FROM PLANNING TO POST-OCCUPANCY: A REVIEW ON THE PERFORMANCE OF NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS IN URBAN AREAS

Authors

  • Elisa Bomtempo Matos
  • Leonardo Valbão Venancio
  • Iago Longue Martins
  • Roberta Ilha Lisboa
  • Bruno Massara Rocha

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56238/revgeov17n6-116

Keywords:

Nature-Based Solutions, Green Infrastructure, Post-Occupancy Evaluation, Urban Planning, Urban Sustainability

Abstract

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have been adopted in urban planning as alternatives to address environmental problems associated with urbanization and climate change, including heat islands, flooding, and the reduction of green areas. This systematic review examined studies on the implementation, performance, and post-occupancy evaluation of different types of urban green infrastructure. The findings indicate that urban parks and street trees tend to present more stable long-term results due to accessibility and lower maintenance requirements. In contrast, green roofs and vertical greenery systems increase opportunities for vegetation in densely urbanized areas but require continuous irrigation, maintenance, and specialized technical support. The review also identified differences between the benefits expected during planning stages and the results observed after implementation. Factors related to public management, community participation, maintenance, and socioeconomic conditions directly influence the permanence and effectiveness of these strategies in urban environments. In addition to environmental benefits, the reviewed studies discuss social and economic impacts associated with public space use, property valorization, and socio spatial inequalities.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adegun, O. B., Olusoga, O. O., & Mbuya, E. C. (2022). Prospects and problems of vertical greening within low-income urban settings in sub-Sahara Africa. Journal of Urban Ecology, 8(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1093/jue/juac016

Ahn, Y.-J., & Juraev, Z. (2023). Green spaces in Uzbekistan: Historical heritage and challenges for urban environment. Nature-Based Solutions, 4, 100077. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100077

Ali, L., Haase, A., & Heiland, S. (2020). Gentrification through Green Regeneration? Analyzing the Interaction between Inner-City Green Space Development and Neighborhood Change in the Context of Regrowth: The Case of Lene-Voigt-Park in Leipzig, Eastern Germany. Land, 9(1), Artigo 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/land9010024

Anderson, V., & Gough, W. A. (2020). Evaluating the potential of nature-based solutions to reduce ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon dioxide through a multi-type green infrastructure study in Ontario, Canada. City and Environment Interactions, 6, 100043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cacint.2020.100043

Arnberger, A., Eder, R., Allex, B., Wallner, P., Weitensfelder, L., & Hutter, H.-P. (2024). Urban green space preferences for various health-related psychological benefits of adolescent pupils, university students and adults. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 98, 128396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128396

Balzan, M. V., Geneletti, D., Grace, M., Santis, L. D., Tomaskinova, J., Reddington, H., Sapundzhieva, A., Dicks, L. V., & Collier, M. (2022). Assessing nature-based solutions uptake in a Mediterranean climate: Insights from the case-study of Malta. Nature-Based Solutions, 2, 100029. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2022.100029

Barron, S., & Rugel, E. J. (2023). Tolerant greenspaces: Designing urban nature-based solutions that foster social ties and support mental health among young adults. Environmental Science & Policy, 139, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.10.005

Berg, P. G., Eriksson, F., Eriksson, T., Granvik, M., & Hedfors, P. (2024). Values of urban greening – Voices of residents on highly intensive densification (HID) in a Swedish case study. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 99, 128422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128422

Buijs, A. E., Gulsrud, N. M., Rodela, R., Diduck, A. P., van der Jagt, A. P. N., & Raymond, C. M. (2024). Advancing environmental justice in cities through the Mosaic Governance of nature-based solutions. Cities, 147, 104799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.104799

Coleman, A. F., Eisenman, T. S., Locke, D. H., & Harper, R. W. (2023). Exploring links between resident satisfaction and participation in an urban tree planting initiative. Cities, 134, 104195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104195

