Integrating Nature-based Solutions into Urban &Territorial Planning - Building Biodiverse & Resilient Cities

Rapid urbanization and human activities are accelerating climate change and biodiversity loss, deteriorating ecosystem services and urban resilience against climate change challenges.  

While cities are undertaking restoration efforts, urban expansion continues to surpass these efforts, exacerbating the loss of biodiveristy and increasing climate risks. When integrated into the wider urban context and planning process, Nature-based Solutions (NbS), including green infrastructure, urban forests, wetland restoration, green corridors, and biodiversity-sensitive planning, offer a sustainable approach to addressing environmental challenges while enhancing climate resilience and urban well-being. 

This playbook provides urban actors with a practical, flexible, and action-oriented process to integrate NbS into project planning and policy action at any stage of the project life cycle. It emphasises multi-level governance, context-sensitive implementation, and proactive measures to create climate-resilient, sustainable cities, restore ecosystems, and preserve biodiversity.