Planning nature-based solutions

Nature-based solutions (NBS) find increasing attention as actions to address societal challenges through harnessing ecological processes, yet knowledge gaps exist regarding approaches to landscape planning with NBS. This paper aims to provide suggestions of how planning NBS can be conceptualized and applied in practice. We develop a framework for planning NBS by merging insights from literature and a case study in the Lahn river landscape, Germany. Our framework relates to three key criteria that define NBS, and consists of six steps of planning: $\textit{Co-define setting}$, $\textit{Understand challenges}$, $\textit{Create visions and scenarios}$, $\textit{Assess potential impacts}$, $\textit{Develop solution strategies}$, and $\textit{Realize and monitor}$. Its implementation is guided by five principles, namely $\textit{Place-specificity}$, $\textit{Evidence base}$, $\textit{Integration}$, $\textit{Equity}$, and $\textit{Transdisciplinarity}$. Drawing on the empirical insights from the case study, we suggest suitable methods and a checklist of supportive procedures for applying the framework in practice. Taken together, our framework can facilitate planning NBS and provides further steps towards mainstreaming

Planning and developing sustainable river landscapes with nature-based solutions

Recommendations of the PlanSmart research group: Planners and decision-makers should increase the uptake of nature-based solutions in planning and implementing sustainable river landscapes

Zukunftsfähige Flusslandschaften mit naturbasierten Lösungen planen und entwickeln

Empfehlungen der Forschungsgruppe PlanSmart: Bei der Planung und Realisierung zukunftsfähiger Flusslandschaften sollten naturbasierte Lösungen stärker als bisher zum Einsatz kommen