IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i7p3043-d1623526.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Re-Thinking People and Nature Interactions in Urban Nature-Based Solutions

Author

Listed:
  • Laurence Jones

    (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
    Department of Geography and Environmental Science, Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park, Liverpool L16 9JD, UK)

  • Sally Anderson

    (Department of Educational Anthropology, Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, 2400 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Jeppe Læssøe

    (Jeplae Consulting and Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, 2400 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Ellen Banzhaf

    (UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department Urban and Environmental Sociology, Permoserstr. 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Anne Jensen

    (Department of Environmental Science & Aarhus University Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Change (iCLIMATE), Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark)

  • Annie Tubadji

    (Economics Department, Singleton Campus, Swansea University, Swansea SA1 8EN, UK)

  • Michael Hutchins

    (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK)

  • Jun Yang

    (Department of Earth System Science, Institute for Global Change Studies, Ministry of Education Ecological Field Station for East Asian Migratory Birds, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

  • Tim Taylor

    (European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3HD, UK)

  • Benedict W. Wheeler

    (European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3HD, UK)

  • David Fletcher

    (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK)

  • Thora Tenbrink

    (School of Arts, Culture and Language, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2DG, UK)

  • Liz Wilcox-Jones

    (Denbighshire County Council, P.O. Box 62, Ruthin LL15 9AZ, UK)

  • Signe Iversen

    (Aarhus Kommune, Rådhuset, Rådhuspladsen 2, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark)

  • Åsa Sang

    (Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management, SLU—Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Almas Allé 8, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Tao Lin

    (Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
    Xiamen Key Laboratory of Smart Management on the Urban Environment, Xiamen 361021, China)

  • Yaoyang Xu

    (Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Ave., Xiamen 361021, China)

  • Lingwen Lu

    (Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Ave., Xiamen 361021, China
    School of Geographical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo 315100, China)

  • Gregor Levin

    (Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark)

  • Marianne Zandersen

    (Department of Environmental Science & Aarhus University Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Change (iCLIMATE), Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark)

