of whipping up a tasty meal, you’re designing your very own reflexive monitoring process., Suggested citation: Lodder, M., Allaert, K., Mulders, W., Collier, M.J., Dick, G., Frantzeskaki, N., Georgiou, P., González, G., Hölscher, K., Kelly, S., Madajczyk, N., Notermans, I., Pašić, B., Prieto González, A., Sillen, D., & Vos, P. (2022). A practical guide to using reflexive monitoring for nature-based solutions: a Connecting Nature Guidebook. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7501579

Nature-based solutions are complex, however, and many organisations do not have the capabilities in-house to design, deliver and manage them. Recent reports (UnaLab 2020) have shown that finding skilled and experienced suppliers is a major roadblock in the wider uptake of nature-based solutions. Nature-based enterprises can help to meet this challenge. They support cities, private-sector and third-sector organisations in the planning, delivery, and management or stewardship of nature-based solutions in urban, peri-urban (immediately adjacent to a city or urban area), and rural contexts. This guidebook helps to clarify what a nature-based enterprise is, how to find skilled and experienced nature-based enterprises and how to stimulate and support the start-up, financing, and growth of nature-based enterprises., Suggested citation: McQuaid, S., Kooijman, E., Fletcher, I., Collier, M. J., Connop, S., García-Espina Adank, C., Müller, J., Quartier, M., & Vos, P. (2022). Nature-based Enterprises: a Connecting Nature Guidebook. Brussels: DG Research & Innovation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7503772

This guidebook outlines the role of governance in implementing nature-based solutions in your city or community. Governance is broader than government. It covers legal frameworks, formal and informal networks and organisations, and the rules and policies related to whatever is governed Governments change but governance continues and evolves. Governance is also about the coordination of people and organisations so that all their activities contribute to the desired benefits of nature-based solutions. Nature-based solutions are better when people and organisations collaborate. This is because nature-based solutions are ultimately for everyone. Developing them together ensures different needs and interests are considered and that local opportunities are exploited. Collaboration also supports the long-term stewardship of a nature-based solution. For example, a local municipality that no longer has the resources to manage a nature-based solution may find a way to secure its future by involving local communities or entrepreneurs in the process., Suggested citation: Vandergert, P., Hölscher, K., & McQuaid, S. (2022). Governance: a Connecting Nature Guidebook. Brussels: DG Research and Innovation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7504020

This guidebook offers a practical approach and toolbox for designing and implementing your own co-production processes. It presents co-production as a new governance approach for working on nature-based solutions in cities and offers a practical framework for designing your own co-production approach., Suggested citation: van der Have, C., Hölscher, K., Lodder, M., Collier, M.J., Dick, G., Dziubala, A., Fletcher, I., Frantzeskaki, N., Georgiou, P., Kelly, S., Malekkidou, E., McCann, S., McQuaid, S., Mulders, W., Notermans, I., Pašić, B., Prieto González, A., Quartier, M., Sillen, D., Trendafilov, I., Vandergert, P., Xidous, D. (2022). A practical guide to using co-production for nature-based solutions: a Connecting Nature Guidebook. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7501980

Nature-based solutions may be paid for in many ways and are often financed by a blend of different sources of finance., Suggested citation: McQuaid, S. and Fletcher, I. (2022). Financing and Business Models: a Connecting Nature Guidebook Brussels: DG Research and Innovation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7503937

Co-production is a governance method that can be used by cities and other stakeholders when developing nature-based solutions in cities and for the good of cities. Not only does co-production foster collaboration and partnership but it stimulates learning among diverse actors – these actors could be civil servants, citizens, urban planners, entrepreneurs, architects, scientists, or engineers, to name but a few. In a co-production model, they contribute to the design, implementation, and management of nature-based solutions together. Actors are not just consulted or informed, they are involved from the very beginning in the process. They have a role in the making of plans, infrastructure, and policy. The goal of co-production is to generate results that may be shared with all the actors. Examples of such results would be new ways to frame a problem, or new policies and visions. By bringing diverse actors together, co-production also results in new relationships. It can therefore mobilise and empower participants to create better and greener cities and communities., Suggested citation: Hölscher, K., Frantzeskaki, N., Lodder, M., Allaert, K., Notermans, I., and Collier, M.J. (2022). Co-production: a Connecting Nature Guidebook. Brussels: DG Research and Innovation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7509645

Reflexive monitoring is an evaluation method that gives urban practitioners insight into the progress of their project in real time. It helps them evaluate day- to-day activities and to respond to them while considering the bigger picture.This is especially helpful when addressing the complex challenges nature-based solutions tend to combat, such as climate change and social exclusion., Suggested citation: Lodder, M., Allaert, K., Hölscher, K., Notermans, I., Frantzeskaki, N., and Collier, M.J. (2022). Reflexive Monitoring: a Connecting Nature Guidebook. Brussels: DG Research and Innovation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7503980

This guidebook introduces the Connecting Nature Framework. The Framework supports the planning, delivery, and stewardship of nature-based solutions on a large scale in cities and communities. It provides a comprehensive toolkit for urban practitioners who want to develop nature-based solutions and in this way foster urban resilience, increase citizen health and wellbeing, support innovation, and promote empowerment. This guidebook is intended for a wide audience of practitioners, from urban planners at local authorities to community groups, entrepreneurs, and non-governmental organisations. The Connecting Nature Framework is co-produced by scientific partners and cities. This generates innovative solutions for science and practice. It supports Europe to become a global leader in the innovation and implementation of nature-based solutions., Suggested citation: Hölscher, K., Allaert, K., Lodder, M., Sillen, D., Collier, M.J., Connop, S., Dick, G., Dumitru, A., Dziubala, A., Frantzeskaki, N., Kelly, S., Madajczyk, N., McQuaid, S., Mowat, L., Osipiuk, A., Quartier, M., Sermpezi, R., Vandergert, P., van de Sijpe, K., & Vos, P. (2022). The Connecting Nature Framework: facilitating and connecting innovations for the large-scale implementation of nature-based solutions. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7502565