Collier, M. J., Frantzeskaki, N., Connop, S., Dick, G., Dumitru, A., Dziubała, A., Fletcher, I., Georgiou, P., Hölscher, K., Kooijman, E., Lodder, M., Madajczyk, N., McQuaid, S., Nash, C., Osipiuk, A., Quartier, M., Reil, A., Rhodes, M.-L., Rizzi, D., … Xidous, D. (2023). An integrated process for planning, delivery, and stewardship of urban nature-based solutions: The Connecting Nature Framework. Nature-Based Solutions, 3, 100060. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2023.100060

Dawson, L., Elbakidze, M., Yamelynets, T., Kraft van Ermel, L. E., Johansson, K.-E., & Schaffer, C. (2024). Urban greenspace for social integration: Which types of greenspace do new-Swedes prefer and why? Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 95, 128310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128310

Derickson, K., Walker, R., Hamann, M., Anderson, P., Adegun, O. B., Castillo-Castillo, A., Guerry, A., Keeler, B., Llewellyn, L., Matheney, A., Mogosetsi-Gabriel, N., Mundoli, S., Gajjar, S. P., Sitas, N., & Xie, L. (2024). The intersection of justice and urban greening: Future directions and opportunities for research and practice. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 95, 128279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128279

Doll, C., Rollins, C., Burton, M., Pannell, D., Rehdanz, K., & Meyerhoff, J. (2023). Encouraging ecological landscape designs on underutilized urban lands: Homeowner preferences for verge conversion programs. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 87, 128049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.128049

Dreyer, B. C., Coulombe, S., Whitney, S., Riemer, M., & Labbé, D. (2018). Beyond Exposure to Outdoor Nature: Exploration of the Benefits of a Green Building’s Indoor Environment on Wellbeing. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01583

du Toit, M. J., Cilliers, S. S., Dallimer, M., Goddard, M., Guenat, S., & Cornelius, S. F. (2018). Urban green infrastructure and ecosystem services in sub-Saharan Africa. Landscape and Urban Planning, 180, 249–261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.06.001

Ferreira, V., Barreira, A. P., Loures, L., Antunes, D., & Panagopoulos, T. (2020). Stakeholders’ Engagement on Nature-Based Solutions: A Systematic Literature Review. Sustainability, 12(2), Artigo 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12020640

Fonteyn, P., Daniels, S., Malina, R., & Lizin, S. (2024). In plain sight: Green views from the residence and urbanites’ neighborhood satisfaction. Landscape and Urban Planning, 245, 105021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105021

Fouad, S. S., Heggy, E., & Weilacher, U. (2023). Waterways transformation in the vulnerable port city of Alexandria. Cities, 141, 104426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104426

Fox-Kämper, R., Kirby, C. K., Specht, K., Cohen, N., Ilieva, R., Caputo, S., Schoen, V., Hawes, J. K., Ponizy, L., & Béchet, B. (2023). The role of urban agriculture in food-energy-water nexus policies: Insights from Europe and the U.S. Landscape and Urban Planning, 239, 104848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104848

Frantzeskaki, N., McPhearson, T., Collier, M. J., Kendal, D., Bulkeley, H., Dumitru, A., Walsh, C., Noble, K., van Wyk, E., Ordóñez, C., Oke, C., & Pintér, L. (2019). Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Climate Change Adaptation: Linking Science, Policy, and Practice Communities for Evidence-Based Decision-Making. BioScience, 69(6), 455–466. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biz042

Ghazalli, A. J., Brack, C., Bai, X., & Said, I. (2018). Alterations in use of space, air quality, temperature and humidity by the presence of vertical greenery system in a building corridor. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 32, 177–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2018.04.015

Ghazalli, A. J., Brack, C., Bai, X., & Said, I. (2019). Physical and Non-Physical Benefits of Vertical Greenery Systems: A Review. Journal of Urban Technology, 26(4), 53–78. https://doi.org/10.1080/10630732.2019.1637694

