Partnerships for Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Areas – Showcasing Successful Examples

Abstract

Increasing the uptake of nature-based solutions (NBS) requires greater collaboration amongst different policy areas, sectors and stakeholders. This chapter showcases examples of multi-stakeholder partnerships, private sector leadership, and citizen engagement, which have supported the development or implementation of NBS in urban areas. It aims to complement the theoretical contributions of the previous chapters of this book by providing real-world insights into how such partnerships can promote climate resilience and nature conservation, as well as the lessons that can be learned from them. It thereby hopes to spark ideas for future research and the development of collaborative, multi-stakeholder partnerships for NBS.

Full text

275© The Author(s) 2017
N. Kabisch et al. (eds.), Nature‐based Solutions to Climate Change Adaptation
in Urban Areas, Theory and Practice of Urban Sustainability Transitions,
DOI10.1007/978-3-319-56091-5_16
Chapter 16
Partnerships forNature-Based Solutions
inUrban Areas– Showcasing Successful
Examples
Chantal vanHam andHelenKlimmek
This chapter is written from IUCNs perspective as a global membership organisation uniquely com-
posed of state and government agencies, NGOs, scientic institutions and business associations.
C. vanHam (*) • H. Klimmek
IUCN European Regional Ofce, Brussels, Belgium
e-mail: Chantal.vanham@iucn.org; Helen.klimmek@iucn.org
Abstract Increasing the uptake of nature-based solutions (NBS) requires greater
collaboration amongst different policy areas, sectors and stakeholders. This chapter
showcases examples of multi-stakeholder partnerships, private sector leadership,
and citizen engagement, which have supported the development or implementation
of NBS in urban areas. It aims to complement the theoretical contributions of the
previous chapters of this book by providing real-world insights into how such part-
nerships can promote climate resilience and nature conservation, as well as the les-
sons that can be learned from them. It thereby hopes to spark ideas for future research
and the development of collaborative, multi-stakeholder partnerships for NBS.
Keywords Multidisciplinary partnerships • natural capital • citizen engagement •
nature-based solutions
16.1 Introduction
Recent research (Kabisch etal. 2016) has shown that there is a need to forge new
networks and develop trans-disciplinary and inclusive partnerships and governance
approaches in order to foster the uptake of nature-based solutions (NBS) in response
to climate-related challenges. Producing stronger evidence on NBS for climate
change adaptation and mitigation, and raising awareness of their benets to society,
are also key priorities for policy and practice.
Partnerships are collaborative arrangements which are important for implement-
ing sustainability agendas due to two distinct and dening characteristics: (a) They
can create and catalyse synergies between different parts of society by pooling

276
together resources and skills, knowledge, institutional and governance capacities
and (b) they are exible and versatile in the roles they adopt, as partners match and
complement their competencies and capacities to undertake a task or aim to achieve
a common target (Frantzeskaki etal. 2014).
For IUCN, partnerships are a key driving force for successful conservation action.
The socio-economic and environmental challenges confronting society today are
complex and far from clear-cut. Bringing together diverse stakeholders such as gov-
ernments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities and indigenous peoples
groups, can help to address these challenges in a comprehensive and inclusive way.
The complexity of urban environments underlines the importance of multi-
disciplinary and multi-scale partnerships in cities. Cities represent a new class of
ecosystems shaped by the dynamic interactions between ecological and social sys-
tems (CBD 2012). Urban citizens depend on ecosystems both within and beyond
cities for a wide variety of goods and services (e.g. food, water, energy, climate
regulation), and while cities are increasingly recognised for their role in conserva-
tion (CBD 2012), urbanisation also presents a major environmental challenge, for
example by driving habitat conversion (McDonald etal. 2013).
Nature offers great untapped potential for improving the quality of life of urban
citizens and nding solutions to challenges such as rising temperatures (the urban
heat island effect) or ooding (CBD 2012). The challenge lies in developing and
adopting urban planning and management approaches that ensure the delivery of
regulating, provisioning, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services, while also
promoting the sustainable use of resources.
Ideally, stakeholders from different policy areas and sectors should come together to
develop holistic approaches to managing natural capital– the world’s stocks of natural
assets which includes geology, soil, air, water and all living things. In reality however,
collaboration between sectors and stakeholders is often hindered by a lack of exchange
and cooperation, presenting a barrier to effective policymaking (Science for Environment
Policy 2016) and the implementation of successful conservation initiatives.
