A Participatory SWOT-Based Approach to Nature-Based Solutions Within Urban Fragile Territories: Operational Barriers and Strategic Roadmaps

Marta Dell’Ovo, Giulia Datola (), Elena Di Pirro, Silvia Ronchi, Andrea Arcidiacono, Sandy Attia, Diego Baronchelli, Andrea Benedini, Maddalena Buffoli, Gianpiero Calvi, Giovanni Castaldo, Alessandro Caviglia, Davide Cerati, Simona Collarini, Andrea Fantin, Alberto Fedalto, Valentina Galiulo, Benedetta Lucchitta, Israa H. Mahmoud, Daniela Maiullari, Marianna Merisi, Mariachiara Pastore, Silvia Pisciotta, Stefano Salata, Francesco Sica, Francesca Torrieri and Alessandra Oppio
Additional contact information
Marta Dell’Ovo: Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 3, 20133 Milano, Italy
Giulia Datola: Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 3, 20133 Milano, Italy
Elena Di Pirro: Department of Bioscience and Territory, University of Molise, C. da Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy
Silvia Ronchi: Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 3, 20133 Milano, Italy
Andrea Arcidiacono: Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 3, 20133 Milano, Italy
Sandy Attia: MoDusArchitects, Via Fallmerayer, 7, 39042 Bressanone, Italy
Diego Baronchelli: Mario Cucinella Architects, Via Francesco Flora, 6, 40129 Bologna, Italy
Andrea Benedini: Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 3, 20133 Milano, Italy
Maddalena Buffoli: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (DABC), Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, 20133 Milano, Italy
Gianpiero Calvi: Studio Pteryx, Via San Basilio, 6, 20060 Basiano, Italy
Giovanni Castaldo: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (DABC), Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, 20133 Milano, Italy
Alessandro Caviglia: Struttura Programmazione Negoziata, Regione Lombardia, Palazzo Lombardia, Piazza Città di Lombardia, 1, 20124 Milano, Italy
Davide Cerati: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (DABC), Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, 20133 Milano, Italy
Simona Collarini: Direzione Rigenerazione Urbana, Comune di Milano, Piazza della Scala, 20121 Milano, Italy
Andrea Fantin: Daku Italia Srl., Via XIII Martiri, 28, 30027 San Donà di Piave, Italy
Alberto Fedalto: Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 3, 20133 Milano, Italy
Valentina Galiulo: LAND Italia Srl., Via Varese, 16, 20121 Milano, Italy
Benedetta Lucchitta: GREEN Research Center, Bocconi University, 20136 Milano, Italy
Israa H. Mahmoud: Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 3, 20133 Milano, Italy
Daniela Maiullari: Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 134, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands
Marianna Merisi: Park Associati, Via Garofalo, 31, 20133 Milano, Italy
Mariachiara Pastore: Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 3, 20133 Milano, Italy
Silvia Pisciotta: Struttura Programmazione Negoziata, Regione Lombardia, Palazzo Lombardia, Piazza Città di Lombardia, 1, 20124 Milano, Italy
Stefano Salata: Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 3, 20133 Milano, Italy
Francesco Sica: Department of Architecture and Design, Faculty of Architecture, University of Rome La Sapienza, Via Flaminia 359, 00196 Roma, Italy
Francesca Torrieri: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (DABC), Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio 31, 20133 Milano, Italy
Alessandra Oppio: Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Via Bonardi 3, 20133 Milano, Italy

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-27

Abstract: Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) are increasingly financed in urban, regional, and national contexts due to their proven capacity to reduce climate risks and deliver multiple co-benefits. Several challenges affect the successful implementation and long-term maintenance of NBSs, especially in climate-sensitive and fragile urban territories (e.g., the Mediterranean basin), characterized by intense urbanization, environmental vulnerability, socio-economic disparities, and fragmented governance. Key barriers include difficulties in economically evaluating NBS benefits, uncertainty about their effectiveness under changing climate conditions, and implementing multi-functional projects with an interdisciplinary perspective. To address these challenges, a participatory process was conducted involving three thematic working tables focused on the following: (1) economic evaluation, (2) co-design for climate resilience, and (3) multi-functionality and disciplinary integration. All groups applied a shared SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) methodology structured in four phases: (i) individual reflection and collective brainstorming; (ii) collaborative SWOT matrix development; (iii) roadmaps formulation; and (iv) narrative synthesis and submission. Grounded in their knowledge and practical experiences, stakeholders identified operational barriers and strategic advantages to identify research gaps and designing adaptive, inclusive, and context-sensitive NBS roadmaps. Although the stakeholders were primarily based in Northern Italy, they also brought national and international experience, making the findings relevant and transferable to other urban areas in the Mediterranean and Europe, facing similar socio-environmental challenges and governance issues. Thus, the study supports more effective planning and governance in comparable contexts, emphasizing integrated and flexible approaches to address urban fragility and optimize projects governance and management.

Keywords: SWOT analysis; stakeholder involvement; Nature-Based Solutions; adaptive cities; multi-functionality; co-planning; collaborative approach (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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