1st International Conference of Soil and Agriculture:
TOWARDS SOIL SUSTAINABILITY
11–13 June 2024 • Lublin–Nałęczów, Poland

https://doi.org/10.24326/ICSA1.2.05
Published online: 4 October 2024

Nature-based solutions (NBS) as a tool of sustainable development of cities
Barbara Sowińska-Świerkosz*

Department of Hydrobiology and Ecosystems Protection, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Dobrzańskiego 37, 20-262 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author:

Abstract
Nature-based solutions (NBS) are generally proven to have positive impact on the realization of sustainable development goals (SDG). Their effectiveness, however, differs among solution types and across countries due to climate and socio-cultural context. Therefore, presented study aimed to analysed the scope of the Polish urban NBS response to the SDG. Three NBS types were taken into consideration: allotment gardens (AG), flower meadows (FM) and rain gardens (RG). The study was based on the literature review related to publications describing the benefits, problems, synergies and trades-offs of the analysed solution types in relation to Polish case studies. The result showed that all of the analysed solutions response to the need for green/blue structures of a certain environmental quality and compensate for the need for green areas within the city structure both in terms of social and environmental needs. They have positive impact on the urban heat island effect, increase humidity, create local microclimate and improve air quality. As a result, all of them contribute to the following SDGs, 3: Good health and wellbeing, 11: Sustainable cities and communities, 13: Climate actions and 15: Life on the land. Besides, allotment gardens have food productive function that corresponds to the SDG 2: Zero hunger. The study also showed certain NBS limitation. Allotment gardens negatively contribute to the SDG 10: Reduce inequality as AGs are family spaces with restricted access, surrounded by fences or hedges. They provide direct and personal services only to a limited percentage of citizens and contribute to the feelings of exclusion. Flower meadows are reported to have one major limitation in terms of SDG3: the increase in pollen and, consequently, an intensification of allergy and asthma symptoms. As a result, they are not popular among a vast share of residents, as about 30% of Polish population has symptoms of allergic rhinitis or asthma. Rain gardens correspond to a limited extent to the SDG 13 and 15 as they are usually of small area (10–50 m²) and sparsely located within the Polish cities. As a result, their effectiveness is limited in a space context, as NBS must be of relevant size to ensure the stability of ecological processes and to have long-term effects. The result showed the need for context-specific assessment of NBS as to be effective a given solution should be planned and implemented taking into account a set of local factors.

Keywords: allotment gardens, effectiveness, flower meadows, rain gardens, synergies and trade-offs

How to cite
Sowińska-Świerkosz B., 2024. Nature-based solutions (NBS) as a tool of sustainable development of cities. 1st International Conference of Soil and Agriculture: Towards Soil Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICSA1.2.05