The evolution and future of research on Nature-based Solutions to address societal challenges

Nature-based Solutions are recognised for their potential to address the biodiversity and climate crises, and how they intersect, overtly societal challenges. However, this nature-society relationship is becoming more important as available food and water resources, income, and human health, are increasingly impacted by environmental changes. Here, we utilise the seven major societal challenges addressed by Nature-based Solutions according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, to identify the primary themes of the Nature-based Solutions research landscape from 1990-2021. We evaluate how these themes, with respect to the societal challenges, evolved over time, and where. Our findings highlight the under-representation of four societal challenges across the research landscape: climate change mitigation, human health, food security, and water security. We propose six recommendations for future research programs to prioritise the needs of society, the environment, and the economy.

Thomas Dunlop, Danial Khojasteh, Emmanuelle Cohen-Shacham, William Glamore, Milad Haghani, Matilda van den Bosch, Daniela Rizzi, Peter Greve, Stefan Felder