Written by Birthe Uhlhorn, BOKU

The Myth

As long as we add green spaces, we’re already implementing Nature-Based Solutions (NBS).

The Reality

Not every green space qualifies as an NBS. While urban parks and green spaces provide well-documented public health benefits, including improved mental well-being and physical activity^1,2, simply adding greenery does not automatically address broader societal challenges.

NBS are defined by the European Commission³ as actions that are intentionally designed to address specific societal challenges while generating multiple co-benefits for biodiversity and human well-being.

Research shows that urban greening projects can unintentionally contribute to environmental or climate gentrification, increasing property values and potentially displacing vulnerable populations^4,5,6. From an environmental justice perspective, equitable access to green space is essential, as green infrastructure is often unevenly distributed across socio-economic groups, reinforcing existing spatial inequalities⁷.

Why this misconception matters

Assuming that “more green” automatically equals NBS risks diluting the concept into a branding label for conventional urban greening. Therefore, NBS should be understood not simply as greener urban design, but as integrated approaches that align ecological restoration with social equity, inclusive governance, and long-term urban resilience.

References

1. Jennings, V., Larson, L., & Yun, J. (2016). Advancing Sustainability through Urban Green Space: Cultural Ecosystem Services, Equity, and Social Determinants of Health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(2), 196. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13020196
2. Venter, Z. S., Barton, D. N., Gundersen, V., Figari, H., & Nowell, M. (2020). Urban nature in a time of crisis: Recreational use of green space increases during the COVID-19 outbreak in Oslo, Norway. Environmental Research Letters, 15(10), 104075. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abb396
3. European Commission. Directorate General for Research and Innovation. (2015). Towards an EU research and innovation policy agenda for nature-based solutions & re-naturing cities: Final report of the Horizon 2020 expert group on ’Nature based solutions and re naturing cities’ : (full version). Publications Office. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/765301
4. Anguelovski, I., Connolly, J. J. T., Cole, H., Garcia-Lamarca, M., Triguero-Mas, M., Baró, F., Martin, N., Conesa, D., Shokry, G., Del Pulgar, C. P., Ramos, L. A., Matheney, A., Gallez, E., Oscilowicz, E., Máñez, J. L., Sarzo, B., Beltrán, M. A., & Minaya, J. M. (2022). Green gentrification in European and North American cities. Nature Communications, 13(1), 3816. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31572-1
5. Gould, K., & Lewis, T. (2016). Green Gentrification (0 Aufl.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315687322
6. Keenan, J. M., Hill, T., & Gumber, A. (2018). Climate gentrification: From theory to empiricism in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Environmental Research Letters, 13(5), 054001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aabb32
7. Wolch, J. R., Byrne, J., & Newell, J. P. (2014). Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green enough’. Landscape and Urban Planning, 125, 234–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.01.017