This Deliverable presents our underlying conceptual and methodological approach as well as analytical results by which we have co-developed co-production and reflexive monitoring methodologies for the planning, delivery and stewardship of nature-based solutions on a large scale in cities. Next to supporting co-production and reflexive monitoring processes on the ground in the Connecting Nature Front-Runner and Fast-Follower Cities, a main aim was to generate systematic insights about how cities go about designing and implementing such novel governance approaches. On the one hand, co-production is booming in cities worldwide as a mode of collaborative governance. By bringing together diverse actors – for example, civil servants, practitioners, social innovators, scientists, entrepreneurs and citizens – co-production can support the generation of transformative nature-based solutions (pertaining not only to their mere technical design but also to their financing and business models and social innovations) addressing local needs and mobilising local opportunities. We developed a comprehensive framework that supports the design, implementation and evaluation of co-production. The framework covers different types of co-production, methods, principles for process design and evaluation as well as capacities for co-production to implement the principles. On the other hand, we developed a reflexive monitoring process to support processes of ongoing learning-by-doing and doing-by-learning. Nature-based solutions planning, delivery and stewardship requires ongoing reflection as well as adaptability to respond to new insights, demands and needs. Our reflexive monitoring methodology consists of a step-wise approach with several process tools that the cities have adapted into their regular activities to create space for reflection and capturing learnings. The recording of learning objectives and outcomes helped the cities structure what opportunities and barriers they have encountered and how they have navigated them, generating insights on critical steps and lessons learned for the design, delivery and stewardship of nature-based solutions. Building on a comparative analysis of the cities, we generated several key lessons about how to adapt and implement co-production and reflexive monitoring: Overall, all cities recognised the value of co-production to engage with and empower diverse actors and reflexive monitoring to facilitate continuous learning and adaptation in real time when planning, delivering and stewarding nature-based solutions. In this way, co-production and reflexive monitoring are able to address the various governance needs for knowledge, partnerships, societal and political support and learning. Adopting new governance processes and tools that challenge conventional practices requires the creation of institutional and organisational space in cities and the acquisition of new skills and knowledge. It also requires new cultures within city governments to work across siloes. Co-production and reflexive monitoring are flexible approaches that need to be made fit to a specific city’s contexts. For example, we could distinguish between various types of co-production processes depending on different goals and settings, including different types of actors and methods. Regarding co-production, it has been challenging to reach out and motivate diverse actors to participate in co- production, including especially vulnerable and low-income communities or specific actors from the business and finance community. This requires dedicated communication and community engagement efforts and skills as well as making the process accessible to different audiences. The value of reflexive monitoring extended to the facilitation of knowledge transfer and peer-to-peer learning between Front-Runner and Fast-Follower Cities. We learned that, from the idea initiation stage, it can take a few years before the cities started implementing their learning outcomes with reflexivity changes. Based on our work with the cities and comparative analysis, we produced conceptually grounded and practice-proven, hands-on guidebooks that help urban practitioners and planners design and implement concrete steps, activities and tools for the co-production and reflexive monitoring of nature-based solutions. We have put in place several mechanisms to ensure the long-term sustainability of our co-production and reflexive monitoring work – in particular, to continue to spread knowledge for example through the OPPLA platform and the UrbanByNature programme., Suggested citation: Hölscher, K., Lodder, M., Janssen, A., van der Have, C., Kindlon, D., McCann, S., Allaert, K., Xidous, D., Albulescu, P., Sulea, C., Prieto Gonzalez, A., Gonzalez Vazquez, M. M., Trendafilov, I., Velikova, V., Van De Sijpe, K., Quartier, M., Vos, P., Dick, G., Kelly, S., Sermpezi, R., Bakola, E., Boskidis, Ioannis; Tsouris, Vasilis; García-Espina Adank, Christian; Malekkidou, Eleni; Mavroudi, M., Osipiuk, A., Dziubala, A., Madajczyk, N., Dymek, D., Pasic, B., Suljevic, N., Beslagic, L., Collier, M. J. (2022). Connecting Nature Deliverable 7: Final report of all meetings, consultations, webinars and workshops and the publication of a co-production guidebook for cities consisting of 2 guidebooks: 'A practical guide to using co-production for nature-based solutions' and 'A practical guide to using reflexive monitoring for nature-based solutions' (including infographics). Project. Brussels: DG Research & Innovation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7443221

The development of the Connecting Nature Impact Assessment Framework has been accompanied by a series of resources that can be used by cities whose objective is to build capacity to mainstream impact assessment as part of their nature-based solutions policies and plans. Together, they form an impact assessment toolkit for cities. The objective of this Deliverable is to provide a brief description of each of the elements of the toolkit, while the resources and tools themselves can be consulted online, by following the provided links in Appendices I and II. All these materials have been uploaded to websites and platforms so that the elements are easily searchable and downloadable by users. The resources generated fall into the following four categories: 1) Impact assessment plans, results, and integration of data for the Connecting Nature frontrunner cities 2) Finding inspiration: nature-based solutions repositories and databases: OPPLA, the EU Repository of Nature-Based Solutions, and the NBS data and knowledge base created by Dushkova and Haase (2020). 3) The CO-IMPACT tool to design bespoke impact assessment plans, a decision-support tool for the design of monitoring and evaluation plans, with suggestions for appropriate indicators and methodologies. It is one of the main innovations in the project. 4) Additional monitoring and evaluation resources for cities, including handbooks and indicator factsheets to support cities in impact assessment The deliverable also presents the Connecting Nature plans for ensuring the sustainability of project innovations beyond the official end of the project. It describes the design of the Connecting Nature Resource Center, an online repository of searchable resources embedded in the European platform OPPLA. In addition to these five main sections, this document has two appendices. The first one the main resources, and includes keywords, location, description, uses of the product, and associated links. In the second appendix, the impact assessment video trainings are listed, along with links to the videos for easy access. All the resources presented in this Deliverable make up an interactive, online toolkit to support nature-based solutions impact assessment and deployment in cities. containing innovative evidence-based demonstrations for nature-based solutions deployment in cities. The toolkit will also be presented at the CN final Summit in Genk and will seek to stimulate emerging partnerships to support impact assessment plans and investments in cities., Suggested citation: Dumitru, A., Peralbo Rubio, E., Tomé Lourido, D., Collier, M.J., Dick, G., Mahony, P., Porter, J., Sermpezi, R. (2022). Connecting Nature Deliverable 3: Interactive, online toolkit containing innovative evidence-based demonstrations for nature-based solutions deployment in cities. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7010945

The Connecting Nature Framework places the nature-based solution at the core of an interactive process that runs through three distinct phases of development: planning, delivery, and stewardship. Throughout each phase, there are seven separate elements that cities and other entities may consider to help them shape their individual nature-based solution: Technical solutions, Governance, Financing, and business models, Nature-based enterprises, Co-production, Impact assessment, and Reflexive monitoring. The Connecting Nature Framework has been co-produced by scientific partners and a set of Front-runner Cities (FRCs) – Genk, Glasgow, and Poznan. The experiences and lessons learned by the FRCs have been transferred to a set of Fast-follower Cities (FFCs) – A Coruna, Burgas, Ioannina, Malaga, Nicosia, Pavlos Melas, and Sarajevo – via the Experiential Learning Framework (ELF). The ELF has fostered peer-to-peer exchange and collaborative learning across all project activities to support the scaling out of nature-based solutions. This report details the implementation of the Connecting Nature Framework in the FFCs. Generally speaking, the cities have highlighted that the Connecting Nature Framework report and the narrative are useful tools for internal use, as a mechanism to share information on nature-based solutions (NBS). While the cities highlight the challenges with the concept of NbS, each city has reflected on how the use of the Framework has provided opportunities to create conditions for a more integrated approach that the multifunctional aspect of NbS demands. For example, Ioannina’s experience highlights the role of nature-based solutions as positive, proactive tools rather than (just) a response to societal and environmental challenges., Suggested citation: Xidous, D., Bakola, E., Beslagic, L., Boskidis I., García-Espina Adank, C., Gonzalez Vazquez, M. M., Malekkidou, E., Mavroudi, M., Pasic, B., Prieto Gonzalez, A., Suljevic, N., Trendafilov, I., Tsouris, V., Velikova, V. and Collier, M.J. (2022). Connecting Nature Deliverable 14: Report on the implementation of Connecting Nature Frameworks in the Fast Follower Cities. Brussels, DG Research & Innovation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7340457

