Advances in implementing and promoting Nature-based Solutions in urban areas – A real-world lab experience from Costa Rica

authored by: Jochen Hack
Abstract: Nature-based Solutions (NBS) are considered promising approaches to solve a variety of socio-ecological challenges. In urban contexts, however, several limitations to their promotion and implementation exist, mostly because of a high competition for space, diverging stakeholder interests and predefined grey infrastructure development pathways. This contribution presents experiences from an ongoing 5-year inter-and transdisciplinary research project related to NBS real world lab in highly urbanized watershed of Costa Rica, with severe flooding and contamination problems. The Real-world Lab provides physical space and a socioeconomic context representative for the testing of NBS. It serves for joint knowledge generation and synthesis as well as a basis for knowledge transfer and upscaling of the tested NBS. Starting with the participatory selection process of the Real-world Lab followed by a participatory co-design approach, it was aimed for the development of context-adapted NBS prototypes and the establishment of a shared vision for transformation. The results of this assessment allowed a detailed high-resolution hydrological modelling of the flood mitigating effect and micro climate regulating impact of NBS in this particular area. Furthermore, it enabled the identification of suitable sites and guided the implementation of four exemplary NBS prototypes to address the prevailing socio-ecological challenges of contamination by untreated greywater discharge, urban flooding, and a general lack of green spaces. The performance of prototypes is still being monitored and evaluated, however, the planning and construction process already revealed several challenges regarding the implementation of NBS in densely urbanized areas. Nevertheless, the realization of NBS prototypes initiated an important learning process about implementation and maintenance challenges for a larger socio-ecological transformation.
Organisation(s): Institute of Environmental Planning
Type: Conference article
Journal: Proceedings of the IAHR World Congress
Pages: SS-169-SS-180
ISSN: 2521-7119
Publication date: 2022
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Engineering (miscellaneous), Civil and Structural Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Water Science and Technology
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.3850/IAHR-39WC2521-71192022SS934 (Access: Closed)
https://www.iahr.org/library/infor?pid=21662 (Access: Closed)