Nature-Based Solutions-2nd Edition

Landslides pose a significant threat to the safety and stability of settlements in karst regions worldwide. The long-standing tight balance state of settlement funding and infrastructure makes it difficult to allocate disaster prevention resources effectively against landslide impacts. There is an urgent need to fully leverage the landscape resources of karst settlements and develop landslide risk prevention strategies that balance economic viability with local landscape adaptability. However, limited research has explored the differential resilience characteristics and patterns of landslide disaster risk and settlement landscapes from a spatial coupling perspective. This study, based on landslide disaster and disaster-adaptive landscape data from a typical karst province in China, employs the frequency ratio-random forest model and weighted variance method to construct landslide disaster risk (LDR) and disaster-adaptive landscape (DAL) base maps. The spatial characteristics of urban, urban–rural transition zones, and rural settlements were analyzed, and the resilience differentiation and driving factors of the LDR–DAL coupling relationship were assessed using bivariate spatial autocorrelation and geographical detector models. The key findings are as follows: (1) Urban and peri-urban settlements exhibit a high degree of spatial congruence in the differentiation of LDR and DAL, whereas rural settlements exhibit distinct divergence; (2) the Moran’s I index for LDR and DAL is 0.0818, indicating that urban and peri-urban settlements predominantly cluster in H-L and L-L types, whereas rural settlements primarily exhibit H-H and L-H patterns; (3) slope, soil organic matter, and profile curvature are key determinants of LDR–DAL coupling, with respective influence strengths of 0.568, 0.555, and 0.384; (4) in karst settlement development, augmenting local vegetation in residual mountain areas and parks can help maintain forest ecosystem stability, effectively mitigating landslide risks and enhancing disaster-adaptive capacity by 6.77%. This study helps alleviate the contradiction between high LDR and weak disaster-adaptive resources in the karst region of Southwest China, providing strategic references for global karst settlements to enhance localized landscape adaptation to landslide disasters. Full article

To improve the accuracy of choosing restoration materials for repairing ancient Chinese buildings and to mitigate the risk of decision-making, this paper establishes a novel selection model of compositions and proportions of additive lime mortars for the restoration of ancient Chinese buildings. The selection process is influenced by multi-criteria and determined by a group of experts through comprehensive judgment. Thus, it is a multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) problem. Firstly, considering subjective and objective criteria simultaneously, establish a selection index system for compositions and proportions of additive lime mortars in the restoration of ancient Chinese buildings. Secondly, applying a neutrosophic set to characterize experts’ evaluation information and quantify the evaluation information. Thirdly, the best–worst method (BWM) is implemented to obtain criteria weights, and the entropy weight method is utilized to obtain index weights. Finally, obtaining the priority of each alternative solution by using the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) ranking technique. The practicality of the proposed model was demonstrated through a specific case of the selection of repair materials for a decorative window in one ancient Chinese building. The comparative analysis was carried out to verify the reliability and validity of the model. Full article

Magnoliaceae, an ancient lineage of relict plants, were once extensively distributed throughout geological history. Understanding their species diversity, geographic distribution patterns, and hotspots is essential for providing a theoretical foundation for germplasm resource assessment, conservation, and utilization. This study presents a comprehensive catalog of wild Magnoliaceae species in China, derived from an extensive literature review integrating geographic distribution and endemism data. Utilizing GIS 10.2 software, we analyzed data from up to July 2024, revealing that China hosts 157 wild Magnoliaceae species across 13 genera, including 11 varieties, two subspecies, and three forms. These species are distributed across 24 provincial-level administrative regions, including special administrative regions and municipalities. Yunnan Province exhibits the highest species richness, with 12 genera and 94 species, followed by Guizhou, with 9 genera and 65 species, and Guangxi, with 9 genera and 62 species. At the county level, species are found in 609 regions, with Malipo County in Yunnan recording the highest count (32 species), followed by Leishan County in Guizhou (28 species). Vertically, Magnoliaceae are most abundant in the H3 elevation band (1000 < H3 ≤ 1500 m), while the H7 elevation band (H7 > 3000 m) shows the lowest species diversity. China has two endemic genera, Pachylarnax and Woonyoungia, along with 102 endemic species, of which Michelia accounts for the highest number of endemics at 33. The species composition in Guizhou shows significant similarity to that in Guangxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan, indicating close phylogenetic relationships among these floras. The Yunnan–Guizhou–Guangxi region is identified as a “modern distribution center”, “diversity preservation center”, “hotspot”, and “refuge” for wild Magnoliaceae in China. This study highlights the importance of understanding the diversity and distribution patterns of wild Magnoliaceae for the effective conservation, development, and sustainable utilization of plant resources. Full article