This Deliverable presents the Connecting Nature Impact Assessment framework and capacity-building process whose aim has been to support the mainstreaming of a culture of impact evaluation and evidence-based nature-based solutions (NBS) design and implementation in cities. The framework is the result of a co-production process between academic and city council partners in the project and has been implemented in the cities, leading to the development of monitoring and evaluation plans for specific NBS exemplars at different scales. Additional capacity-building tools have been created to integrate the impact assessment framework into regular urban planning processes, such as an impact assessment training programme, and a digitally-supported impact assessment tool guiding cities through the process of thinking about and designing their monitoring and evaluation strategy. We present the Connecting Nature Impact Assessment Framework, and we illustrate it with the monitoring and evaluation plans of the front-runner cities. We then focus on an analysis of the main challenges experienced and lessons learned in this process of capacity building, to enhance transferability; we present how knowledge has been transferred to fast-follower and multiplier cities, and we finalize by drawing conclusions on the most promising indicators for NBS in cities, focusing on those indicators that have already been tested in practice., Suggested citation: Dumitru, A., Peralbo Rubio, E., Tomé Lourido, D., Collier, M.J., Dick, G., Dymek, D., Dziubaba, A., Fagiewicz, K., Lupa, P., Mikuła, L., Poniży, L., Quartier, M., Sermpezi, R., Vos, P., and Zwierzchowska, I. (2021) Connecting Nature Deliverable 2: Report on the outcomes of the lessons learned, mapping of emerging experiments and expert workshops, leading to a synthesis of the most promising indicators for nature-based solutions. DOI: https:/doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7010920

The arrival of the phrase nature-based solutions into the lexicon of academics, planners, managers and policy makers in recent years has sparked a heated debate as to the effectiveness of using nature as a viable solution for mitigating the impacts of anthropogenic environmental change. One of the difficulties of evaluating the potential efficacy and impact of nature-based solutions is that it is believed that there is little evidence by way of a precedent or long-term successful examples. Much literature exists on the subject of designing with nature to provide multi-functional green infrastructure, connectivity in the landscape, and ecosystem service provision. Indeed, in the opinion of many, the nature-based solution approach appears to synergise research into green infrastructure, ecological connectivity and ecosystem service provision for building climate-related resilience. However, when a nature-based solution has been specifically selected over, say, an engineered solution the literature is rather less clear. So, decision-makers may find it necessary to rely on less reliable sources of impact evidence. This paper argues that field boundary hedgerows may be considered to be exemplars of a nature-based solution, one that was planned, designed, perfected and mainstreamed at a landscape scale, that was specifically selected over a non-nature-based solution, and one that is still in providing solutions and co-benefits today. Therefore, hedgerows may provide some perspective into the potential or emergent co-benefits that the current nature-based solution approach seeks to provide.

This opinion paper discusses urban lawns, the most common part of open green spaces and urban green infrastructures. It highlights both the ecosystem services and also disservices provided by urban lawns based on the authors’ experience of working within interdisciplinary research projects on lawns in different cities of Europe (Germany, Sweden and Russia), New Zealand (Christchurch), USA (Syracuse, NY) and Australia (Perth). It complements this experience with a detailed literature review based on the most recent studies of different biophysical, social, planning and design aspects of lawns. We also used an international workshop as an important part of the research methodology. We argue that although lawns of Europe and the United States of America are now relatively well studied, other parts of the world still underestimate the importance of researching lawns as a complex ecological and social phenomenon. One of the core objectives of this paper is to share a paradigm of nature-based solutions in the context of lawns, which can be an important step towards finding resilient sustainable alternatives for urban green spaces in the time of growing urbanisation, increased urban land use competition, various user demands and related societal challenges of the urban environment. We hypothesise that these solutions may be found in urban ecosystems and various local native plant communities that are rich in species and able to withstand harsh conditions such as heavy trampling and droughts. To support the theoretical hypothesis of the relevance of nature-based solutions for lawns we also suggest and discuss the concept of two natures—different approaches to the vision of urban nature, including the understanding and appreciation of lawns. This will help to increase the awareness of existing local ecological approaches as well as an importance of introducing innovative landscape architecture practices. This article suggests that there is a potential for future transdisciplinary international research that might aid our understanding of lawns in different climatic and socio-cultural conditions as well as develop locally adapted (to environmental conditions, social needs and management policies) and accepted nature-based solutions., Suggested citation: Ignatieva, M., Haase, D., Dushkova, D. and Haase, A. (2020) Lawns in cities: from a globalised urban green space phenomenon to sustainable nature-based solutions. Land, 9(3).

Welcome to the Connecting Nature, Nature-based Enterprise Platform. Infographic on five reasons to get involved. For additional information on the Connecting Nature project see here, or email marcus.collier@tcd.ie., Suggested citation: McQuaid, S. (2020) Connecting Nature, Nature-based Enterprise platform. Infographic prepared by the Connecting Nature Project. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3952185

To advance the science and practice of implementing nature-based solutions in cities, it is important to examine the obstacles and provide means to overcome them. This paper presents a conceptual framework of policy needs for analysing the science of nature-based solutions’ implementation and connect it to the practice of their implementation that advances the literature by connecting well-researched gaps to a more innovative action-oriented policy development approach that we argue is required for embedding scaled-up nature-based solutions. We conceptualise and ground the policy needs framework of skills, knowledge and partnerships theoretically in current literature of NBS policy and planning and empirically in three European case study cities: Genk in Belgium, Glasgow in UK and Poznan in Poland. The cross-case study analysis points to the knowledge needs of systems’ thinking and solutions-oriented thinking as paramount for implementing nature-based solutions. Our analysis further points to the skills’ needs of negotiation and collaboration for administrative silo bridging and for forging multi-sectoral partnerships essential for planning, and co-managing NBS. We conclude with three ways forward to addressing the policy needs for implementation: first, cities can invest in tailored and targeted capacity building programs, second, institutional spaces need to be established that allow for collaborative learning through and for partnerships and third, cities need to chart governance innovations that promote evidence-based policy for nature-based solutions’ design and implementation. If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about the Connecting Nature project, pleaseemail marcus.collier@tcd.ie.

Nature-based enterprises are highly varied in nature. The survey responses shown here came from nature conservation NGOs, community-garden enterprises, ‘living wall’ suppliers, tech start-ups using satellite data to monitor the quality of urban nature and many more. If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about the Connecting Nature project, please email marcus.collier@tcd.ie., Suggested citation: McQuaid, S. and Kooijman, E. (2020) Ten research findings about nature-based enterprises. Infographic prepared by the Connecting Nature Project. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3952041

Nature-based enterprises are highly varied in nature. The survey responses shown here came from nature conservation NGOs, community-garden enterprises, ‘living wall’ suppliers, tech start-ups using satellite data to monitor the quality of urban nature and many more. If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about theConnecting Natureproject, pleaseemail marcus.collier@tcd.ie.

