title: The science, policy and practice of nature-based solutions: An interdisciplinary perspective.
abstract: In this paper, we reflect on the implications for science, policy and practice of the recently introduced concept of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), with a focus on the European context. First, we analyse NBS in relation to similar concepts, and reflect on its relationship to sustainability as an overarching framework. From this, we derive a set of questions to be addressed and propose a general framework for how these might be addressed in NBS projects by funders, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners. We conclude that: To realise their full potential, NBS must be developed by including the experience of all relevant stakeholders such that 'solutions' contribute to achieving all dimensions of sustainability. As NBS are developed, we must also moderate the expectations placed on them since the precedent provided by other initiatives whose aim was to manage nature sustainably demonstrates that we should not expect NBS to be cheap and easy, at least not in the short-term.
authors.affiliation: UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Conservation Biology & UFZ Science-Policy Expert Group, Permoser Str. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; iDiv - German Centre for integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: carsten.nesshoever@ufz.de.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nesshöver
authors.affiliation: Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Environmental Policy Centre, PO Box 140, FI-00251 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: timo.assmuth@ymparisto.fi.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Assmuth
authors.affiliation: Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Katherine.Irvine@hutton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Katherine N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Irvine
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Terrestrial Ecology Department, PO Box 5685, Sluppen, 7485 Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: graciela.rusch@nina.no.
authors.forename: Graciela M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rusch
authors.affiliation: Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Kerry.Waylen@hutton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kerry A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Waylen
authors.affiliation: ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation, PO Box 90154, 5000 LG Tilburg, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Delbaere@ecnc.org.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delbaere
authors.affiliation: UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Computational Landscape Ecology, Permoser Str. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Geography, Lab for Landscape Ecology, Rudower Chaussee 16, 12489 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: dagmar.haase@geo.hu-berlin.de.
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.affiliation: Wageningen Environmental Research (Alterra), Wageningen UR, Wageningen Campus, PO Box 47, 6700 Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: lawrence.jones-walters@wur.nl.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jones-Walters
authors.affiliation: INBO & Belgian Biodiversity Platform & University of Antwerp, Kliniekstraat 25, 1070 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: hans.keune@inbo.be.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keune
authors.affiliation: Szent István University, Institute of Nature Conservation and Landscape Management, Páter K. u. 1., H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary; Environmental Social Science Research Group (ESSRG), Rómer Flóris u. 38, Budapest H-1024, Hungary. Electronic address: kovacs.eszter@mkk.szie.hu.
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.affiliation: European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Tylna 3, 90-364 Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: k.krauze@erce.unesco.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krauze
authors.affiliation: Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, Tartu 51014, Estonia. Electronic address: Mart.Kylvik@emu.ee.
authors.forename: Mart
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Külvik
authors.affiliation: Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Irstea, UR EMGR, 2 rue de la Papeterie, BP 76, 38402 Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France. Electronic address: Freddy.Rey@irstea.fr.
authors.forename: Freddy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Terrestrial Ecology Department, PO Box 5685, Sluppen, 7485 Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: jiska.van.dijk@nina.no.
authors.forename: Jiska
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Human Dimension Department, Fakkelgarden, 2624 Lillehammer, Norway. Electronic address: odd.inge.vistad@nina.no.
authors.forename: Odd Inge
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Vistad
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Biochemical Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Mark.Wilkinson@hutton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.affiliation: UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Environmental Politics & UFZ Science-Policy Expert Group, Permoser Str. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: heidi.wittmer@ufz.de.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wittmer
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D058735:Environmental Policy; D005060:Europe
keywords: Ecosystem management; Ecosystem services; Environmental governance; Sustainability