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The Cost of Nature: Implementation, Management, and Maintenance Costs for NBS

Nature-Based Solutions for More Sustainable Cities – A Framework Approach for Planning and Evaluation

ISBN: 978-1-80043-637-4, eISBN: 978-1-80043-636-7

Publication date: 5 November 2021

Abstract

The nature-based solutions (NBS) integrated in urban open spaces are a precious tool that provide better and wider ecosystem services in cities. An ecosystemic approach in planning, designing, and also managing green areas furthermore helps to improve the whole quality of life and perceived well-being of the citizens, increasing too their sense of belonging and fostering the neighboring communities. Under this point of view, greenery should not be considered as a cost but as an investment of public money finalized to improve the quality of life in the cities especially in facing climate change.

A comparison between costs and benefits produced by the green features in the cities allows to evaluate the advantages to include those solutions in planning and designing urban green areas. In the following chapter a step-by-step procedure is proposed to assess the ecosystem services provided by green areas in cities, compared to design, building, and maintenance costs. Some national and international examples are provided too.

Keywords

Citation

Colaninno, B., Neonato, F. and Tomasinelli, F. (2021), "The Cost of Nature: Implementation, Management, and Maintenance Costs for NBS", Croci, E. and Lucchitta, B. (Ed.) Nature-Based Solutions for More Sustainable Cities – A Framework Approach for Planning and Evaluation, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 267-277. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80043-636-720211022

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022 Barbara Colaninno, Francesca Neonato, and Francesco Tomasinelli. Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited