Page 19 - NYY Muscat Call 2022 April 24
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elsewhere. But the lessons can be better collected, packaged, and linked to capacity building
and the operationalization of conflict resolution. It is time.
4.3) Co-created NBS in City Development
Cities and their populations have proven highly vulnerable to harmful impacts of climate
change. The causes vary from flash floods to severe long-term drought, rising sea levels in
coastal cities, soil salinisation, and disrupted water cycles. Proactive measures are needed!
Traditionally, solutions to such problems relied on expensive infrastructure projects. An
example being the use of large city storm drainage pipes. While these offer short-term fix,
they basically throw away one of our most valuable resources, drinkable water. Water should
infiltrate the ground, reach the aquifers, and feed natural water cycles. Meanwhile, pollutants,
e.g., heavy metals or ever-lasting chemicals accumulate, endanger microbiology and our
health. Against this backdrop, some cities are turning to Nature-based Solutions (NbS), a
sustainable, cost-effective alternative to traditional infrastructure projects.
NbS involve restoring, protecting, or emulating natural ecosystems to provide ecosystem
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services such as water purification, flood protection, and air quality improvement . They can
also provide additional benefits such as biodiversity conservation, recreational opportunities,
and aesthetic values. To address the problems at stake, citizen engagement is important from
early on, for co-designing and co-creating implementation processes responsive to
community needs, as well as for increasing awareness and spurring behaviours that favour of
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sustainability .
Examples of successful co-implementation of nature-based solutions programs include:
(1) Development of urban parks and small community gardens. The systemic
effect of multi-scale urban green spaces is known to reduce the “heat island effect”,
provide habitats for wildlife, and offer social and recreational opportunities for its
citizens.
19 Prof. José Miguel Lameiras, University of Porto, and URBiNAT.
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Muna Luqman, Yemeni foundation Food4Humanity, Women’s Solidarity Network, Cairo, Egypt.
.
www.waterandhumanity.com 19