Connecting Nature aims to support cities in securing financing to support the large-scale implementation of nature-based solutions. This report provides an update on the progress of three Connecting Nature city partners in securing financing for large-scale nature-based solution exemplars in their city.

The concept of a nature-based solution (NBS) has been developed in order to operationalize an ecosystem services approach within spatial planning policies and practices, to fully integrate the ecological dimension, and, at the same time, to address current societal challenges in cities. It exceeds the bounds of traditional approaches that aim &lsquo, to protect and preserve&rsquo, by considering enhancing, restoring, co-creating, and co-designing urban green networks with nature that are characterized by multifunctionality and connectivity. NBSs include the main ideas of green and blue infrastructure, ecosystem services, and biomimicry concepts, and they are considered to be urban design and planning tools for ecologically sensitive urban development. Nowadays, NBSs are on their way to the mainstream as part of both national and international policies. The successful implementation of NBSs in Europe and worldwide, which is becoming increasingly common, highlights the importance and relevance of NBS for sustainable and livable cities. This paper discusses the roles, development processes, and functions of NBSs in cities by taking Leipzig as a case study. Using data from interviews conducted from 2017 to 2019, we study the past and current challenges that the city faces, including the whole process of NBS implementation and successful realization. We discuss the main drivers, governance actors, and design options of NBSs. We highlight the ecosystem services provided by each NBS. We discuss these drivers and governance strategies by applying the framework for assessing the co-benefits of NBSs in urban areas in order to assess the opportunities and challenges that NBSs may have. This way, we are able to identify steps and procedures that help to increase the evidence base for the effectiveness of NBS by providing examples of best practice that demonstrate the multiple co-benefits provided by NBSs.

This is a presentation at the launch of the Connecting Nature China hub

Cities all over the world are confronting intertwined environmental, social and economic problems and aim to become resilient to climate change and promote wellbeing for all their citizens. Nature-based solutions have been proposed as a promising policy approach to addressing urban problems for the potential they have to deliver multiple benefits and foster wellbeing for individuals and communities. However, the evidence for their multiple benefits is rather scarce and highly fragmented, and more robust frameworks for the monitoring and assessment of their impacts are needed to guide urban policy-making. This paper focuses on the current state of impact assessment of nature-based solutions in Europe and through a systematic review of the literature identifies four conceptual problems and three empirical gaps that impede the accumulation of solid evidence regarding of the impacts of different types of nature-based solutions for different social groups; as well as of the contextual conditions that contribute to their performance and delivery of multiple outcomes. Based on the identified mis-conceptualizations and gaps, we derive a series of principles that should guide the development of robust impact assessment frameworks for nature-based solutions. We discuss the policy implications of these gaps and principles. We conclude by making a series of recommendations that should inform the design of impact monitoring and evaluation frameworks in cities, in order to develop the comparative evidence base on the effectiveness of nature-based solutions. This, in turn, can inform urban decision-making on the appropriate design, implementation, and long-term regeneration of nature-based solutions, to ensure long-term delivery of important ecosystem services for different social groups. If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about theConnecting Natureproject, pleaseemail marcus.collier@tcd.ie.

The Connecting Nature partnership includes three cities that are leading the way in terms of developing and implementing a Framework for city-wide nature-based solution delivery: Genk (Belgium), Glasgow (Scotland), and Poznań (Poland). Of these cities, Poznań’s ambition is to supplement their existing ‘green wedge’ urban design by implementing a series of nature-based solution eco-gardens. The gardens will be designed to act as stepping-stones, providing connectivity between the existing green wedges, providing more equitable distribution of greenspace, and providing opportunities for experiencing and learning about nature. In collaboration with local kindergartens, the City of Poznań have already begun the roll-out of these gardens. Nature-based solution design principles are being used to convert grey spaces within the kindergartens into eco-gardens for the pupils and social gardens that provide accessibility for local communities. A key challenge in relation to out-scaling this initiative across the city is the high expense of demolishing and disposing of the hard surfaces that need to be removed in order to create the nature- based solution eco-gardens. Based on the experiences of the City of Poznań Connecting Nature team, this cost can take up most of the budget for the re-design. In order to help reduce/remove this barrier to delivery, a review how other projects globally have addressed this barrier was carried out. If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about the Connecting Nature project, please email marcus.collier@tcd.ie.

This document presents the Nature-based Solutions Framework developed in the Connecting Nature project to support the planning, delivery, and legacy of nature-based solutions on a large scale in cities. The main aim of the framework is to provide a comprehensive standard that informs urban planning and policy practice to scale up urban resilience, innovation, and empowerment via nature-based solutions in cities. The framework facilitates learning by and for cities on how to generate and connect diverse types of (e.g. technical, market, governance, social) innovations engendered by nature-based solutions. In this way, we generate innovation propositions for science and practice for the large-scale implementation of nature-based solutions and for making Europe a global leader in the innovation and implementation of nature-based solutions. Our main premise lies in our understanding of nature-based solutions as ‘living’ sustainability transition experiments. A key challenge is large-scale implementation – or ‘up-scaling’ – of nature-based solutions. This includes, for example, the replication or expansion of demonstration projects or the institutional embedding of new knowledge, skills, and collaboration and financing mechanisms. Scaling nature-based solutions is therefore about more than the individual innovations: it is about how they are connected to each other and to their contexts. This requires new types of processes, partnerships, conditions, skills, and knowledge to allow for multi-actor collaboration and synergies, design fit-to-context nature-based solutions that generate multiple benefits, and ensure early assessment of the transformations brought about in cities. We have co-produced the Nature-based Solutions Framework, its translation to the frontrunner cities, and the derivation of lessons through iterative interaction between researchers and planners of the cities in the Connecting Nature project. This means that we adopted a ‘learning-by-doing’ approach based on science-practice collaboration and cross-disciplinary cooperation. Our aim is to in this way integrate and generate new knowledge and ultimately to translate this knowledge into urban planning and policy frameworks and unlock existing barriers. This document envelops the reports by the frontrunner cities Genk (Belgium), Glasgow (United Kingdom) and Poznań (Poland), which showcase how the cities made use of the framework to implement their nature-based solutions exemplars. It summarises how the cities’ experiences contribute to (connecting) diverse types of innovations for the large-scale nature-based solutions implementation in cities., Suggested citation: Hölscher, K., Allaert, K., Frantzeskaki, N., Lodder, M., Notermans, I., Sillen, D., Collier, M. J., Connop, S., Dick, G., Dumitru, A., Dziubala, A., Kelly, S., Madajczyk, N., McQuaid, S., Mowatt, L., Osipiuk, A., Quartier, M., Sermpezi, R., Vandergert, P., van De Sijpe, K., and Vos, P. (2019). Connecting Nature Deliverable 5: Nature-based Solutions Framework for Front-runner cities. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7442857