Grobman, Y. J., Weisser, W., Shwartz, A., Ludwig, F., Kozlovsky, R., Ferdman, A., Perini, K., Hauck, T. E., Selvan, S. U., Saroglou, S. (Tanya), Barath, S., Schloter, M., & Windorfer, L. (2023). Architectural Multispecies Building Design: Concepts, Challenges, and Design Process. Sustainability, 15(21), Artigo 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115480

HORIZON EUROPE. (2023). The next generation of green, resilient and socially inclusive smart cities | ReGreeneration Project | Fact Sheet | HORIZON [Institucional]. CORDIS | European Commission. : https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101139636

Kajosaari, A., Hasanzadeh, K., Fagerholm, N., Nummi, P., Kuusisto-Hjort, P., & Kyttä, M. (2024). Predicting context-sensitive urban green space quality to support urban green infrastructure planning. Landscape and Urban Planning, 242, 104952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104952

Kampelmann, S. (2021). Knock on wood: Business models for urban wood could overcome financing and governance challenges faced by nature-based solutions. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 62, 127108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127108

Lampinen, J., García-Antúnez, O., Lechner, A. M., Stahl Olafsson, A., Gulsrud, N. M., & Raymond, C. M. (2023). Mapping public support for urban green infrastructure policies across the biodiversity-climate-society -nexus. Landscape and Urban Planning, 239, 104856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104856

Lampinen, J., García-Antúnez, O., Olafsson, A. S., Kavanagh, K. C., Gulsrud, N. M., & Raymond, C. M. (2022). Envisioning carbon-smart and just urban green infrastructure. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 75, 127682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127682

Liu, J., Guo, Y., Han, J., Yang, F., Shen, N., Sun, F., Wei, Y., Yuan, P., & Wang, J. (2024). Nature-Based Solutions for Landscape Performance Evaluation—Handan Garden Expo Park’s “Clear as a Drain” Artificial Wetland as an Example. Land, 13(7), Artigo 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13070973

Mahmoud, I., Morello, E., Bisello, A., & Kolokotsa, D. (2024). Embedding technologies for improving Nature-Based Solutions performance and fostering social inclusion in urban greening strategies: Augmented NBS for cities. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 93, 128215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128215

Megyesi, B., Gholipour, A., Cuomo, F., Canga, E., Tsatsou, A., Zihlmann, V., Junge, R., Milosevic, D., & Pineda-Martos, R. (2024). Perceptions of stakeholders on nature-based solutions in urban planning: A thematic analysis in six European cities. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 96, 128344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128344

Mens, J., Bueren, E. van, Vrijhoef, R., & Heurkens, E. (2021). A typology of social entrepreneurs in bottom-up urban development. Cities, 110, 103066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2020.103066

Metwally, W., & Ibrahim, V. (2022). The Green Areas in the city and sustainable Approach: Analytical Study of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s tree-planting Program. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1026(1), 012045. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1026/1/012045

Moffat, A. J., Ambrose-Oji, B., Clarke, T.-K., O’Brien, L., & Doick, K. J. (2024). Public attitudes to urban trees in Great Britain in the early 2020s. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 91, 128177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.128177

Molari, M., Dominici, L., Manso, M., Silva, C. M., & Comino, E. (2024). A socio-ecological approach to investigate the perception of green walls in cities: A comparative analysis of case studies in Turin and Lisbon. Nature-Based Solutions, 6, 100175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2024.100175

Monteiro, R., Ferreira, J. C., & Antunes, P. (2020). Green Infrastructure Planning Principles: An Integrated Literature Review. Land, 9(12), Artigo 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/land9120525

Morpurgo, J., Remme, R. P., & Van Bodegom, P. M. (2023). CUGIC: The Consolidated Urban Green Infrastructure Classification for assessing ecosystem services and biodiversity. Landscape and Urban Planning, 234, 104726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104726