Mercury is classified as one of the world’s most toxic and dangerous pollutants as it tends to bioaccumulate and biomagnify within the trophic chain and is persistent. Various approaches are available to remediate Hg-affected sites including phytoremediation, which includes the use of plants to clean up contaminated environments. The phytoremediation of mercury contamination is attracting increasing attention because of its advantages: it is environmentally friendly, inexpensive, simple, and can improve soil fertility. In this report, VOSviewer (version 1.6.1) and Bibliometrix (version 4.16) software were used to analyze 457 and 697 documents published from 2000 to 2023, retrieved from the databases WoS and Scopus, respectively. China, India, the United States, and Spain were the top four most productive countries. The largest topic area was environmental sciences, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences was the organization that contributed the most to the overall number of publications. The keywords with the highest frequency excluding phytoremediation and mercury in WoS were heavy metals, accumulation, cadmium, soils, and phytoextraction. In Scopus, the most frequent keywords were bioremediation, heavy metals, soil pollution, bioaccumulation, biodegradation, and environmental. From the above analysis, we concluded that future research should focus on (1) finding native plants, (2) genetic engineering applications, (3) increasing remediation ability through assisted phytoremediation, and (4) the detoxification mechanism of mercury. This study provides insights into trending themes and serves as a reference for future research. Full article

Upscaling coastal nature-based solutions (NbSs), from the river to sea scale, essential to the ultimate success of restoration, requires larger investments, greater socio-economic engagement and a transformative shift in governance. Consequently, the ability to catalyze blended finance from public and private investors through business model innovation and accessibly written long-range business plans is imperative. This research proposes a methodology to systematically co-design, through iterative stakeholder engagement, suitable and effective business models for upscaling NbSs coastal restoration, as well as a framework to develop business plans adaptable to different investors needs and financial criteria. This method was tested and validated in a saltmarsh restoration project coordinated by public agencies in the Venice Lagoon. It delivered an advanced business model canvas, carefully assessed through a stakeholder questionnaire and a related business case centered on ecotourism complemented by a willingness-to-pay analysis. The resulting business plan lays out the governance, management, business and financial strategies for successful restoration, addressing specific interconnected issues, improving five main ecosystem services and delivering NbS multifunctional environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits. The methodology has proven to be applicable beyond the Venice Lagoon saltmarsh case and types of restoration projects. Full article

The process of urbanization leads to the rapid expansion of construction land and brings a series of ecological and environmental problems. The ecological network, as a linear landscape element, is of great significance to improve the quality of the regional ecological environment. In this study, the Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) and the model of Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) were used to construct the ecological corridors in the central city of Fuzhou, and the land use pattern under the constraints of the ecological network was simulated and quantified by the patch-level land use simulation (PLUS) tool with the results of the identification of ecological corridors. Meanwhile, with the help of InVEST habitat quality model, the regional habitat quality under different development scenarios was compared. The results show that (1) 19 ecological sources and 35 ecological corridors were identified; (2) under the constraints of ecological corridors, the area of forested land in the study area in 2027 was increased by 1.57% and the area of built-up land was reduced by 0.55% compared with that in 2022; (3) and under the constraints of ecological corridors, the mean value of habitat quality in Fuzhou City improved by 0.0055 and 0.0254 compared with 2022 and 2027 natural evolution scenarios, respectively. The study provides decision-making assistance for the construction of ecological corridors from the perspective of land use planning. Full article

Urban secondary wilderness (USWs) is a near-natural place in cities and is an important link to reconnect humans with the natural world. Assessing the perceptual elements of USWs not only provides insight into public perceptions and preferences, but also helps to further explore its relevance to experiential values such as environmental restoration benefits. In this study, we selected three USWs cases located in Fuzhou, the capital city of Fujian Province, China, and constructed an evaluation system containing two types of dimensions and seventeen perceptual elements. Based on the public’s evaluation of the importance of and satisfaction with the perceived elements, we extracted the key perceived elements and analyzed their relationship with environmental restoration benefits. The results indicated that all three USWs cases scored over 4.9 on the Perceived Restoration Scale (PRS). Plants, Landscape color, Water, Landform, Climate, Freedom, and Naturalness are the key perceptual elements of the USWs, and the correlation coefficients between the satisfaction with the above seven perceptual elements and the scores of the PRS were all positive. In summary, USWs is an ideal place for residents to carry out restoration activities, and its key perceptual elements play a driving role. Full article

