Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Adaptation: A Documentary Review of Progress and Challenges
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/ere2025173Keywords:
Nature-based solutions, Climate adaptation, Green infrastructure, Environmental governance, Urban resilienceAbstract
Nature-Based Solutions have positioned themselves as fundamental approaches to address contemporary climate challenges, by articulating ecological processes with land management. This documentary review examines the progress and limitations in the application of these solutions for climate adaptation, analyzing scientific literature in Spanish and English indexed in Scopus during the period 2020-2025. Through a qualitative methodology, four central thematic axes were identified: the capacity of natural systems for water and thermal regulation, institutional and regulatory frameworks for their implementation, processes of social participation and environmental equity, and challenges for their expansion and financial sustainability. The results reveal that initiatives such as wetland restoration, urban ecological corridors, and vegetative coverings show significant potential for mitigating climate risks, although they face obstacles such as lack of coordination among stakeholders and limited integration into public policies. International experiences demonstrate that the success of these solutions depends on their adaptation to local contexts and on the articulation between scientific knowledge and community wisdom. The study concludes that Nature-Based Solutions require holistic approaches that surpass fragmented views, by integrating ecological, social, and political dimensions to achieve effective transformations in the face of climate change.
References
Seddon N, Chausson A, Berry P, Girardin C, Smith A, Turner B. Understanding the value and limits of nature-based solutions to climate change and other global challenges. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 2020;375. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0120
Seddon N, Daniels E, Davis R, Chausson A, Harris R, Hou-Jones X, Huq S, Kapos V, Mace G, Rizvi A, Reid H, Roe D, Turner B, Wicander S. Global recognition of the importance of nature-based solutions to the impacts of climate change. Global Sustainability. 2020;3. https://doi.org/10.1017/sus.2020.8
Borges Machín AY, González Bravo YL. Educación comunitaria para un envejecimiento activo: experiencia en construcción desde el autodesarrollo. Región Científica. 2022;1(1):202212. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc202213
Goodwin S, Olazabal M, Castro A, Pascual U. Global mapping of urban nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation. Nature Sustainability. 2023;6:458-469. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-01036-x
Kalantari Z, Ferreira C, Pan H, Pereira P. Nature-Based Solutions to Global Environmental Challenges. The Science of the Total Environment. 2023;163227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163227
Rodríguez-Torres E, Gómez-Cano C, Sánchez-Castillo V. Application of gamification in work environment. Gamification and Augmented Reality. 2024;2(24). https://doi.org/10.56294/gr202424
Vasseur L, Andrade A. Using the Red List of Ecosystems and the Nature-based Solutions Global Standard as an integrated process for climate change adaptation in the Andean high mountains. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 2024;379. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0326
Wolf S, Pham M, Matthews N, Bubeck P. Understanding the implementation gap: policy-makers’ perceptions of ecosystem-based adaptation in Central Vietnam. Climate and Development. 2020;13:81-94. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2020.1724068
Debortoli DO, Brignole NB. Inteligencia empresarial para estimular el giro comercial en el microcentro de una ciudad de tamaño intermedio. Región Científica. 2024;3(1):2024195. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc2024195
Muthee K, Duguma L, Nzyoka J, Minang P. Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Practices as a Nature-Based Solution to Promote Water-Energy-Food Nexus Balance. Sustainability. 2021;13:1142. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU13031142
Cousiño A, Penha-Lopes G. Ecosystem Based Adaptation: Concept and Terminology in Strategic Adaptation Planning (Municipal and Inter-Municipal) in Portugal. Sustainability. 2021;13:6145. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU13116145
González Vallejo R. La transversalidad del medioambiente: facetas y conceptos teóricos. Región Científica. 2023;2(2):202393. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc202393
Gómez-Cano C, Sánchez-Castillo V. Systematic review on Augmented Reality in health education. Gamification and Augmented Reality. 2023;1:28. https://doi.org/10.56294/gr202328
Agol D, Reid H, Crick F, Wendo H. Ecosystem-based adaptation in Lake Victoria Basin; synergies and trade-offs. Royal Society Open Science. 2021;8. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.201847
Gómez Cano CA. Ingreso, permanencia y estrategias para el fomento de los Semilleros de Investigación en una IES de Colombia. Región Científica. 2022;1(1):20226. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc20226
Vicarelli M, Sudmeier-Rieux K, Alsadadi A, Shrestha A, Schütze S, Kang M, Leue M, Wasielewski D, Mysiak J. On the cost-effectiveness of Nature-based Solutions for reducing disaster risk. The Science of the Total Environment. 2024;174524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174524
Onofri L, Nunes P. Economic valuation for policy support in the context of ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change: An indicator, integrated based approach. Heliyon. 2020;6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04650
Higuera Carrillo EL. Aspectos clave en agroproyectos con enfoque comercial: Una aproximación desde las concepciones epistemológicas sobre el problema rural agrario en Colombia. Región Científica. 2022;1(1):20224. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc20224