Muñoz-Pizza, D. M., Villada-Canela, M., Rivera-Castañeda, P., Reyna-Carranza, M. A., Osornio-Vargas, A., & Martínez-Cruz, A. L. (2020). Stated benefits from air quality improvement through urban afforestation in an arid city – A contingent valuation in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 55, 126854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126854

Natanian, J., Guarino, F., Manapragada, N., Magyari, A., Naboni, E., De Luca, F., Cellura, S., Brunetti, A., & Reith, A. (2024). Ten questions on tools and methods for positive energy districts. Building and Environment, 255, 111429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111429

Peroni, F., & Pappalardo, S. E. (2024). Climate justice in future cities: Geographical perspectives for inclusive urban resilience and adaptation. Landscape and Urban Planning, 244, 104998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104998

Pitman, S. D., Daniels, C. B., & Ely, M. E. (2015). Green infrastructure as life support: Urban nature and climate change. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 139(1), 97–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2015.1035219

Ring, Z., Damyanovic, D., & Reinwald, F. (2021). Green and open space factor Vienna: A steering and evaluation tool for urban green infrastructure. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 62, 127131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127131

Rostami, R., Lamit, H., Khoshnava, S. M., Rostami, R., & Rosley, M. S. F. (2015). Sustainable Cities and the Contribution of Historical Urban Green Spaces: A Case Study of Historical Persian Gardens. Sustainability, 7(10), Artigo 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/su71013290

Santamouris, M., & Osmond, P. (2020). Increasing Green Infrastructure in Cities: Impact on Ambient Temperature, Air Quality and Heat-Related Mortality and Morbidity. Buildings, 10(12), Artigo 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings10120233

Schneider, A. E., Neuhuber, T., & Zawadzki, W. (2024). Understanding citizens’ willingness to contribute to urban greening programs. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 95, 128293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128293

Semeraro, A., Dupont, R., Stratigaki, V., Sterckx, T., & Van Hoey, G. (2024). DAPSI(W)R(M) put into practice for a nature-based solution: Framework applied to the coastbusters approach. Nature-Based Solutions, 6, 100147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2024.100147

Tedesco, S., Montacchini, E., Giordano, R., & Larcher, F. (2019). Green walls as nature-based solutions for urban and building resilience: A case study. Sustainable Mediterranean Construction, 2019(N9), 132–136. Scopus.

Virtudes, A. (2016). IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 44(3), 032020. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/44/3/032020

Wang, C., Er, S.-S., & Abdul-Rahman, H. (2016). Indoor vertical greenery system in urban tropics. Indoor and Built Environment, 25(2), 340–356. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X14550508

Wang, J., Xue, F., Jing, R., Lu, Q., Huang, Y., Sun, X., & Zhu, W. (2021). Regenerating Sponge City to Sponge Watershed through an Innovative Framework for Urban Water Resilience. Sustainability, 13(10), Artigo 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105358

Widera, B. (2021, março). Research model for bioclimatic small-scale urban settlement in mild and temperate climate.

Wilby, R. L. (2007). A Review of Climate Change Impacts on the Built Environment. Built Environment, 33(1), 31–45. https://doi.org/10.2148/benv.33.1.31

Zhao, H., Clarke, M., Campbell, C. G., Chang, N.-B., & Qiu, J. (2024). Public perceptions of multiple ecosystem services from urban agriculture. Landscape and Urban Planning, 251, 105170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105170

Zhong, W., Schröder, T., & Bekkering, J. (2024). Implementing biophilic design in architecture through three-dimensional green spaces: Guidelines for building technologies, plant selection, and maintenance. Journal of Building Engineering, 92, 109648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.109648

Published

2026-06-21

How to Cite

Matos, E. B., Venancio, L. V., Martins, I. L., Lisboa, R. I., & Rocha, B. M. (2026). FROM PLANNING TO POST-OCCUPANCY: A REVIEW ON THE PERFORMANCE OF NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS IN URBAN AREAS. Revista De Geopolítica, 17(6), e2681 . https://doi.org/10.56238/revgeov17n6-116