Soil bioengineering provides a sustainable method for erosion control and soil slope stabilization using vegetation with multiple co-benefits. This study evaluated ten plant species in Thailand’s highland regions for their soil bioengineering potential and additional benefits. Root architecture, tensile strength, and Young’s modulus were measured to compare biomechanical traits. G. sepium, F. griffithii, P. americana, B. asiatica, and C. arabica exhibited H-type roots with wide lateral spread, while M. denticulata and C. officinarum had VH-type roots with deep taproots and wide lateral extent. A. sutepensis showed M-type roots with most root matrix in the top 0.3 m, where C. cajan and C. sinensis had R-type roots with deep, oblique growth. Most species showed a negative power relationship between the root strength and Young’s modulus with the root diameter except C. cajan that showed a positive correlation. P. americana, F. griffithii, C. officinarum, and C. arabica showed relatively high values of 1 mm root tensile strength (exceeding 24 to 42 MPa), while M. denticulata, G. sepium, and B. asiatica exhibited intermediate root tensile strength (ranging from 8 to 19 MPa). A. sutepensis, C. cajan, and C. sinensis demonstrated the lowest root tensile strength, up to 7 MPa. It is advised to plan slope vegetation by selecting diverse plant species with varying root structures and benefits, addressing both engineering and socioeconomic needs of the sustainable nature-based solution. Full article

As a technology for water landscape performance that considers landscape, ecological, and social effects, nature-based solutions play a crucial role in enhancing the functionality of integrated ecosystem services on the micro-scale. This study conducted a systematic investigation into the landscape performance of the “Clear as a Drain” composite sponge facility at Handan Garden Expo Park. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) In terms of ecological restoration support services, the “Clear as a Drain” artificial wetland exhibited diverse habitat types, a rich variety of plant species specific to the site’s region, and high plant diversity indices for shrubs (1.776) and herbaceous aquatic plants (3.352). Reclaimed water reused in the artificial terraced wetland promoted plant growth and diversity while contributing to site self-rehabilitation; plants also significantly contributed to carbon fixation, oxygen release, and carbon emission reduction. (2) Regarding ecological restoration regulation services, the artificial wetland effectively purified reclaimed water with substantial improvements observed in incoming water quality during spring, summer, and autumn—particularly notable purification effects were observed during the summer months. Pollutant reduction rates for COD, BOD₅ ammonia nitrogen, TP, and TN reached 75.8%, 72.1%, 93.8%, 96.7%, and 90.3%, respectively; different independent subsystems within the wetland demonstrated distinct advantages in pollutant removal; park plants displayed strong air purification capabilities; annual energy savings from park plants could fully cover daily energy consumption for nearby residents. This case could serve as guidance for scientific management and design parameter optimization of other composite sponge facilities. Full article

This study explores the uptake and potential application of nature-based solutions (NbS) that are particularly promising for small-scale farmers, ranchers, and food entrepreneurs operating in arid and semi-arid regions. Studying the adoption of NbS by local food entrepreneurs (LFEs), including related strengths and limitations, remains an area of exploration due to their potential to optimize interventions that foster environmental sustainability at the intersection of people, animals, and natural ecosystems (i.e., One Health). A multi-method design was used, including literature review, questionnaires, and semi-structured key informant interviews to assess adaptation needs and NbS among a sample of LFEs located in Southern AZ, USA. The findings revealed that existing NbS have been introduced mostly through learning-by-doing practices that are bounded by economic and technological resource constraints. The paper describes a range of accessible approaches and practices that can be piloted and/or scaled up to enhance local food system resilience and contribute to the overlapping health of people, animals, and natural ecosystems. The priority adaptation pathways for NbS were identified to be funding and financing and the co-creation and sharing of knowledge through peer-to-peer and expert-to-peer approaches. The results suggested that AZ LFEs are likely to adopt NbS based on their capacity to address priority climate-driven issues, revenue generation potential, and seamless augmentation with existing food production and operational activities.  Full article