Uptake and implementation of Nature-Based Solutions: An analysis of barriers using Interpretive Structural Modeling

Area of Science:

• Urban planning and environmental science.
• Focus on sustainable urban development and climate change adaptation.

Background:

• Cities face increasing pressure from climate change and urbanization.
• Nature-based solutions (NBS) offer multifunctional approaches to urban challenges.
• Limited adoption of NBS is attributed to various implementation barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and categorize dominant barriers to NBS uptake and implementation.
• To analyze the interdependencies among these barriers using structural modeling.
• To provide insights for effective NBS strategy development in urban contexts.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and expert interviews to identify 15 key barriers.
• Questionnaire-based ranking of identified barriers.
• Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) to map barrier interdependencies.
• MICMAC analysis to classify barriers based on driving and dependence power.

Main Results:

• A six-level structural model illustrating barrier relationships was developed.
• Barriers were classified into four distinct categories via MICMAC analysis.
• Political, institutional, and knowledge-related barriers emerged as the most dominant.
• These dominant barriers significantly impede the widespread adoption of NBS.

Conclusions:

• Understanding barrier dynamics is crucial for advancing NBS in cities.
• Prioritizing and managing political, institutional, and knowledge barriers are essential.
• This research offers a framework for cities to overcome obstacles and implement NBS effectively.
• Strategic interventions targeting these dominant barriers can accelerate NBS adoption for urban resilience.