Abstract

People-environment interactions within nature-based solutions (NBS) are not always understood. This has implications for communicating the benefits of NBS and for how we plan cities. We present a framework that highlights a duality in NBS. The NBS as an asset includes both natural capital and human-centred capital, including organisational structures. NBS also exist as a system within which people are able to interact. Temporal and spatial scales moderate the benefits that NBS provide, which in turn are dependent on the scale at which social processes operate. Co-production and equity are central to the interactions among people and institutions in the design, use and management of NBS, and this requires clear communication. Drawing on ideas from culture-based development (CBD), we suggest an approach to communicate the benefits of NBS in a neutral but effective way. We propose guidelines for planning NBS that allow the optimisation of NBS locations and designs for particular outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Laurence Jones & Sally Anderson & Jeppe Læssøe & Ellen Banzhaf & Anne Jensen & Annie Tubadji & Michael Hutchins & Jun Yang & Tim Taylor & Benedict W. Wheeler & David Fletcher & Thora Tenbrink & Liz Wi, 2025. "Re-Thinking People and Nature Interactions in Urban Nature-Based Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:3043-:d:1623526
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/3043/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/7/3043/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Diana Dushkova & Dagmar Haase, 2020. "Not Simply Green: Nature-Based Solutions as a Concept and Practical Approach for Sustainability Studies and Planning Agendas in Cities," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-37, January.
    2. Beatriz Mayor & Helen Toxopeus & Siobhan McQuaid & Edoardo Croci & Benedetta Lucchitta & Suhana E. Reddy & Aitziber Egusquiza & Monica A. Altamirano & Tamara Trumbic & Andreas Tuerk & Gemma García & E, 2021. "State of the Art and Latest Advances in Exploring Business Models for Nature-Based Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-21, July.
    3. Fisher, Brendan & Turner, R. Kerry & Morling, Paul, 2009. "Defining and classifying ecosystem services for decision making," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 643-653, January.
    4. Raymond, Christopher M. & Frantzeskaki, Niki & Kabisch, Nadja & Berry, Pam & Breil, Margaretha & Nita, Mihai Razvan & Geneletti, Davide & Calfapietra, Carlo, 2017. "A framework for assessing and implementing the co-benefits of nature-based solutions in urban areas," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 15-24.
    5. David H. Fletcher & Joanne K. Garrett & Amy Thomas & Alice Fitch & Phil Cryle & Simon Shilton & Laurence Jones, 2022. "Location, Location, Location: Modelling of Noise Mitigation by Urban Woodland Shows the Benefit of Targeted Tree Planting in Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Oliver,Adam, 2023. "A Political Economy of Behavioural Public Policy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781009282567, January.
    7. Philip Stessens & Frank Canters & Marijke Huysmans & Ahmed Z. Khan, 2020. "Urban green space qualities: An integrated approach towards GIS-based assessment reflecting user perception," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/298795, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    8. Jonathan Fairburn & Steffen Andreas Schüle & Stefanie Dreger & Lisa Karla Hilz & Gabriele Bolte, 2019. "Social Inequalities in Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution: A Systematic Review in the WHO European Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-19, August.
    9. Bancroft, Carolyn & Joshi, Spruha & Rundle, Andrew & Hutson, Malo & Chong, Catherine & Weiss, Christopher C. & Genkinger, Jeanine & Neckerman, Kathryn & Lovasi, Gina, 2015. "Association of proximity and density of parks and objectively measured physical activity in the United States: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 22-30.
    10. Simon Bell & Himansu Sekhar Mishra & Lewis R. Elliott & Rebecca Shellock & Peeter Vassiljev & Miriam Porter & Zoe Sydenham & Mathew P. White, 2020. "Urban Blue Acupuncture: A Protocol for Evaluating a Complex Landscape Design Intervention to Improve Health and Wellbeing in a Coastal Community," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-21, May.
    11. Lucy E. Keniger & Kevin J. Gaston & Katherine N. Irvine & Richard A. Fuller, 2013. "What are the Benefits of Interacting with Nature?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-23, March.
    12. Stessens, Philip & Canters, Frank & Huysmans, Marijke & Khan, Ahmed Z., 2020. "Urban green space qualities: An integrated approach towards GIS-based assessment reflecting user perception," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    13. Annie Tubadji, 2023. "Culture Based Development in the Regions of China," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(1), pages 8-35, January.
    14. Oliver,Adam, 2023. "A Political Economy of Behavioural Public Policy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781009282550, January.
    15. Paul M. Romer, 1994. "The Origins of Endogenous Growth," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 8(1), pages 3-22, Winter.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bohong Zheng & Rui Guo & Komi Bernard Bedra & Yanfen Xiang, 2022. "Quantitative Evaluation of Urban Style at Street Level: A Case Study of Hengyang County, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-28, March.
    2. Jaloliddin Rustamov & Zahiriddin Rustamov & Nazar Zaki, 2023. "Green Space Quality Analysis Using Machine Learning Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-25, May.
    3. Umberto Pernice & Francesca Coccon & Fabienne Horneman & Caterina Dabalà & Silvia Torresan & Laura Puertolas, 2024. "Co-Developing Business Plans for Upscaled Coastal Nature-Based Solutions Restoration: An Application to the Venice Lagoon (Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-39, October.
    4. Simon Stork & Rolf Morgenstern & Bernd Pölling & Jan-Henning Feil, 2023. "Holistic Business Model Conceptualisation—Capturing Sustainability Contributions Illustrated by Nature-Based Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-20, September.
    5. Amy Phillips & Dimitra Plastara & Ahmed Z. Khan & Frank Canters, 2023. "Integrating public perceptions of proximity and quality in the modelling of urban green space access," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/371425, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    6. Amy Phillips & Ahmed Z. Khan & Frank Canters, 2021. "Use-Related and Socio-Demographic Variations in Urban Green Space Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-22, March.
    7. Amy Phillips & Ahmed Z. Khan & Frank Canters, 2021. "Use-related and socio-demographic variations in urban green space preferences," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/326192, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    8. Liu, Hongxiao & Hamel, Perrine & Tardieu, Léa & Remme, Roy P. & Han, Baolong & Ren, Hai, 2022. "A geospatial model of nature-based recreation for urban planning: Case study of Paris, France," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    9. Yuanyuan Chen & Xinli Ke & Min Min & Yue Zhang & Yaqiang Dai & Lanping Tang, 2022. "Do We Need More Urban Green Space to Alleviate PM 2.5 Pollution? A Case Study in Wuhan, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-16, May.
    10. Selda İnançoğlu & Havva Arslangazi Uzunahmet & Özge Özden, 2023. "The Effect of Green Spaces on User Satisfaction in Historical City of Nicosia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-18, August.
    11. Małgorzata Sztubecka & Alicja Maciejko & Marta Skiba, 2022. "The Landscape of the Spa Parks Creation through Components Influencing Environmental Perception Using Multi-Criteria Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, May.
    12. Beiser-McGrath, Liam & Busemeyer, Marius R., 2023. "Carbon inequality and support for carbon taxation," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120925, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    13. Xueting Pan & Jialing Zhao, 2025. "Coupling Coordination Analysis and Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity Between Green Space Quality and Economic Development: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-24, February.
    14. Israa H. Mahmoud & Eugenio Morello & Chiara Vona & Maria Benciolini & Iliriana Sejdullahu & Marina Trentin & Karmele Herranz Pascual, 2021. "Setting the Social Monitoring Framework for Nature-Based Solutions Impact: Methodological Approach and Pre-Greening Measurements in the Case Study from CLEVER Cities Milan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-28, August.
    15. Aitziber Egusquiza & Maider Arana-Bollar & Amaia Sopelana & Javier Babí Almenar, 2021. "Conceptual and Operational Integration of Governance, Financing, and Business Models for Urban Nature-Based Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-28, October.
    16. Diana Dushkova & Annegret Haase & Manuel Wolff & Dagmar Haase, 2021. "Editorial for Special Issue “Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in Cities and Their Interactions with Urban Land, Ecosystems, Built Environments and People: Debating Societal Implications”," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-7, September.
    17. Wei XIAOHUI & Nurhayati Abdul MALEK & Salina MOHAMED ALI, 2024. "The Impact Of Sustainable Development Goals On Urban Green Space: A Bibliometric Analysis Of The Literature," Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 19(3), pages 31-48, August.
    18. Emilio Ramírez-Juidías & José-Lázaro Amaro-Mellado & Jorge Luis Leiva-Piedra, 2022. "Influence of the Urban Green Spaces of Seville (Spain) on Housing Prices through the Hedonic Assessment Methodology and Geospatial Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-15, December.
    19. Talib Hussain & Dake Wang & Benqian Li, 2024. "Stakeholder Perspectives on the Role of Social Media in Urban Green Space, Land Management, and Resilience in Gilgit-Baltistan," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-28, June.
    20. Kourtit, Karima & Nijkamp, Peter & Türk, Umut & Wahlstrom, Mia, 2022. "City love and place quality assessment of liveable and loveable neighbourhoods in Rotterdam," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:3043-:d:1623526. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.