Volume: 3, 2024
3rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: E021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.E021
Published online: 24 April 2024
ICDSUPL, 3, E021 (2024)
A multi-criteria evaluation method optimising NBS responding to urban challenges
Julia Wójcik-Madej1*, Joan Garcia2, Barbara Sowińska-Świerkosz1
1 Department of Hydrobiology and Ecosystems Protections, Faculty of Environmental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Dobrzańskiego 37, 20-262, Lublin, Poland
2 GEMMA-Group of Environmental Engineering and Microbiology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech, 1-3, C. Jordi Girona, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
* Corresponding author: julia.madej@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have emerged as transformative tools for urban sustainability, offering innovative approaches that harness the inherent capacities of ecosystems to address multifaceted challenges in urban areas. This research aims to facilitate the application of NBS through the development of the methodological framework applicable to urban context, that was tested in relation to the Lublin city (Poland). The framework contains of four research questions: (RQ1) What are the possible types of NBS that may be implemented in the city of Lublin?; (RQ 2) What types of NBS may address various challenges?; (RQ 3) What types of NBS should be implemented according to different stakeholders groups? and (RQ 4) What types of NBS are feasible to be implemented according to local planning and law provisions? To answer these questions 30 different NBS types were assessed in terms of five aspects: (1) compliance with IUCN global standards; (2) effectiveness level; (3) challenge orientation; (4) social preference and (5) management feasibility. As a result of the above analysis 20 optimal for the Lublin city types of NBS were detected. They include diverse types of actions, both already implemented in the city (urban parks, allotment gardens, flower meadow) and innovative ones (hybrid wastewater treatment plant, rain gardens, pro-ecological ravine development). To be concluded, sustainable management and improvement of analyzed city greenery and blue infrastructure, requires mainly large- and medium-scale actions, corresponding to different social challenges. Presented approach shows a step-by-step procedure enable to select from a diverse set of NBS optimal ones, taking into account environmental, social, economic, managerial and political factors on the same level of importance. This multi-criteria assessment method can improve the planning and implementation of NBS and fostering their widespread adoption in urban context.
Keywords: Nature-Based Solutions, urban areas, methodological frameworks, sustainability, Lublin
How to cite
J. Wójcik-Madej, J. Garcia, B. Sowińska-Świerkosz, 2024. A multi-criteria evaluation method optimising NBS responding to urban challenges. In: 3rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.E021