NATURBIDEAK
NATURAL URBAN ENVIRONMENT REGENERATION SOLUTIONS IN DONOSTIA
COPENHAGEN, ROTTERDAM, PARIS, LONDON AND VITORIAGASTEIZ are among many other cities which have opted for greening and nature-based solutions to adapt to climate change. Nature-based Solutions are inspired by nature, provide environmental, social and economic benefits, and strengthen the use of ecosystem services in combination with existing infrastructures in urban or peri-urban settings. Nevertheless, the benefits of Nature-based Solutions applications are rarely quantified and only qualitatively indicated.
NEIKER Technology Centre is leading NATURBIDEAK, with the collaboration of TECNALIA Technology Centre and DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIÁN TOWN COUNCIL.
DRIVING FACTOR
OBJECTIVES
- Establish a common methodology that achieves quantification of the benefits of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) on four environmental variables (biodiversity, carbon sequestration, improved thermal comfort and run-off management), integrated in a practical case for the first time, while responding to the individual challenges of each variable.
RESULTS
- Method validated in the “L.M.06 - TXOMIN ENEA” area of Donostia-San Sebastián.
- A meso-scale analysis including an assessment of the benefits of the River Park planned in Txomin Enea as a NBS in itself, as well as its possible contribution to the urbanised part.
- A micro-scale analysis conducted with proposals for small-scale NBS and their effectiveness has been quantified.
- No major modifications were possible in construction projects under way in the area as they were at a very advanced stage of definition, but actions that could be implemented on site in terms of NBS were agreed with city council technicians, such as: increasing ground cover and vegetation, or installing permeable pavements.
CONCLUSIONS
- The meso-scale analysis results of Txomin Enea are positive thanks to the River Park Nature-based Solution, as it promotes the presence of a rich and diverse bird community close to the residential area, as well as rich and abundant macrofauna. Regarding the thermal variable, the cooling capacity of the river park over an urbanised area was demonstrated. However, the current project for Txomin Enea land development in isolation presents a negative diagnosis.
- This working method helps decision making by the Administration and generates knowledge which can be applied by companies that design and market Nature-based Solutions. The results are aligned with the studies being carried out in various European projects and EU-funded NBS research lines.
ENVIRONMENTAL
TECHNICAL
ECONOMIC
COMMERCIAL
ON THE MARKET
COLLABORATORS
