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The Institutionalization of Nature-Based Solutions—A Discourse Analysis of Emergent Literature

Author

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  • Rúben Mendes

    (GOVCOPP: Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies, Department of Environment and Planning, Campus Universitario de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Teresa Fidélis

    (GOVCOPP: Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies, Department of Environment and Planning, Campus Universitario de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Peter Roebeling

    (CESAM: Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, Campus Universitario de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
    WEcR: Wageningen Economic Research, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Filipe Teles

    (GOVCOPP: Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies, Department of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences, Campus Universitario de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

Abstract

The European Union quickly incorporated the concept of nature based-solutions (NBS), becoming a key promotor. This was achieved through financial support for both academic research and city implementations. Still, the processes of institutionalization are yet to be fully explored. This study aims at assessing how the scientific literature regarding NBS is addressing institutional aspects and how it is constructing the NBS narrative. This research is divided into two stages. First, it undertakes a quantitative analysis of the discourse, considering a set of preselected search terms organized into five categories: Actor, institutional, planning, policy, and regulation. Second, it adopts a qualitative analysis considering both a group of the most cited articles and of articles highlighted in the previous stage. The results indicate that the NBS concept is still shadowed by other environmental concepts such as ecosystem services. Despite being an issue promoted at the European level, the results of this exercise express the lack of concrete planning and policy recommendations, reflected by the absence of terms such as “planning objectives”. This pattern occurs in all other major categories, being the institutional category the least mentioned of all five categories. The results highlight the need to address both policies and planning recommendations more concretely, studying the institutional arrangements able to promote NBS.

Suggested Citation

  • Rúben Mendes & Teresa Fidélis & Peter Roebeling & Filipe Teles, 2020. "The Institutionalization of Nature-Based Solutions—A Discourse Analysis of Emergent Literature," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:9:y:2020:i:1:p:6-:d:307939
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mark Scott & Mick Lennon & Dagmar Haase & Aleksandra Kazmierczak & Gerry Clabby & Tim Beatley, 2016. "Nature-based solutions for the contemporary city/Re-naturing the city/Reflections on urban landscapes, ecosystems services and nature-based solutions in cities/Multifunctional green infrastructure and," Planning Theory & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(2), pages 267-300, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Glauco Gallotti & Marco Antonio Santo & Ilektra Apostolidou & Jacopo Alessandri & Alberto Armigliato & Bidroha Basu & Sisay Debele & Alessio Domeneghetti & Alejandro Gonzalez-Ollauri & Prashant Kumar , 2021. "On the Management of Nature-Based Solutions in Open-Air Laboratories: New Insights and Future Perspectives," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-21, April.
    2. Rita Mendonça & Peter Roebeling & Teresa Fidélis & Miguel Saraiva, 2021. "Policy Instruments to Encourage the Adoption of Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Landscapes," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.

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