Multidisciplinary and cross-cutting concepts such as NBS have the potential to
facilitate cooperation between sectors and contribute to a more holistic approach to
tackling socio-economic and environmental challenges. From IUCNs perspective,
NBS are interventions which use nature, and the ecosystem services they provide,
to address societal challenges such as climate change. Well-functioning ecosystems
that deliver services needed by society are at the core of these types of solutions,
which include, for instance, the creation or restoration of large ecosystems; invest-
ing in natural infrastructure and watershed management for water, food and energy
security and climate change adaptation; ecosystem-based mitigation oriented solu-
tions, such as the conservation and sustainable management of forests; and using
ecologically engineered solutions, such as intertidal habitats or oyster reefs to pro-
tect shorelines and reduce sea-level rise impact and coastal inundation.
The aim of this chapter is to prole a broad range of partnerships led by the pri-
vate sector, local communities and local/regional governments, which have restored,
conserved and managed ecosystems to the benet of people and the environment.
The following sections include reections on key outcomes and lessons that can be
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277
learned from each of these examples, which can provide the basis for further
research into the implementation of NBS.The examples contained in this chapter
were sourced through IUCNs global knowledge network and connections, supple-
mented by existing literature, and were chosen based on their suitability for high-
lighting success factors of, and challenges to partnerships for NBS.The examples
were also selected to reect diversity in terms of the partners involved and their
geographical location.
16.2 The Private Sector– AValuable Partner
forImplementing NBS
The private sector (i.e. for-prot businesses) is a key partner to engage with in the
process of meeting global biodiversity conservation targets. While the private sector
can have negative impacts on biodiversity, it also has the potential to offer innova-
tive solutions to urban challenges. Businesses can provide insights and perspectives
which are complementary to those from governments and civil society. In particular,
their knowledge of markets, management experience, and ability to harness
advanced research and development to deliver solutions, can be valuable assets in
the context of implementing NBS (IUCN 2012a).
Many businesses are increasingly realising that their future depends (directly or
indirectly) on natural resources and that solely relying on man-made infrastructure is
not enough (Ozment etal. 2015). Man-made storm surge barriers, for example, can
help protect harbours, but can also seriously increase surge levels in surrounding areas.
River ecosystems throughout Europe have been severely impacted by engineering
projects for ood protection, navigation, water supply and hydroelectricity; it is esti-
mated that less than 20% of Europe’s rivers and oodplains are in their natural state
(RESTORE 2016). A combination of measures is needed to tackle ood and climate
change related challenges effectively. This must include land-use management and
nature-based measures which embrace natural systems as a means of enhancing our
well-being and reducing risk (Munich RE 2015). Growing oyster reefs, for example,
can help to reduce coastal erosion and protect businesses from storm surges, while
also ltering contaminated seawater and supporting local sheries (RESTORE 2016).
The importance and value of engaging with the private sector is aptly demon-
strated in relation to climate change. According to a survey conducted by the
Economist Intelligence Unit in 2014, 90% of business leaders believe that they have
a role in building resilience and preparing cities for the impact of climate change
(Kongrukgreatiyos 2014). This has already translated into action– in 2014, the pri-
vate sector was the largest source of climate nance, devoting $243 billion to
climate- related investments (Buchner etal. 2015). Partnerships between businesses,
cities, civil society organisations, scientists and other urban stakeholders are crucial
to showcasing the value of natural capital as the foundation for economic prosperity
and human well-being, and help to bring about changes in business practices and
leverage contributions from the private sector.
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During the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (COP of UNFCCC) in Paris in 2015, the World
Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) launched Natural
Infrastructure for Business– an online platform to increase awareness of business
opportunities for investing in ecosystems, or natural infrastructure, and scale up
action. The ultimate objective of the initiative is that by 2020 companies systemati-
cally assess natural infrastructure options when investing in new sites or projects,
thereby contributing to the protection, restoration and creation of new ecosystems.
The online platform contains case studies from different industries leveraging vari-
ous ecosystem services and decision-making tools, including a cost-benet analysis
tool. Some of these case studies are highlighted below.
