| Title | Causal Loop Diagrams for supporting Nature Based Solutions participatory design and performance assessment |
| Abstract | The contribution of Nature Based Solutions (NBSs) for supporting climate change adaptation and water-related risks reduction is becoming increasingly relevant for policy and decision-makers, compared to 'grey infrastructures', thanks to their capability to jointly deal with a multiplicity of societal and environmental challenges, producing several co-benefits besides limiting the impacts of water-related risks. Nevertheless, their mainstreaming is still limited by several barriers, which are often related to socio-institutional (e.g. limited cooperation and stakeholders' involvement, limited awareness about NBSs impacts) rather than to technical aspects. In this context, innovative tools for NBSs planning, design, implementation and assessment are required, along with effective processes capable of supporting stakeholders' participation. The present research aims to propose a shift in the approach to NBSs design, based on the early stakeholders' involvement in the identification, modelling and performance assessment in terms of benefits and, particularly, co-benefits production. A multi-step methodology was implemented for the purpose, combining both individual and participatory activities. Reference is made to one of the case studies of the NAIAD project, namely the Balta Potelu Pond Area (Lower Danube, Romania). Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) were used to describe the system in terms of causal connections and mutual influences, incorporating stakeholders' views and ideas. Inputs from both institutional (e.g. ministries and municipalities) and non-institutional stakeholders (e.g. NGOs and members of the local communities) were integrated. This allowed a comparative assessment of multiple NBSs, based on the analysis of benefits and co-benefits produced, as well as the identification of trade-offs among different stakeholders (e.g. the increase of agricultural production versus biodiversity conservation) and potential side effects. CLDs were then coupled with a Performance Matrix (a basic feature of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis) and fuzzy logic to help decision-makers identify the most suitable NBSs for the area. The whole process was aimed at facilitating the process of NBSs selection and analysis, while considering the multiple impacts associated with their implementation. |
| Source | Journal of environmental management–111668 |
| Keywords | Nature Based Solutions co-designWater-related risksCo-benefits assessmentParticipatory modellingSystem thinking |
| Journal | Journal of environmental management |
| Editor | Academic Press., New York, Regno Unito |
| Year | 2020 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111668 |
| Authors | Virginia Rosa Coletta and Alessandro Pagano and Irene Pluchinotta and Umberto Fratino and Albert Scrieciu and Florentina Nanu and Raffaele Giordano |
| Text | 437659 2020 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111668 Nature Based Solutions co design Water related risks Co benefits assessment Participatory modelling System thinking Causal Loop Diagrams for supporting Nature Based Solutions participatory design and performance assessment Virginia Rosa Coletta and Alessandro Pagano and Irene Pluchinotta and Umberto Fratino and Albert Scrieciu and Florentina Nanu and Raffaele Giordano DICATECh, Politecnico di Bari, Bari, Italy; Water Research Institute National Research Council IRSA CNR , Bari, Italy; Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London, UK; National Institute of Marine Geology and Geoecology GeoEcoMar , Bucarest, Romania; Business Development Group BDG , Bucarest, Romania; Water Research Institute National Research Council IRSA CNR , Bari, Italy; The contribution of Nature Based Solutions NBSs for supporting climate change adaptation and water related risks reduction is becoming increasingly relevant for policy and decision makers, compared to grey infrastructures , thanks to their capability to jointly deal with a multiplicity of societal and environmental challenges, producing several co benefits besides limiting the impacts of water related risks. Nevertheless, their mainstreaming is still limited by several barriers, which are often related to socio institutional e.g. limited cooperation and stakeholders involvement, limited awareness about NBSs impacts rather than to technical aspects. In this context, innovative tools for NBSs planning, design, implementation and assessment are required, along with effective processes capable of supporting stakeholders participation. The present research aims to propose a shift in the approach to NBSs design, based on the early stakeholders involvement in the identification, modelling and performance assessment in terms of benefits and, particularly, co benefits production. A multi step methodology was implemented for the purpose, combining both individual and participatory activities. Reference is made to one of the case studies of the NAIAD project, namely the Balta Potelu Pond Area Lower Danube, Romania . Causal Loop Diagrams CLDs were used to describe the system in terms of causal connections and mutual influences, incorporating stakeholders views and ideas. Inputs from both institutional e.g. ministries and municipalities and non institutional stakeholders e.g. NGOs and members of the local communities were integrated. This allowed a comparative assessment of multiple NBSs, based on the analysis of benefits and co benefits produced, as well as the identification of trade offs among different stakeholders e.g. the increase of agricultural production versus biodiversity conservation and potential side effects. CLDs were then coupled with a Performance Matrix a basic feature of Multi Criteria Decision Analysis and fuzzy logic to help decision makers identify the most suitable NBSs for the area. The whole process was aimed at facilitating the process of NBSs selection and analysis, while considering the multiple impacts associated with their implementation. Published version http //www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479720315930 Articolo in rivista Academic Press. 0301 4797 Journal of environmental management Journal of environmental management J. environ. manag. raffaele.giordano GIORDANO RAFFAELE alessandro.pagano PAGANO ALESSANDRO NAIAD NAture Insurance value Assessment and Demonstration |
