New Publication: A must read if you are evaluating nature-based Solutions
A new handbook on impact evaluation summarises the experiences of the NBS H2020 projects. URBiNAT is proud to be one of 17 EU-funded projects that collaborated for this wide-ranging publication.Â
The first publication of this working group explains the principles guiding NBS impact evaluation and demonstrates approaches to set up a monitoring and evaluation strategy. It’s core are the extensive list of key performance indicators as a buffet approach and best practice examples for their application. This is followed by a specific chapter on the dimension of disaster risk reduction. Finally a comprehensive guidance on data requirements is there to support with definitions and key concepts. A detailed appendix with a list of additional indicators, grouped according to the 12 societal challenges that can be addressed by NBS, completes the publication.
The handbook is aimed at practitioners, administrators and scientists involved in the implementation and evaluation of nature-based solutions. The aim is to support these groups in evaluating these interventions and to draw attention to the multidimensional positive effects.
The handbook is available here.
The Appendix can be downloaded here.
Evaluating the impact of Nature-Based Solutions: A handbook for practitioners
Author(s): Adina Dumitru and Laura Wendling, Eds.
Published in: 2021, ISBN 978-92-76-22821-9
Publisher: European Commission
DOI: 10.2777/244577
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ABSTRACT: The Handbook aims to provide decision-makers with a comprehensive NBS impact assessment framework, and a robust set of indicators and methodologies to assess impacts of nature-based solutions across 12 societal challenge areas: Climate Resilience; Water Management; Natural and Climate Hazards; Green Space Management; Biodiversity; Air Quality; Place Regeneration; Knowledge and Social Capacity Building for Sustainable Urban Transformation; Participatory Planning and Governance; Social Justice and Social Cohesion; Health and Well-being; New Economic Opportunities and Green Jobs. Indicators have been developed collaboratively by representatives of 17 individual EU-funded NBS projects and collaborating institutions such as the EEA and JRC, as part of the European Taskforce for NBS Impact Assessment, with the four-fold objective of: serving as a reference for relevant EU policies and activities; orient urban practitioners in developing robust impact evaluation frameworks for nature-based solutions at different scales; expand upon the pioneering work of the EKLIPSE framework by providing a comprehensive set of indicators and methodologies; and build the European evidence base regarding NBS impacts. They reflect the state of the art in current scientific research on impacts of nature-based solutions and valid and standardized methods of assessment, as well as the state of play in urban implementation of evaluation frameworks.