16.2.1 Examples ofPrivate Sector Led Partnerships forNBS
16.2.1.1 Volkswagen Restores Nature toSecure Reliable Water Supply
One example from the Natural Infrastructure for Business database is the Volkswagen
initiative in the Puebla-Tlaxcala Valley in Mexico (WBCSD 2010). This project was
initiated after years of deforestation from illegal logging and livestock farming, had
led to increased water runoff and a reduction in capture and storage in the ground-
water table. Realising that a reliable water supply was critical to ensuring the future
of the company’s production efforts, Volkswagen de Mexico, in partnership with the
Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas and the Secretary of the
Environment for Mexico, invested in a project to plant trees, dig pits, and earthen
banks to enable more than 1,300,000 cubic meters of additional water per year to be
fed into the ground reserves in the source region, which is signicantly more ground-
water than Volkswagen in México itself consumes every year (WBCSD 2010). In
the long term, these measures will help to ensure the provision of fresh water for the
growing city of Puebla, while securing a reliable water supply for the stability of the
company’s production plant in the region (WBCSD 2010). The additional biomass
will also help sequester carbon dioxide and improve living conditions for the native
fauna (WBCSD 2010), demonstrating the multiple benets restoration efforts can
bring to both people and the natural environment.
16.2.1.2 Rehabilitation ofQuarries Provides Multiple Benets forNature,
People andBusiness
Another example showcased in the WBCSD Natural Infrastructure for Business
platform (Rushworth and Warau 2015) is a project in Bellegarde in the South of
France, initiated by LafargeHolcim, a global leader in the building materials indus-
try. This project focuses on stormwater management and ood prevention through
targeted quarry rehabilitation and management programmes that provide stormwater
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279
catchments and create wetland habitats (Rushworth and Warau 2015). The sand and
gravel quarry of Bellegarde has been in operation since 1970 and LafargeHolcim has
worked with the local municipality to develop ood prevention infrastructure and
create wetlands. The extracted quarry areas have been converted into stormwater
reservoirs with a capacity of 2.5 million cubic meters, reducing the risk of ooding
for local communities. Rehabilitation measures included the creation of shoreline
areas and gently sloped riverbanks with varied contours, which have created diverse
natural habitats such as ponds, resting places, and small islands that are favourable
to many species. Research has shown that wetlands created from quarries in France
have become a habitat for 132 species of birds (more than 48 percent of the French
avifauna), 17% of the ora (1001 vascular plant species), and 63% of dragonies
found in France. Quarries have also become important refuge areas for many pro-
tected species. In addition to improving biodiversity in the area, the measures have
also resulted in water quality and recreational benets. Provided that there is access
to sufcient land area to accommodate quarrying activities, the approach adopted by
LafargeHolcim could be replicated in other areas and result in similar benets.
16.2.2 Reections andLessons Learned
These examples demonstrate the potential of NBS to address multiple needs; spe-
cic interventions in, for example, reed beds, wetlands and forests can provide
signicant benets to species’ populations, while also improving water quality
and quantity. Sharing these types of best practices via an online platform, such as
the WBCSD Natural Infrastructure for Business platform, can help to promote
investments in natural infrastructure, and provide the basis for developing similar
initiatives, adapted to local contexts.
Based on IUCNs experience, a key criterion for successful partnerships with the
business sector is a shared understanding of landscape, land use, ecosystem relation-
ships, benets of investment in natural capital, key policies, development strategies and
legal frameworks, and rights and responsibilities over resources. Acting in partnership
also means being clear on the values of different stakeholders, the needs of the natural
environment and local communities. Business actors may for example want to know the
quantied impacts of water shortage on their business operations, whereas conservation
actors may want to assess the actual impacts of water pollution on biodiversity. These
aspects should be kept in mind when developing partnerships with the private sector.
16.3 Citizen Participation andLeadership
From IUCN’s perspective, recognising and respecting the rights of people who
live close to and rely on nature is a central component of effective and inclusive
conservation action.
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Though citizen participation in environmental decision-making can bring its own
sets of challenges (Irvin and Stansbury 2004), it can also support sustainable devel-
opment (Abbott 2013) and is often promoted by governments based on the assump-
tion that citizen participation can help make governance more democratic and
effective (Irvin etal. 2004). There are numerous examples from around the world
where people have come together to restore the landscape’s ecological functions
and enhance well-being within and around cities, for example by growing organic
food, building nature-friendly spaces or restoring rivers and creeks (Herzog 2013;
URBES 2014a). Such examples illustrate the potential of citizens to bring about
meaningful social and environmental change.
