A new handbook published by the European Commission provides decision-makers and practitioners with a comprehensive NBS impact assessment framework and a robust set of indicators and methodologies to help them assess the impact of nature-based solutions across 12 different societal challenge areas.
The handbook, entitled “Evaluating the impact of nature-based solutions”, which was published on Wednesday May 5, includes contributions from EdiCitNet, alongside 16 other EU-funded NBS projects and collaborating institutions.
A number of EdiCitNet partners, including city administrations from the Front-Runner Cities and an interdisciplinary group of research partners from a a broad variety of scientific disciplines, contributed their experiences on NBS impact assessment and monitoring to the handbook. Drawing from information gathered throughout the project, including in particular the experiences in the EdiCitNet Living Labs, the partners offer insights on, among other things: how to match intended aims with suitable indicators, how to assist stakeholders in selecting or developing methods for data collection that are both scientifically sound and feasible in light of local personnel, knowledge, time and financial resources, and the importance of giving Edible City Solution coordinators and participants access to convenient tools for data collection, storage and management.
This new handbook has been developed as part of the European Taskforce for NBS Impact Assessment (NBS TF2) with the aim of: serving as a reference for relevant EU policies and activities, orienting urban practitioners in developing robust impact evaluation frameworks for nature-based solutions at different scales and building the European evidence base regarding NBS impacts.
Download the new handbook “Evaluating the impact of nature-based solutions” here.
