Nature-based solutions (NBS) are increasingly recognized as transformative strategies for addressing the twin challenges of climate change and environmental degradation while promoting sustainable development. By harnessing the capacity of ecosystems, NBS such as wetlands, restored streams, floodplains, and green infrastructure can mitigate floods and droughts, improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, and support human well-being. Their implementation aligns with the European Green Deal, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and global climate adaptation commitments. Despite their growing prominence, many questions remain about how to design, implement, assess, and scale up NBS in diverse hydrological and socio-economic contexts. Evidence is still emerging on their long-term performance compared to conventional engineering approaches, the trade-offs and synergies among ecosystem services, and the enabling conditions for mainstreaming NBS in water and land management policies.
This session explicitly aims to foster interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary exchange by bringing together hydrologists, geomorphologists, ecologists, soil scientists, hazard researchers, and social scientists, alongside practitioners and policymakers. The goal is to advance both the scientific basis and the practical governance of NBS for resilience planning, land and water management, and climate adaptation across landscapes.
We welcome contributions that:
- Provide evidence of NBS performance in water storage, flood and drought resilience, sediment and nutrient retention, and ecosystem service delivery.
- Develop or apply innovative tools and frameworks for placement and site selection, designing, and monitoring NBS (e.g., modelling, remote sensing, decision-support systems, participatory approaches).
- Explore co-benefits and trade-offs, particularly in relation to hydrological performance, ecological, and socio-economic effects.
- Present case studies and comparative analyses from different climatic and geographical contexts or applied to specific anthropic elements such as long linear infrastructures.
- Identify governance, policy, and financial mechanisms that enable successful NBS implementation and upscaling.
By bridging science, practice, and policy, this session highlights NBS as key instruments for advancing water and land management, strengthening resilience, and creating sustainable futures.