While policymakers and urban planners recognise the value of engaging with
local communities, engaging citizens in urban planning and management decisions
is not always easy. Municipality-promoted participation processes require political
support and backing, as well as mechanisms and policies that promote inclusive
governance practices (Greensurge 2015). Funding is also needed to ensure high
participation levels and sound participatory engagement processes.
The section below highlights instances of citizen leadership which have helped
to integrate local concerns into environmental management plans and foster the
delivery of a range of ecosystem services and benets.
16.3.1 Examples ofPartnerships Building onCitizen
Participation
16.3.1.1 The Miyun Watershed (Beijing)– Illustrating theValue
ofEngaging Local Stakeholders
The Miyun watershed is generally understood to comprise the six sub-catchments
of the Chao He and Bai He Rivers, which together feed the Miyun reservoir. Located
north of Beijing, the catchment covers an area of 15,788 km2. In total, around one
million people live in the watershed area and the reservoir supplies between 60–80%
of urban drinking water needs; an estimated 17 million people rely on it for their
drinking water. This makes the watershed one of the most important water protec-
tion areas in the world (Li and Emerton 2012).
In the past 30–40 years, several attempts had been made to reforest the Miyun
landscape in response to worsening water crises (Li and Emerton 2012). Conifers
(Pinophyta) and other species were planted to compensate for the disappearance of
the original broadleaf forest, and strict controls on logging, land and forest use were
implemented (Li and Emerton 2012). Due to a lack of active management however,
the newly planted trees did not achieve a healthy ecological status– around three-
quarters of the trees were categorised as ‘sub-healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’. The strict
controls also economically disadvantaged the local communities whose livelihoods
had previously been associated with forest products (Li and Emerton 2012).
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281
Against this backdrop, IUCN initiated a project in the Miyun watershed in
2007, which introduced a new set of forest management tools and brought about
a shift from a strictly protective and very conservative regime, to one based on
sustainable use and active management by local communities. The policy advo-
cacy activities undertaken as part of the project focused on showcasing the mul-
tiple benets of a multi-functional forest landscape. This reassured the Chinese
government of the local community’s capacity to responsibly manage the area’s
forests, and helped to bring about a formal agreement to recognise different for-
est management and use regimes, harmonising the technical information held
by government foresters with local knowledge and interests (Li and Emerton
2012; IUCN 2012b).
By bringing together many diverse stakeholders and sectors at different levels,
the project effectively developed a more integrated form of landscape management
and restored the Miyun landscape in a way that recognises the multiple needs and
functions of the watershed. With this approach, the initiative brought about a regen-
eration of natural forest and improvements in forest structure, quality and function
(Li and Emerton 2012).
16.3.1.2 The Harava Survery Tool– AnInnovative Mechanism
toSupport Citizen Participation inVitoria-Gasteiz
As outlined above, citizen engagement requires signicant investment and plan-
ning. However, there are a range of innovative tools that can support the process.
Harava, for example, is an interactive map-based survey tool for smart planning,
which enables organisations to conduct structured surveys with spatial data to
inform decision-making, by collecting insights, ideas, and feedback from citizens
who have practical knowledge and understanding of their surroundings.
Following an agreement between the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain) and
Tecnalia, and with support from partners (SYKE Finnish Environment Institute),
Harava was used to develop an urban management plan for Vitoria Gasteiz in 2013
(Ayuntamiento de Vitoria-Gasteiz, nd). The platform provided citizens with the
opportunity to actively participate in the urban planning process by allowing them
to take part in a survey covering a range of topics related to favourite and most
frequented public areas, and more general views related to urban development and
social inclusiveness.
Three hundred citizens participated in the two-month consultation process, pro-
viding information about 2497 spatial elements within the city (Herranz-Pasual
etal. 2014). The consultation captured information such as how often and for what
purpose citizens visit the city centre and rural areas. The tool also allowed citizens
to convey their views on areas for improvement e.g. the need more trade and eco-
nomic activities, particularly small businesses, to help make the city a more liveable
place, as well as the need for better bike and pedestrian connections and public
transport (Herranz-Pasual etal. 2014).
