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A Battery of Soil and Plant Indicators of NBS Environmental Performance in the Context of Global Change

Author

Listed:
  • Pilar Andrés

    (CREAF, Campus UAB, Edifici C, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Enrique Doblas-Miranda

    (CREAF, Campus UAB, Edifici C, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Stefania Mattana

    (Research Group Plants and Ecosystems (PLECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium)

  • Roberto Molowny-Horas

    (CREAF, Campus UAB, Edifici C, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Jordi Vayreda

    (CREAF, Campus UAB, Edifici C, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Moisès Guardiola

    (Unitat de Botànica, Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d’Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Joan Pino

    (CREAF, Campus UAB, Edifici C, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Javier Gordillo

    (CREAF, Campus UAB, Edifici C, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBSs) for risk reduction produce environmental effects that must be assessed to evaluate their performance. In a context of climate change and growing concern about the loss of biodiversity, indicators informing about ecosystem complexity, resilience and stability are required. NBS projects hardly ever include environmental monitoring programs and, at best, NBS performance is evaluated based on elementary indicators that provide poor information about ecosystem functions and services. Within the framework of the PHUSICOS (EU, H2020) project, a NBS approach is being applied to reduce the hydrometeorological risks (rock falls and snow avalanches) that threaten a transnational road and a very populated town in the Pyrenees range. In both cases, the planned actions are modifying soil and vegetation structure and functioning as well as the environmental services they provide. Here we present a set of soil and plant indicators designed to be included in the postoperation monitoring plan of both NBS projects. We provide a description and information about the range of values of every indicator measured in the study sites together with indications about analytical methods and sampling calendar. We discuss the trade-offs between monetary cost, expertise requirements and meaningfulness of the indicators.

Suggested Citation

  • Pilar Andrés & Enrique Doblas-Miranda & Stefania Mattana & Roberto Molowny-Horas & Jordi Vayreda & Moisès Guardiola & Joan Pino & Javier Gordillo, 2021. "A Battery of Soil and Plant Indicators of NBS Environmental Performance in the Context of Global Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1913-:d:497173
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Benjamin Schwarz & Andrew D. Barnes & Madhav P. Thakur & Ulrich Brose & Marcel Ciobanu & Peter B. Reich & Roy L. Rich & Benjamin Rosenbaum & Artur Stefanski & Nico Eisenhauer, 2017. "Warming alters energetic structure and function but not resilience of soil food webs," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 7(12), pages 895-900, December.
    3. Martina Wilde & Andreas Günther & Paola Reichenbach & Jean-Philippe Malet & Javier Hervás, 2018. "Pan-European landslide susceptibility mapping: ELSUS Version 2," Journal of Maps, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(2), pages 97-104, November.
    4. Richard D. Bardgett & Wim H. van der Putten, 2014. "Belowground biodiversity and ecosystem functioning," Nature, Nature, vol. 515(7528), pages 505-511, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Vidya Anderson & Manavvi Suneja & Jelena Dunjic, 2023. "Sensing and Measurement Techniques for Evaluation of Nature-Based Solutions: A State-of-the-Art Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-39, July.

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