Volume: 5, 2026
5th International PhD Students’ Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: E026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL5.E026
Published online: 22 April 2026
Analysis of the city of Lublin’s potential for implementing nature-based solutions (NBS)
Julia Wójcik-Madej*1, Barbara Sowińska-Świerkosz2 and Malwina Michalik-Śnieżek1
1 Faculty of Agrobioengineering, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 15 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland
2 Faculty of Environmental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 37 Bohdan Dobrzański St., 20-001 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: julia.madej@up.edu.pl
Although the concept of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) has attracted increasing attention, supported by initiatives of the European Union and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), notable gaps remain in both academic research and planning practice concerning how their effectiveness is evaluated and how they should be implemented in urban contexts. This study aimed to assess the performance of NBS and to establish their location criteria with regard to local legal, environmental, technical, ecological, economic, and social conditions.
A methodological framework for evaluating the implementation potential of NBS was developed and applied to the city of Lublin. This approach made it possible to identify areas most suitable for implementation and to examine the relative importance of location-related factors. The study also produced a spatial inventory of existing NBS in the city, evaluated their effectiveness, and indicated options for future development. Four categories of NBS were examined in detail: pro-ecological development of gullies, linear parks, lightweight modular green roofs, and household-scale constructed wetland wastewater treatment systems. The assessment revealed that each type could be feasibly introduced in between one and six optimal locations, with legal, economic, and environmental constraints playing a decisive role.
The findings partly support the assumption that Lublin has considerable capacity for the wider adoption of NBS. This capacity is reinforced by favourable landscape features, planning policies, and the support of both residents and local authorities, although it is constrained by regulatory and financial limitations. Furthermore, the evaluation of location criteria – based on an expert survey and local data – demonstrated substantial variation in their relative importance, highlighting the context-specific nature of NBS. While a general set of criteria can be identified, their priority and relevance depend strongly on local conditions.
Keywords: IUCN standards; location criteria; Lublin; Nature-based Solutions (NBS); urban areas
How to cite
Wójcik-Madej J., Sowińska-Świerkosz B., Michalik-Śnieżek M., 2026. Analysis of the city of Lublin’s potential for implementing nature-based solutions (NBS). In: 5th International PhD Students’ Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL5.E026