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By engaging citizens in these types of participatory processes, governments
have the opportunity to obtain information they might otherwise not have access to
and on this basis, adapt spatial planning and management approaches to make cit-
ies more liveable and appealing to the people who live in them. Given that live-
ability is closely linked to the existence of green spaces (Beatley 2012) this type of
collaboration has the potential to provide a sound basis for developing innovative
solutions to urban challenges and implementing NBS, which benet both local
people and the environment.
16.3.1.3 Berlin– ThePower ofCitizen Engagement andLeadership
The Vitoria-Gasteiz example illustrates how governments can employ innovative
mechanisms to engage citizens and ensure that city planning incorporates the needs
and wishes of its people. But there are also instances where social activism has been
the driver of conservation action.
In Berlin, Germany, the decision to protect the disused Tempelhof aireld from
housing development and convert it into one of the city’s most popular parks came
as a result of a citizen-initiated referendum in May 2014 and a series of open com-
munity meetings, citizen working groups and consultations through an online plat-
form. Citizen engagement in determining the future of the Tempelhof site started
through public meetings, forums and lectures before the airport was closed in 2008.
A web dialogue drew 68,000 users and 2500 idea contributors, and surveys were
distributed to 6000 local households and to 1000 households in Berlin (Burgess
2014). Moderated focus groups were established to engage migrants groups, often
marginalised in consultation processes. Following the closure of the airport, consul-
tations and large-scale public events continued to take place. In 2009, 3500 people
attended a “Call for Ideas”, and more than 2000 people visited an Open House event
showcasing concept ideas for developing the site (Burgess 2014). Finally, it was the
“100% Tempelhofer Feld” civil society group, who pushed for the referendum that
determined the future of the site (Burgess 2014).
Today, Tempelhof Park is one of the most popular parks in Berlin, hosting a
variety of recreation facilities. Sealed areas such as former runways are used for
cycling and running, while some lawn areas have become nature conservation
zones and other zones have been designated for urban gardening, educational activ-
ities or recreational activities such as barbecuing (Burgess 2014). The 100%
Tempelhofer Feld group continues to actively work to protect the natural areas and
cultural heritage of the park and ensure continued open public access for the future.
The transformation of the Tempelhof Park in Berlin from a disused aireld to a lively
urban park illustrates how strong social engagement can result in the creation or main-
tenance of green areas which support biodiversity conservation, contributing to urban
resilience and providing cultural and recreational ecosystem services (URBES 2014b).
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283
16.3.2 Reections andLessons Learned
The above examples illustrate how involving local users of natural resources in
planning and decision-making can help to support the implementation of more
effective environmental management regimes which benet both people and nature.
Citizen engagement in urban planning and ecosystem management can be
time consuming and costly, and requires the development of trust between
stakeholder groups and exibility to accommodate changes in planning and pro-
cesses (Li and Emerton 2012). When done successfully however, citizen partici-
pation and engagement can support urban planning by helping to uncover the
needs and wishes of local people, thereby providing the basis for increasing the
livability of urban spaces, which has the potential to benet both people and
nature. Citizen engagement can also provide an entry-point to identifying poten-
tial NBS which could address the key societal challenges identied by urban
citizens in a holistic manner that is respectful of community needs and
aspirations.
16.4 Integrated Urban andRegional Planning forNBS
Governments are increasingly searching for cost-effective and holistic ways of
addressing environmental challenges, which not only reliably deliver their imme-
diate intended impacts, such as space for recreation and reduced air pollution, but
also bring additional benets to society, such as improved health and
well-being.
Policymakers in cities and at the sub-national level can lead the way in making
the transition towards increasing resilience and integrating ecological concerns
within urban planning and decision-making. Instead of an infrastructure agenda in
which nature is a problem, a cost, and a political risk, nature can become part of
the solution.
Cities around Europe have already shown a commitment to integrating nature
into their urban planning and management, and thereby demonstrated awareness of
the importance of protecting natural capital. The Regional Climate Plan for Paris,
for example, highlights the importance of protecting ecosystems in order to adapt to
and mitigate climate change (Conseil Regional D’Île-De-France 2011). The city
also recognises that forest management practices which optimise their capacity for
adaptation and resilience can lead to multiple benets for biodiversity, people and
the city (Natureparif 2015).
