Riverscape Nature-Based Solutions and River Restoration: Common Points and Differences

Costanza Carbonari () and Luca Solari
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Costanza Carbonari: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Florence, Via di S. Marta, 3, 50139 Florence, Italy
Luca Solari: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Florence, Via di S. Marta, 3, 50139 Florence, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: River restoration and nature-based solutions pertaining to the riverscape are measures frequently confused, but indeed they are not identical; they present both differences and common points, and only in some cases and following precise criteria, interventions can be considered both restoration and Nature-based Solution (NbS) projects. In other words, there is an intersection between the two concepts, both in a theoretical framework and in practical applications. The understanding of their distinctions and common points is important because it affects the objectives and implementation of measures, complying with a wide spectrum of relative importance of ecological goals and ecosystem services delivery, different critical issues for effective implementation, and different spatial scales. We provide a theoretical analysis of some simple criteria to identify interventions as riverscape NbS, river restoration measures, or both. We illustrate these ideas by means of three case studies of projects carried out in different European riverine environments: the real-world cases exemplify, respectively, pure river restoration projects, mere riverscape NbS, and finally, interventions representing both NbS and ecosystem restoration. These examples allow us to clearly show measures with a small number of goals, even a single one, and, on the other hand, multipurpose measures. We also illustrate the prioritization of objectives and their implications in planning and design, implementation phases, and stakeholders’ involvement. Particular attention is devoted to effective monitoring and assessment, considering that the quantitative evaluation of measures’ impacts is a difficult and resource-demanding task.

Keywords: riverine environment; ecosystem restoration vs. nature-based solutions; illustrative case studies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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