Participatory Validation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Enhanced Resilience
Urban Sustainability, Springer, ss.31-45, 2026
- Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Araştırma Kitabı
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/978-981-92-0419-9_3
- Yayınevi: Springer
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.31-45
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Climate adaptation, Local knowledge, Mediterranean cities, Nature-based solutions, Participatory planning, Stakeholders, Sustainable urban development, Urban resilience
- Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The rapid intensification of environmental, social, and economic challenges in urban areas, particularly under the stress of climate change, necessitates a shift toward more resilient planning models. This chapter aims to investigate the critical relevance of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as a transformative strategy for enhancing urban resilience and sustainability, directly addressing climate adaptation. Conventionally, top-down approaches often fail to account for site-specific constraints and community acceptance, leading to implementation shortfalls. Therefore, this research aims to assess the effectiveness of participatory validation methods in the selection, design, and implementation of NbS within highly vulnerable urban ecosystems (cities) in the Mediterranean basin, a global biodiversity and climate change hotspot. The research objectives included evaluating the performance and social acceptance of the proposed NbS, identifying the roles of key stakeholders and local experts, and assessing the long-term viability of interventions across eight local demonstration sites within the OurMED Project. The methodology employed a rigorous, three-stage, spatially explicit approach: Catchment Classification (geospatial analysis), Evidence-Based Screening (a literature-driven decision matrix), and, critically, local expert validation through a workshop. The results confirmed distinct NbS clusters based on hydro-climatic gradients, such as the prioritization of water harvesting in arid regions. Crucially, the validation phase revealed that one-third of the technically generated preliminary NbS proposals required significant adjustments, underscoring “the need to integrate local knowledge.” This methodology is a transferable framework that successfully integrates technical rigor with community needs, advancing urban resilience theory and providing practical, policy-relevant tools for municipalities aiming for enhanced social acceptance and effective climate adaptation.