Additional examples of cities that have integrated nature within their planning
and strategies are outlined below.
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16.4.1 Examples fortheIntegration ofNature inUrban
Planning
16.4.1.1 Gibsons’ Eco-Asset Strategy forClimate Adaptation
andResilience
Mapping and assessing ecosystems and their services is essential to ensure that their
values are taken into account in decision-making and integrated across policies and
sectors. The town of Gibsons, north of Vancouver in Canada, is pioneering a strategy
that could contribute to the efforts of municipalities in Canada and elsewhere to
improve climate resilience. Gibsons’ “Eco-Asset strategy” focuses on identifying
existing natural assets such as green space, forests, topsoil, aquifers and creeks that
provide municipal services such as storm water management; measuring the value
of the municipal services provided by these assets; and making this information
operational by integrating it into municipal asset management. This is proving to be
an effective nancial and municipal management approach that complements strate-
gies to maintain, replace and build both traditional engineered assets such as roads
and storm sewers and engineered ‘green assets’ such as rain gardens, parks and bio-
swales. Integrating natural assets into decision-making can support municipal cli-
mate change adaptation and resilience building efforts in a cost-effective way.
Gibsons’ aquifer, for example, which is part of the municipal asset management
strategy, requires about $28,000 annually in monitoring costs. This is a cost- effective
NBS to water security compared to the much higher operational costs of a ltration
and treatment plant.
16.4.1.2 Philadelphia’s Natural Solution forStormwater Management
Philadelphia is another city in North America which has integrated nature into
city planning (Qin etal. 2015). Already in the 19th century, the city had acquired
approximately 3600 hectares of natural areas to help lter and regulate its pota-
ble water, and the land remains protected as parkland (Gartner etal. 2014).
Confronted by frequent sewer overows during storms, Philadelphia recently
conducted a cost- benet analysis of green infrastructure options—such as tree
planting, permeable pavement and green roofs—and conventional grey options,
such as storage tunnels (UNEP 2014). The economic benets associated with
green infrastructure ranged from $1.94 billion to $4.45 billion, compared to just
$0.06 billion to $0.14 billion from grey infrastructure (UNEP 2014). In 2011,
the city adopted the “Green City, Clean Waters” plan to reduce stormwater pol-
lution by greening public spaces and creating a living landscape that slows, l-
ters and consumes rainfall. City ofcials expect to reduce stormwater and
sewage pollution entering the waterways by 85% when the project is completed
(Qin etal. 2015).
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16.4.1.3 Nature Flood Management intheUK– “Slow theFlow”
In the UK, a natural ood management scheme played a prominent role in
preventing oods in a small town in North Yorkshire, Pickering, in December
2015. An upstream ood storage reservoir was installed, 40,000 trees planted
and heather moorland restored to soak up incoming water (Harrabin 2016).
Based on the success of this “Slow the Flow” scheme, options for developing a
25-year plan which looks at the management of river catchment areas to improve
ood resilience for the environment are now being explored (Harrabin 2016). A
major study by Forest Research, an arm of the Forestry Commission in the UK,
recently found that planting trees in hills and along watercourses could signi-
cantly reduce ooding, soil erosion and water pollution and highlighted the need
to “increase incentives for woodland planting by making these better reect the
full range of water and other benets” (Nisbet etal. 2011). Quantifying water
benets and evaluating how woodland can be best integrated with agriculture
and urban activities for water and wider environmental benets, while minimis-
ing any water trade-offs, is a critical step in order to garner support from local
stakeholders such as landowners and farmers (Nisbet etal. 2011).
16.4.2 Reections andLessons Learned
Integrating nature within planning and policies can have clear benets for citizens,
not only by improving water quality or climate resilience, but also by saving money.
Green spaces in cities can also add value to commercial and private property and
can contribute to a city’s tax revenues as well as attract more visitors and private
sector investment (CBD 2012).
Urban planning often fails to fully recognise the connection between cities
and their natural surroundings. Natural infrastructure must play a more inuen-
tial role in the planning and design of cities and urban regions, but this is often
hampered by budgetary constraints. The examples above demonstrate that mak-
ing the protection of natural assets and enhancement of ecosystem functions a
prominent part of decision- making can offer cost-effective solutions to a range
of challenges.
