Cities and Nature: How Green Solutions Can Make Urban Life Better

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are becoming a popular way to tackle urban problems. These solutions use natural processes to improve city life. However, there is a lot of information about NbS, and it's hard to know what works best in different places. A recent study looked at 61 review articles on NbS. It also got input from experts in seven global regions. The study found eight main challenges with NbS. These include problems with how we define NbS, what we focus on, where we study them, and how we involve people in the process. The study also found that NbS work best when they are tailored to the local environment. This means using local ecological knowledge to design and plan NbS. Additionally, NbS need to be included in all levels of planning and governance. This ensures that they are fair and inclusive. The study suggests four ways to make NbS more effective. First, we need more research and innovation in NbS. Second, we need a global alliance to share knowledge about NbS. Third, we need a systems approach to planning and implementing NbS. Finally, we need more financing and political support for NbS. However, the study also highlights the need for more research in the Global South. This is important because NbS may work differently in different parts of the world. By addressing these challenges, we can make NbS more effective in improving urban life.