This paper introduces a novel approach to green space availability in cities that includes the thus-far mostly neglected urban front and backyard green space around residential buildings on privately owned ground. To quantify the full spatial scope of urban green space, we calculated subpixel vegetation fractions from RapidEye remote-sensing data for the entire city with a spectral unmixing technique that enabled us to model the extent of urban vegetation with a high degree of confidence (MAE 7%, R2 0.92). We then applied a new ‘urban front and back yard green space derivation algorithm’, namely, a masking of the fractional vegetation data using GIS vector data of land cover, in order to delineate the front and backyard greenspace of residential houses in a city with an accuracy of 96%. Combining these two approaches, we can calculate the area of urban front and back yard green space for the entire city (including different residential structure types) and compare this data to the area of public (parks, urban forests) and semi-public (allotment gardens) green spaces that have been used for prevailing per capita green space availability analyses. The new method is exemplified at the city of Leipzig, Germany, which provides different residential structures concerning house types and the surrounding green that are characteristic of many European cities. Key findings include that the total amount of urban front and back yard green space is almost 2000 ha, which is ∼40% of the amount of public green space (4768 ha). In 15 out of the 63 total districts, there is more front and backyard than public green space, which highlights the importance of these urban front and back yard green space for the analysis of urban livelihoods and a tool for detailed ecosystem services-oriented urban planning. If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about theConnecting Natureproject, pleaseemail marcus.collier@tcd.ie.

Co-creation and co-production have been recognised as a novel collaborative mode of urban governance, which allows for deep participation to leverage and weave together local, expert and tacit knowledge and ultimately advance urban sustainability and resilience. Co-creation and co-production promote collaborations and partnerships among diverse actors – including civil servants, citizens, planners, entrepreneurs, architects, scientists, and engineers – in the design, implementation, and eventually stewarding of nature-based solutions (NBS). In this way, they can support the generation of new and more integrated knowledge that leads to the design of multifunctional NBS (pertaining not only to their mere technical design but also to their financing, business models, and social innovations) addressing local needs and mobilising local opportunities. In addition, the collaborative nature of co-creation and co-production generates novel and shared problem framings and visions, spurs new relationships between actors (for example between local government and citizens, across city departments) and triggers the (re-)definition of roles and responsibilities and empowerment of actors to become engaged in NBS advocating and stewarding. This report presents the work-in-progress on how in Connecting Nature we have developed the frameworks and guidebooks for co-production of NBS and reflexive monitoring via an iterative co-production process between the scientific partners and cities – so far together with the Connecting Nature frontrunner cities Genk (Belgium), Glasgow (United Kingdom) and Poznań (Poland). Next to supporting the co-production processes on the ground, the framework also integrates insights on how different cities design co-production processes in practice, including the starting considerations/objectives, when and how (not) to connect to which types of actors, the tools used and opportunities and challenges encountered. The frameworks allow to systematise knowledge from the experiences with co-production and reflexive monitoring from cities back to the conceptual level of the design principles and to thus develop conceptually grounded and practice-proven guidebooks with empirical examples and lessons. Setting up high-quality, viable and effective co-production requires good process designs, knowledge about the right tools and methods, as well as enabling conditions that provide the basis for co-production. In summary, the framework encompasses the following building blocks: Co-production design principles provide a heuristic to design and evaluate knowledge co-production processes. Next to facilitating the design and implementation of co-production processes, the principles allow for the outcomes and impacts of co-production to be mapped and measured, for example, whether knowledge-based outputs inform strategic urban agendas. Co-production tools and methods can be used in specific co-production activities and settings so as to facilitate discussions, interactions, and knowledge exchanges between actors in line with a specific objective (e.g. vision development, problem framing). Reflexive monitoring framework that includes a set of tools and methods to continuously learn about how the co-production process proceeds and identify follow-up actions and consequently adapt the process of NBS implementation on the go. We have worked with the cities in Connecting Nature to co-produce and apply the frameworks of co-production and reflexive monitoring. In this way, we could advance and apply the frameworks and methods as reported here, as well as learn from the cities’ experiences to derive conclusions for co-production and reflexive monitoring of NBS implementation. Both frameworks have proven valuable in both cities to support the co-production of NBS and to identify and navigate critical conditions, opportunities, and barriers for co-production. Specifically, the insights help to characterise co-production journeys and patterns in cities and to derive lessons learned. From the insight on needs, barriers, opportunities, and lessons for co-production, we can further expand the co-production framework by identifying co-production capacities that embody the conditions that need to be in place to enable and facilitate co-production. This work has resulted in two draft guidebooks on co-production (Appendix A) and reflexive monitoring (Appendix B), which combine the theoretical review and practical experiences and examples and will be further enriched as the project moves along. The guidebooks are conceived as methodological guidance and rich cookbooks based on the theoretical review and practical experiences and examples with co-production and reflexive monitoring that are presented here., Suggested citation: Hölscher, K., Frantzeskaki, N., Lodder, M., Notermans, I., Sillen, D., Albulescu, P., Collier, M.J., Dick, G., Dushkova, D., Dziubala, A., Haase, D., Macsinga, I., Madajczyk, N., McQuaid, S., Osipiuk, A., Quartier, M., Sulea, C., Vandergert, P., van de Sijpe, K., and Vos, P. (2019). Connecting Nature Deliverable 4: Report on outcomes of meetings, consultations, webinars and workshops leading to the publication of a 'Co-creation for cities' guidebook and infographics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7011030

The Nature-Based Solutions ‘Initiating Scaling’ Process is a mechanism for beginning a city’s journey from one where nature-based solutions are delivered as isolated pilots of innovation to one whereby nature-based solutions are embedded in city-wide processes and practice. To begin on this scaling journey, there is a need to: establish the current expertise and experience in nature-based solutions with a city; map and engage stakeholders in a shared transitioning vision in relation to upscaled delivery of nature-based solutions; and identify learning objectives that represent challenges to upscaling. This initiation process is based upon a co-production methodology centred around a city authority team. Co-production engages a broad group of stakeholders through experiential workshops and questionnaires to explore collective experience of nature-based solutions. If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about the Connecting Nature project, please email marcus.collier@tcd.ie.

This Deliverable briefly summarises progress to date on each of the Connecting Nature Front-runner Cities exemplars, as described by the Front-runner Cities themselves in narrative reports. The figure below illustrates the proposed journey of the Front-runner Cities in scaling up nature-based solutions through the Connecting Nature programme and beyond, as part of a step change in how cities embed NBS to achieve a range of benefits. Within Connecting Nature, the ambition is that the Front-runner Cities are innovating in entrepreneurial, co-creational processes so that the exemplars become a model for how nature-based solutions can be embedded across a city at multiple scales to deliver multiple benefits., Suggested citation: Vandergert, P., Collier, M. J., Connop, S., Dick, G., Dzubiala, A., Gonzalez, G., Jelliman, S., Mowat, L., Nash, C., van de Sype, K., Vos, P. Zwierzchowska, I. (2019) Connecting Nature Deliverable 9: An interim report on progress towards initiation of city-wide nature-based solutions exemplars. Brussels: DG Research & Innovation. DOI: https://dor.org/10.5281/zenodo.7458564.

