Author(s): Slaven Conevski; Lukas Frank Seifert; Ellen Flaata; Bente Graae; Inge Hoff

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Nature-based solutions; Flood protection; Sediment fluvial processes; Erosion protection

Abstract: The EU-funded Nature-Demo project aims to identify, parameterize, and demonstrate the effectiveness of nature-based solutions (NbSs) in protecting critical infrastructure and enhancing climate resilience. This study provides an overview of the project, and reflects its goals via case studies from the Nordic region (Norway) and across Europe, where NbSs are either planned or already implemented. These case studies highlight the project's efforts to consolidate NbS approaches and emphasize their potential in addressing infrastructure challenges. Despite the increasing number of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) implementations, many projects continue to encounter challenges related to insufficient recognition, suboptimal design, and inadequate planning frameworks. For example, in Norway, although multiple regional and large-scale NbS initiatives have been launched, there is still a lack of clarity regarding long-term objectives, inaccurate financial projections, and a frequent conflation of NbS with hybrid grey-green solutions, often presented as the default option without critical evaluation. To bridge these gaps, this study highlights the strategic role of initiatives such as Nature-Demo in enhancing the systematic adoption and mainstreaming of NbS within infrastructure planning processes. Nature-Demo contributes to this objective through several key instruments, including: (i) a curated catalogue featuring concise and technically sound descriptions of over 60 NbS interventions; (ii) comprehensive stakeholder interviews to capture practical insights; (iii) a systematic classification of NbS typologies and their functional correlation to specific hazard categories; and (iv) illustrative case studies encompassing cost-benefit analyses and quantitative risk-reduction assessments. These tools collectively aim to support evidence-based decision-making and facilitate the integration of NbS into policy and infrastructure development agendas.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64697/978-90-835589-7-4_41WC-P2126-cd

Year: 2025