Tool Used to Assess Co-Benefits of Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Ecosystems for Human Wellbeing: Second Validation via Measurement Application

Karmele Herranz-Pascual (), Paula Anchustegui (), Carolina Cantergiani and Ioseba Iraurgi
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Karmele Herranz-Pascual: TECNALIA-Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Astondo Bidea, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Spain
Paula Anchustegui: Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Pg. de la Vall d’Hebron, 171, Horta-Guinardó, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
Carolina Cantergiani: TECNALIA-Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Astondo Bidea, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Spain
Ioseba Iraurgi: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: In recent years, nature-based solutions have been used in urban regeneration interventions to improve the adaptation and resilience of these places, contributing to improved environmental quality and cultural ecosystem functions, including people’s physiological, social, and mental health and wellbeing. However, when it comes to the assessment of psychological wellbeing and social benefits (psychosocial co-benefits), the existing evidence is still limited. To contribute to the advancement of knowledge on nature’s contribution to people in relation to this type of benefit, it is necessary for us to develop and test assessment tools to contribute to the development of a robust nature-based solutions monitoring framework. In this paper, the second phase of the validation of a psychosocial co-benefit assessment tool for nature-based urban interventions is presented. This tool is structured around two dimensions: the perceived health and wellbeing and social co-benefits. The first validation was carried out with experts using the Delphi method. The second validation presented in this paper was based on a sample of users, evaluating a set of eight urban spaces at different levels of naturalisation and openness. The results indicate that the tool is sensitive to the differences in naturalisation and openness in the public urban places analysed. The most relevant contextual variables to explain the psychosocial co-benefits are openness, the surfaces covered by tree branches, the water surface area, and naturalisation.

Keywords: nature-based solutions; climate change adaptation; nature’s contribution to people; psychosocial benefits; health and wellbeing; cultural ecosystem services; urban spaces (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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