Governance models for nature-based solutions

Seventeen cases from Germany

authored by

Aude Zingraff-Hamed, Frank Hüesker, Christian Albert, Mario Brillinger, Joshua Huang, Gerd Lupp, Sebastian Scheuer, Mareen Schlätel, Barbara Schröter

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBS) for mitigating climate change are gaining popularity. The number of NBS is increasing, but research gaps still exist at the governance level. The objectives of this paper are (i) to give an overview of the implemented NBS for flood risk management and mitigation in Germany, (ii) to identify governance models that are applied, and (iii) to explore the differences between these models. The results of a hierarchical clustering procedure and a qualitative analysis show that while no one-size-fits-all governance model exists, polycentricism is an important commonality between the projects. The study concludes by highlighting the need for further research on traditional governance model reconversion and paradigm changes. We expect the findings to identify what has worked in the past, as well as what is important for the implementation of NBS for flood risk management in future projects.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Environmental Planning

External Organisation(s)

Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin)
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)

Type

Article

Journal

AMBIO

Volume

50

Pages

1610-1627

No. of pages

18

ISSN

0044-7447

Publication date

08.2021

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Chemistry, Geography, Planning and Development, Ecology

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-020-01412-x (Access: Open)