Process charts showing the connection of FRC exemplars to city strategic KPIs, NBS frameworks and the UNSDGs, Suggested citation: Vandergert, P., Collier, M. J., Connop, S., Dick, G., Dzubiala, A., Gonzalez, G., Jelliman, S., Mowat, L., Nash, C., van de Sype, K., Vos, P. Zwierzchowska, I. (2019) Process charts showing the connection of FRC exemplars to city strategic KPIs, NBS frameworks and the UNSDGs. Deliverable 9, Appendix B of the Connecting Nature Project. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7458672.

Cities often don’t appreciate the benefits of green infrastructure (GI) enough. To recognise the extent to which green infrastructure and nature-based solutions (NbS) are present in the urban policy, we conducted a review of planning, strategic and programming documents of Poznań City as a Case Study. The study is aimed at 1) diagnosing of current position NbS in the tasks and directions of planning, strategic and programming documents; 2) characteristic of activities related to NbS according to the form of human-nature interaction; 3) determining the potential of including NbS in the local policy; 4) identifying the role of NbS in facing 4 main challenges in urban policy: resilience and climate change adaptation, health and well-being, social cohesion, economic development potential. The results show that a significant number of actions focus on GI changes towards its multifunctionality and better quality, while there are not many actions towards supporting citizens in using it. Also, despite urban pressure, new green spaces are still planned to be created. The role of NbS within GI in urban resilience is well recognised. Yet, the adaptation to climate change has gained a low priority so far. Linkages between GI and the wellbeing of inhabitants are well understood. However, the possibility to build and strengthen social cohesion based on GI is rather marginally noticed. The least recognised is the influence of NbS on the economic development potential. It is an area that still needs to be investigated to bring evidence in this field. We conclude that to support large-scale, nature-based solution implementation in cities, the crucial step is to bring them into the local urban agenda. An evaluation of urban policy documents based on the presented approach can serve as a guideline for identifying gaps and potentials for NbS inclusion. As a result, it can help the better organisation of urban policy and harmonisation of different sectors through NbS. If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about theConnecting Natureproject, pleaseemail marcus.collier@tcd.ie.

The Nature-based Solutions Business Model Canvas is an easy-to-use tool to help you capture in a visual format the business model of your Nature-based Solution. If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about the Connecting Nature project, please email marcus.collier@tcd.ie., Suggested citation: McQuaid, Siobhán (2019) Nature-based Solutions Business Model Canvas. A collaborative output from the Connecting Nature Horizon 2020 Project. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3936049.

If a ‘Renaturing of Cities’ strategy is to maximise the ecosystem service provision of urban green infrastructure (UGI), then detailed consideration of a habitat services, biodiversity-led approach and multifunctionality are necessary rather than relying on the assumed benefits of UGI per se. The paper presents preliminary data from three case studies, two in England and one in Germany, that explore how multifunctionality can be achieved, the stakeholders required, the usefulness of an experimental approach for demonstrating transformation, and how this can be fed back into policy. We argue that incorporating locally contextualised biodiversity-led UGI design into the planning and policy spheres contributes to the functioning and resilience of the city and provides the adaptability to respond to locally contextualised challenges, such as overheating, flooding, air pollution, health and wellbeing as well as biodiversity loss. Framing our research to encompass both the science of biodiversity-led UGI and co-developing methods for incorporating a strategic approach to implementation of biodiversity-led UGI by planners and developers addresses a gap in current knowledge and begins to address barriers to UGI implementation. By combining scientific with policy learning and defined urban environmental targets with community needs, our research to date has begun to demonstrate how nature-based solutions to building resilience and adaptive governance can be strategically incorporated within cities through UGI. Also available at:Connop et al 2016 If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about the Connecting Nature project, pleaseemail marcus.collier@tcd.ie.

This Deliverable represents a summary of the collaborative approach taken to generating this understanding and a dissemination mechanism for sharing this understanding within the Connecting Nature consortium, the global learning academy and beyond., Suggested citation: Connop, S., Dick, G., Dziubała, A., Fagiewicz, K., Hass, E., Hill, A., Jelliman, S., Kamplemann, S., Lupa, P., Madajczyk, N., Nash, C., Poniży, L., Vandergert, P., van der Sijpe, K., Vos, P., Zwierzchowska, I., & Collier, M.J. (2018). Connecting Nature Deliverable 8: Report on front-runner cities' current expertise and experience in nature-based solutions based on a synthesis of outcomes from experiential workshops, questionnaires, and Key Performance Indicators analysis. Brussels: DG Research & Innovation. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7443311

To facilitate a scaling up and embedding of multifunctional nature-based solutions, it is important to create a strategic enabling culture within cities – moving beyond a focus that often rests primarily within one departmental team (for example, spatial planning or green space management) to include a suite of strategic services such as corporate policy, economic development, housing and regeneration, health and social care, transport and to harness the support of elected local politicians. By creating this enabling culture, there are opportunities to identify and mobilise the multifunctional benefits that can accrue from a scaled-up city approach to nature-based solutions, embedding them within a broad range of strategic goals, aligned with indicators that can deliver a coherent place-based framework for improved local places for residents and businesses. The milestone is a draft document that reports on progress to identify linkages between the Connecting Nature front-runner city strategic goals and nature-based solutions goals to complement city planning and indicator development and to inform the exemplar implementation process. The analysis of this work will be incorporated in Deliverable 8, a report on front-runner cities’ current expertise and experience in nature-based solutions based on a synthesis of outcomes from experiential learning workshops and concluding with a process chart for a transferrable key performance indicators approach to nature-based solutions. The scope of the milestone is to provide a working draft of existing front-runner city organisational culture, in order to identify opportunities to embed indicators for nature-based solutions in the city's strategic context., Suggested citation: Vandergert, P., Jelliman, S., & Collier, M.J. (2018). Progress report on linkages between Front-runner City strategic goals and nature-based solutions goals to inform city plan and indicator development for Front-runner City exemplars. Deliverable 8 (Appendix 8.1) of the Connecting Nature Project. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7501867

The purpose of this paper is to explore the forms of ownership over natural resources according to the theories of Coase and Ostrom. Coase’s work is regarded as a theoretical basis for establishing private ownership over natural resources, whereas Ostrom’s theory is considered the most influential one supporting common/collective ownership. The key research question of the paper is whether the two theories are indeed opposite and contradictory. The novelty of our approach is that we account for the nature of common property rights in light of Buchanan’s theory of clubs, thereby showing that the opposition between the concepts of Coase and Ostrom is exaggerated. The point is that ownership is generally considered only in its most extreme forms – purely private and purely public. By referring to Buchanan, we show that in contexts of common/collective entitlements with varying degrees of publicness/privateness, Coasean bargaining and Ostromian rules of common/collective governance can coexist and work together effectively. On this basis, this research proposes a framework for defining policies for managing natural resources. If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about the Connecting Nature project, please email marcus.collier@tcd.ie., Suggested citation: Slaev, A. D. and Collier, M. (2018) Managing natural resources: Coasean bargaining versus Ostromian rules of common governance. Environmental Science & Policy, 85, pp. 47-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.03.017

