Mapping, assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of urban nature-based solutions to climate change effects in The Netherlands

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    As the field of climate adaptation has entered an implementation and acceleration phase, measures for urban water and heat management are rapidly spreading in cities across the globe. Especially nature-based solutions have seen a recent rise in implementation to fight flooding, heat, drought, and biodiversity loss. Despite decades of experience, there is still a lot unknown about the long-term functioning of these measures and how this relates to design, development, and maintenance decisions. To this end, this chapter explores the relations between characteristics and performances of urban nature-based solutions, based on empirical research conducted in over 50 swales throughout the Netherlands between 2021 and 2022. The research combined various fieldwork methods such as full-scale infiltration tests to assess the hydraulic functionality and heavy metal accumulation tests by using an XRF-scanner, as well as neighborhood surveys to assess local perceptions of these swales and their functions. This chapter describes and illustrates these approaches for mapping and assessing the performance of swales, followed by a reflection on their suitability for linking design choices and performance indicators. Based on national guidelines, these indicators help to establish minimal performance quotas to evaluate and compare the performance of swales. While most of the researched swales met national criteria for hydraulic performance, almost a third of investigated swales exceeded norms for heavy metal accumulation. By building up a national database of swales and data derived through measurements, we attempt to find patterns among successes and failures in swale design through cross-case comparison, but conclude that these heavily rely on local circumstances and context-depending design choices. Expanding on mapping, assessment, and evaluation approaches can lead to a better understanding of these context-depending chances and risks for developing nature-based solutions.
    Translated title of the contributionVastleggen, beoordelen en evalueren van de effectiviteit van stedelijke nature-based solutions voor klimaatadaptatie in Nederland
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationHandbook of Nature-Based Solutions to Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change
    EditorsWalter Filho, Gustavo Nagy, Desalegn Ayal
    PublisherSpringer Nature
    Pages1-32
    Number of pages32
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 15 Dec 2023

    Keywords

    • climate adaptation
    • nature-based solutions

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