Supporting Nature-Based Solutions via Nature-Based Thinking across European and Latin American cities

Area of Science:

• Urban Ecology
• Environmental Planning
• Societal Transformations

Background:

• Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are globally applied but face critiques for lacking deep transformation capacity.
• Urgent issues like biodiversity loss, climate change, and inclusion demand more radical approaches to urban nature integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how an inclusive, integrated, and long-sighted approach, termed Nature-Based Thinking (NBT), can support urban transformations.
• To address critiques of NBS by examining a more radical integration of nature within cities.
• To investigate the potential of NBT for future nature-city relations in Europe and Latin America.

Main Methods:

• A reflective and iterative research process.
• Engagement with research and practice communities through a symposium.
• Exploration via a series of futures workshops on NBT in urban contexts.

Main Results:

• NBT requires a shift towards 'nature with people,' not 'nature for people.'
• New organizational structures and long-term perspectives are crucial for NBS interventions.
• Cultural-structural change and novel governance paradigms are needed for effective cross-sectoral coordination and stakeholder engagement.

Conclusions:

• Holistic Nature-Based Thinking (NBT) is essential for addressing urban sustainability challenges.
• Transformative urban development necessitates inclusive human-nature relations and adaptive governance.
• Future NBS planning must embed long-term vision and broad stakeholder involvement for enduring impact.