This document is based on two main sources: firstly, exploratory research based on a survey carried out by AMU during the second half of 2017. Carried out in collaboration with the City of Poznań, the survey focused on NbS in Poznań City Hal and related budgetary units, companies in which the City of Poznań has a share, and associations of which the City of Poznań is a member. Secondly, exploratory interviews were carried out by Osmos on November 20-21 2017. The latter interviews were organised by the Connecting Nature team from the City of Poznań., Suggested citation: Haas, E., Kampelmann, S., Poniży, L., Zwierzchowska, I., & Collier, M.J. (2018). Synthesis of exploratory interviews in Poznań, Poland. Deliverable 8 (Appendix 8.4) of the Connecting Nature Project. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7501703

Objectives of the interviews 1. Explore NBS-type projects – learning about what made good projects a success and what led bad projects to be unsuccessful, 2. Connect with the local actors face to face and allow the interviewees to have the chance to express themselves. Gain an overview of organisational conditions, 3. Identify other relevant actors (both individuals and organisations) and their capacity/interest in contributing to Connecting Nature, 4. Explore and define the general narrative driving NBS in the subject city, and 5. Help define contacts and engagement strategies for stakeholders relevant to WP1-3 to ensure positive and constructive engagement with the project., Suggested citation: Hill, A., Jelliman, S., Kampelmann, S., & Collier, M.J. (2017). Synthesis of exploratory interviews in Glasgow, Scotland. Deliverable 8 (Appendix 8.3) of the Connecting Nature Project. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7501785.

Objectives of the interviews 1. Explore NbS-type projects – learning about what made good projects a success and what led bad projects to be unsuccessful, 2. Connect with the local actors face to face and allow the interviewees to have the chance to express themselves, 3. Identify other relevant actors (both individuals and organisations) and their capacity/interest in contributing to Connecting Nature, and 4. Explore and define the general narrative driving NbS in the subject city., Suggested citation: Hill, A., Kamplemann, S., Collier, M.J., Vandergert, P., van der Sijpe, K., & Vos, P. (2017). Synthesis of exploratory interviews in Genk, Belgium. Deliverable 8 (Appendix 8.2) of the Connecting Nature Project. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7501831

Cities are particularly prone to the effects of climate change. One way for cities to adapt is by enhancing their green infrastructure (GI) to mitigate the impacts of heat waves and flooding. While alternative GI design options exist, there are many unknowns regarding public support for the various options. This study aims to fill this gap by performing a socio-cultural valuation of urban GI for climate adaptation that encompasses multiple dimensions: people’s notion of and concerns about climate impacts, the degree to which people acknowledge the benefits of GI to alleviate such impacts, and people’s preferences for different GI measures, including their willingness to pay (WTP). Data were collected through photo-assisted face-to-face surveys (n = 200) with residents in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and linked to GI GIS data. Respondents had a notion of and concerns about climate impacts, but did not necessarily acknowledge that GI may help tackle these issues. Yet, when residents were informed about the adaptation capacity of different GI measures, their preferences shifted towards the most effective options. There was no information effect, however, on people’s WTP for GI, which was mostly related to income and ethnicity. Our study shows that economic valuation alone would miss nuances that socio-cultural valuation as applied in this paper can reveal. The method revealed preferences for particular adaptation designs, and assists in detecting why policy for climate adaptation may be hampered. Understanding people’s views on climate impacts and adaptation options is crucial for prioritizing effective policy responses in the face of climate change.

This is a presentation on the TURAS project which shows the structure and the work packages., Suggested Citation: Collier, Marcus J. (2016) Presentation on the TURAS FP7 project. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.3941055.

Can plants help to improve the air quality? People have often complained about Ivy on buildings, but research by Helix Pflanzen GmbH, a company that is specialised in the cultivation of ivy species and the development of green wall technology, is shedding new light on an old problem. Using a cultivated variety of ivy (Hedera helix ‘Wörner’), experiments were carried out that illustrated the binding effect that this Ivy has on fine dust particles. This is particularly important in urban areas, where fine dust can lead to significant impacts on quality of life. If you have any difficulty accessing this document, or you would like to know more about theConnecting Natureproject, pleaseemail marcus.collier@tcd.ie.

Green roofs have been implemented on new buildings as a tool to mitigate the loss of post-industrial or brownfield land. For this to be successful, the roofs must be designed appropriately; that is with the right growing media, suitable substrate depth, similar vegetation and with a comparable soil microbial community for a healthy rhizosphere. This study compared soil microbial communities (determined using phospholipid fatty acid or PLFA analysis) of two extensive green roofs and two post-industrial sites in Greater London. It was found that green roof rootzones constructed using engineered growing media are not depauperate, but can have an abundant soil microbial community that in some cases may be more diverse and numerous than communities found in brownfield areas. In this preliminary study, one green roof supported abundant soil microbial communities that were dominated by gram negative and aerobic bacteria, whilst fungal abundance was similar across all sites analysed. Furthermore, ratios of fungal: bacterial PLFA’s were larger from postindustrial sites but overall were consistent with bacterial dominated soils typical of early successional habitats.

Urban regions face a wide spectrum of challenges. They are home to over half of the world population, but occupy a relatively small area, resulting in pressures related to a limited amount of natural resources such as space and water. Moreover, both the societal system and the natural system are in constant flux resulting in constantly changing boundary conditions. This relates to, inter alia, the climate, demographics and the economy. In order to adequately tackle todays and tomorrows challenges, urban areas need to anticipate and adapt in their planning policies for the city in a strategic way. This strategic urban planning concerns not only spatial planning, but relates to all sectors that are relevant in a city (e.g. energy, waste, water, transport). To support effective strategic urban planning, policy and decision makers need information on the changing state of their urban environment, on how certain measures/policies affects this, and how unwanted impacts (e.g. heat stress, flood risk, traffic jams) are reduced. Correspondingly, strategic urban planning requires the merge of environmental analyses and the policy process with all relevant stakeholders (which will be discussed in Chapter 2). This document reports on various tools and methods that have been developed to aid decision making within this joint analytical and policy framework. This research has been performed in various settings (cities) and related to various themes, namely energy (Aalborg), flooding and water management (Rotterdam and Ljubljana), green roofs (London), urban climate (Rotterdam) and transport (Ljubljana). Experiences from not only the research performed, but also from explicitly reflecting on past activities shed some light on the governance associated with the policy process and implementation. These experiences teach us that people and timing play a crucial role in the actual execution. Timing relates to the time horizons of different actors (e.g. researchers, politicians, practitioners) and processes (e.g. urban development and maintenance of embankments), as well as seizing opportunities when possible. Co-creation of knowledge and plans is important here, which requires coordination and cooperation from the very beginning between different actors. Above all, strategic urban planning comes down to people, at all levels (policy analysis, policy making, decision making). People with an open mind who are dedicated, value an integrated approach, and can work in interdisciplinary settings with various stakeholders. Time to build trust and a dedicated coordinator to keep the process going are required for this. The best way to cooperate is to start acting. While learning by doing, capacity is built in terms of knowledge and the right mind-set of people involved who can then recognize future opportunities and keep awareness and support high. By investing and engaging in the knowledge base of its people, a city will become more resilient when facing new challenges in the future. For more information on this Deliverable please email Hans de Moel at hans.de.moel@vu.nl For additional information on the TURAS project see here, oremail marcus.collier@tcd.ie.