A major challenge to upscaling the implementation of NBS is the lack of a
solid evidence base showcasing the benefits of NBS over traditional approaches
to climate change adaptation. As a result, policy-makers tend to favour the
implementation of traditional engineering solutions for climate adaptation,
instead of investing in NBS (Rizvi etal. 2015). More concrete data on the cost-
effectiveness of nature- based approaches and field evidence is required to
showcase the solutions ecosystems have to offer (Rizvi etal. 2015) and the ben-
efits they can bring.
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16.5 Conclusion
This chapter has demonstrated that multi-stakeholder partnerships for NBS can lead
to substantial social, economic and environmental benets and can support adapta-
tion to climate change (see Table16.1 below).
The chapter also highlighted a number of lessons that can inform future partner-
ships for NBS:
Table 16.1 Summary of NBS partnerships and resulting benets discussed in this chapter
Example Type of partnership Benets
Natural Infrastructure for
Business
Online platform for members
(businesses) of the World
Business Council for
Sustainable Development
Increased awareness of the
business opportunities for
investing in ecosystems
Volkswagen, ecosystem
restoration initiative in
Puebla-Tlaxcala Valley,
Mexico
Volkswagen, National
protected areas Commission
and Secretary of the
Environment, Mexico
Secure drinking water supply and
water supply for Volkswagen’s
production plant, carbon
sequestration, biodiversity
Rehabilitation of quarry
in Bellegarde, France
LafargeHolcim, French
National Musueum of
National History, local
municipality Bellegarde
Stormwater management, ood
prevention, biodiversity, water
quality, recreational benets
Miyun watershed, Beijng IUCN (with support from
DGIS–Netherlands Ministry
of Foreign Affairs), local
communities, local
government
Strengthened livelihoods,
sustainable forest use, regeneration
of natural forest and improvements
in forest structure, quality and
function
Vitoria-Gasteiz citizen
participation
Municipality of Vitoria-
Gasteiz, citizens, Tecnalia,
SYKE Finnish Environment
Institute
Access to information to make the
city more liveable, sustainable
urban development
Citizen engagement in
Tempelhof Park, Berlin
City of Berlin, citizen working
groups
Public access to Tempelhof Park,
providing natural space and
cultural and educational
opportunities
Gibsons Eco-asset
Strategy
Municipality of Gibsons,
scientic partners and
engineers
Mapping and assessing ecosystems
and their services within the
municipality and integration of the
value of nature into municipal
asset management
Philadelphia’s
stormwater management
Philadelphia Water
Department, private
developers, US Environmental
Protection Agency,
universities, citizens
Cost-benet analysis to integrate
natural solutions into city planning
for reduced storm water and
sewage pollution
Pickering “Slow the
ow”
Forestry Commission, Town
of Pickering
Improved ood resilience,
assessment of water trade-offs with
agriculture and urban development
C. vanHam and H. Klimmek

287
• Multidisciplinary and inclusive partnerships can foster the uptake of NBS in
response to climate-related challenges. They can create and catalyse synergies
between different parts of society by pooling together resources skills and
knowledge.
• Involving citizens in urban decision making can help to make cities more live-
able, identify opportunities for implementing NBS, and create trust, ownership
and stewardship.
• Innovative tools (e.g. Harava) can help to incorporate different stakeholder views
within urban planning and policymaking and have the potential to support the
development of NBS.
• Creating trust and learning to understand each other’s language better can help to
form the basis for joint action.
• The development of replicable business models which quantify the values of
nature at local and landscape level and present a reliable return on invest-
ment can help to gain private sector support and leverage public investment
in NBS.
• There is a need to develop a more solid evidence base on the multiple benets,
and particularly the cost-effectiveness of nature-based approaches to gain
more wide-spread support for NBS at city level. Experts on measuring the
qualitative and quantitative economic and social benets and services provided
by ecosystems, can help to create visibility for the value of a city’s natural
assets and promote the uptake of NBS in urban planning and management.
Sharing these types of examples and lessons can serve as a strong foundation for
promoting NBS and can help to inspire future partnerships for, and investments in
NBS.
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