Work Package 2 (WP2) of the TURAS (Transitioning towards Urban Resilience and Sustainability) FP7 European Research and Knowledge Exchange Programme provides a unique and comprehensive reference for those interested in current understanding in relation to the benefits that green infrastructure can bring to cities in terms of increasing sustainability and resilience. To contextualise current understanding, it is necessary to understand the historical context of urban development. Architecture and planning theories since Le Corbusier’ Ville Radieuse axiom, almost one century ago, theorised and advised that green space should be one of the basic components of human urban settlements. Nevertheless, due to numerous constraints and the prioritisation of economic and social drivers for urbanisation, the key foci leading the development of European cities have been those for which green space was not always an intrinsic consideration or, if it was considered, was restricted in scope and functionality. Work package 2 activity units are showcases of work carried out under work package 2 that will be carried forward into the dissemination phase of TURAS through a series of workshops to help Public Authorities transition towards more sustainable and resilient communities. Workshops will be designed to benefit all stakeholders in the urban planning process. Activity Units from WP2 will showcase: how urban green infrastructure can be embedded at the heart of sustainable urban design; best practice for cost/benefit analysis of green infrastructure projects; how decision-making tools can support the design and planning process for urban green infrastructure; how biodiversity can benefit from design incorporating biomimicry of regional context; how green infrastructure can be embedded into planning guidance; how to design urban green infrastructure to create multifunctional ecosystem service benefits; good practice for the entire process of urban green infrastructure implementation from idea through to installation and management. For additional information on this deliverable please email Stuart Connop at s.p.connop@uel.ac.uk. For additional information on the TURAS project see here, oremail marcus.collier@tcd.ie.

There has been very little investigation into the soil microbial community on green roofs, yet this below ground habitat is vital for ecosystem functioning. Green roofs are often harsh environments that would greatly benefit from having a healthy microbial system, allowing efficient nutrient cycling and a degree of drought tolerance in dry summer months. To test if green roof microbial communities could be manipulated, we added mycorrhizal fungi and a microbial mixture (‘compost tea’) to green roof rootzones, composed mainly of crushed brick or crushed concrete. The study revealed that growing media type and depth play a vital role in the microbial ecology of green roofs. There are complex relationships between depth and type of substrate and the biomass of different microbial groups, with no clear pattern being observed. Following the addition of inoculants, bacterial groups tended to increase in biomass in shallower substrates, whereas fungal biomass change was dependent on depth and type of substrate. Increased fungal biomass was found in shallow plots containing more crushed concrete and deeper plots containing more crushed brick where compost tea (a live mixture of beneficial bacteria) was added, perhaps due to the presence of helper bacteria for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Often there was not an additive affect of the microbial inoculations but instead an antagonistic interaction between the added AM fungi and the compost tea. This suggests that some species of microbes may not be compatible with others, as competition for limited resources occurs within the various substrates. The overall results suggest that microbial inoculations of green roof habitats are sustainable. They need only be done once for increased biomass to be found in subsequent years, indicating that this is a novel and viable method of enhancing roof community composition.

This opinion paper discusses urban lawns, the most common part of open green spaces and urban green infrastructures. It highlights both the ecosystem services and also disservices provided by urban lawns based on the authors’ experience of working within interdisciplinary research projects on lawns in different cities of Europe (Germany, Sweden and Russia), New Zealand (Christchurch), USA (Syracuse, NY) and Australia (Perth). It complements this experience with a detailed literature review based on the most recent studies of different biophysical, social, planning and design aspects of lawns. We also used an international workshop as an important part of the research methodology. We argue that although lawns of Europe and the United States of America are now relatively well studied, other parts of the world still underestimate the importance of researching lawns as a complex ecological and social phenomenon. One of the core objectives of this paper is to share a paradigm of nature-based solutions in the context of lawns, which can be an important step towards finding resilient sustainable alternatives for urban green spaces in the time of growing urbanisation, increased urban land use competition, various user demands and related societal challenges of the urban environment. We hypothesise that these solutions may be found in urban ecosystems and various local native plant communities that are rich in species and able to withstand harsh conditions such as heavy trampling and droughts. To support the theoretical hypothesis of the relevance of nature-based solutions for lawns we also suggest and discuss the concept of two natures—different approaches to the vision of urban nature, including the understanding and appreciation of lawns. This will help to increase the awareness of existing local ecological approaches as well as an importance of introducing innovative landscape architecture practices. This article suggests that there is a potential for future transdisciplinary international research that might aid our understanding of lawns in different climatic and socio-cultural conditions as well as develop locally adapted (to environmental conditions, social needs and management policies) and accepted nature-based solutions.

Work Package 2 (WP2) of the TURAS (Transitioning towards Urban Resilience and Sustainability) FP7 European Research and Knowledge Exchange Programme provides a unique and comprehensive reference for those interested in current understanding in relation to the benefits that green infrastructure can bring to cities in terms of increasing sustainability and resilience. To contextualise current understanding, it is necessary to understand the historical context of urban development. Architecture and planning theories since Le Corbusier’ Ville Radieuse axiom, almost one century ago, theorised and advised that green space should be one of the basic components of human urban settlements. Nevertheless, due to numerous constraints and the prioritisation of economic and social drivers for urbanisation, the key foci leading the development of European cities have been those for which green space was not always an intrinsic consideration or, if it was considered, was restricted in scope and functionality. Work package 2 activity units are showcases of work carried out under work package 2 that will be carried forward into the dissemination phase of TURAS through a series of workshops to help Public Authorities transition towards more sustainable and resilient communities. Workshops will be designed to benefit all stakeholders in the urban planning process. Activity Units from WP2 will showcase: how urban green infrastructure can be embedded at the heart of sustainable urban design; best practice for cost/benefit analysis of green infrastructure projects; how decision-making tools can support the design and planning process for urban green infrastructure; how biodiversity can benefit from design incorporating biomimicry of regional context; how green infrastructure can be embedded into planning guidance; how to design urban green infrastructure to create multifunctional ecosystem service benefits; good practice for the entire process of urban green infrastructure implementation from idea through to installation and management. For additional information on this deliverable please email Stuart Connop at s.p.connop@uel.ac.uk. For additional information on the TURAS project see here, or email marcus.collier@tcd.ie., Suggested citation: Connop, S., Salvemini, M., Berardi, L., Newport, D. and Collier, M.J. (2014) Activity units for re-greening cities. Deliverable 2.3 of the TURAS FP7 Project. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3940927.