Pörtner H, Scholes R, Arneth A, Barnes D, Burrows M, Diamond S, Duarte C, Kiessling W, Leadley P, Managi S, McElwee P, Midgley G, Ngo H, Obura D, Pascual U, Sankaran M, Shin Y, Val A. Overcoming the coupled climate and biodiversity crises and their societal impacts. Science. 2023;380. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abl4881
Gómez-Cano C, Sánchez-Castillo V, Castillo-Gonzalez W, Vitón-Castillo A, González-Argote J. Internet of Things and Wearable Devices: A Mixed Literature Review. EAI Endorsed Transactions on Internet of Things. 2023;9(4):e3. https://doi.org/10.4108/eetiot.v9i4.4276
Mogrovejo Andrade JM. Estrategias resilientes y mecanismos de las organizaciones para mitigar los efectos ocasionados por la pandemia a nivel internacional. Región Científica. 2022;1(1):202211. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc202211
Roman-Acosta D, Caira-Tovar N, Rodríguez-Torres E, Pérez-Gamboa AJ. Estrategias efectivas de liderazgo y comunicación en contextos desfavorecidos en la era digital. Salud, Ciencia y Tecnología – Serie de Conferencias. 2023;2:532. https://doi.org/10.56294/sctconf2023532
Vázquez-Vidal V, Martínez-Prats G. El desarrollo regional y su impacto en la sociedad mexicana. Región Científica. 2023;2(1):202336. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc202336
Woroniecki S, Spiegelenberg F, Chausson A, Turner B, Key I, Irfanullah H, Seddon N. Contributions of nature-based solutions to reducing people’s vulnerabilities to climate change across the rural Global South. Climate and Development. 2021;15:590-607. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2022.2129954
Cousins J. Justice in nature-based solutions: Research and pathways. Ecological Economics. 2021;180:106874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106874
Guzmán DL, Gómez-Cano C, Sánchez-Castillo V. Construcción del Estado a partir de la participación Ciudadana. Revista Academia & Derecho. 2022;14(25). https://doi.org/10.18041/2215-8944/academia.25.10601
Key I, Smith A, Turner B, Chausson A, Girardin C, Macgillivray M, Seddon N. Biodiversity outcomes of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation: Characterising the evidence base. Frontiers in Environmental Science. 2022;10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.905767
Rodríguez-Torres E, Davila-Cisneros JD, Gómez-Cano C. La formación para la configuración de proyectos de vida: una experiencia mediante situaciones de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Varona. 2024;79(e2391). http://revistas.ucpejv.edu.cu/index.php/rVar/article/view/2391
Linares Giraldo M, Rozo Carvajal KJ, Sáenz López JT. Impacto de la pandemia en el comportamiento del comercio B2C en Colombia. Región Científica. 2023;2(1):202320. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc202320
Cui L, Wang J, Sun L, Lv C. Construction and optimization of green space ecological networks in urban fringe areas: A case study with the urban fringe area of Tongzhou district in Beijing. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020;276:124266. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2020.124266
Wanghe K, Guo X, Wang M, Zhuang H, Ahmad S, Khan T, Xiao Y, Luan X, Li K. Gravity model toolbox: An automated and open-source ArcGIS tool to build and prioritize ecological corridors in urban landscapes. Global Ecology and Conservation. 2020;22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01012
Rodríguez-Torres E, Gómez-Cano C, Sánchez-Castillo V. Management information systems and their impact on business decision making. Data & Metadata. 2022;1:21. https://doi.org/10.56294/dm202221
Huang H, Zhang M, Yu K, Gao Y, Liu J. Construction of complex network of green infrastructure in smart city under spatial differentiation of landscape. Computer Communications. 2020;154:380-389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comcom.2020.02.042
Vargas Ávila BS, Villa Celis DN, Ortiz Vargas CD, Becerra Menjura KN, Verdugo Gómez LA, Ramírez Chacón JN. Radio educación financiera en zonas rurales de Colombia. Región Científica. 2024;3(1):2024207. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc2024207
Liu Y, Huang T, Zheng X. A method of linking functional and structural connectivity analysis in urban green infrastructure network construction. Urban Ecosystems. 2022;1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-022-01201-2
Salviano I, Gardon F, Santos R. Ecological corridors and landscape planning: a model to select priority areas for connectivity maintenance. Landscape Ecology. 2021;36:3311-3328. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-021-01305-8
Pérez-Gamboa AJ, Gómez-Cano C, Sánchez-Castillo V. Decision making in university contexts based on knowledge management systems. Data & Metadata. 2022;2:92. https://doi.org/10.56294/dm202292
Rodríguez-Espinosa V, Aguilera-Benavente F, Gómez-Delgado M. Green infrastructure design using GIS and spatial analysis: a proposal for the Henares Corridor (Madrid-Guadalajara, Spain). Landscape Research. 2020;45:26-43. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2019.1569221
Machuca-Contreras F, Canova-Barrios C, Castro MF. Una aproximación a los conceptos de innovación radical, incremental y disruptiva en las organizaciones. Región Científica. 2023;2(1):202324. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc202324
Molné F, Donati G, Bolliger J, Fischer M, Maurer M, Bach P. Supporting the planning of urban blue-green infrastructure for biodiversity: A multi-scale prioritisation framework. Journal of Environmental Management. 2023;342:118069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118069
Boussema S, Cohen M, Allouche F. Green and blue infrastructure design in a semi-arid region. Frontiers in Environmental Science. 2022;10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.1061256
Monzón-Pinglo LA, Davila-Cisneros JD, Rodríguez-Torres E, Pérez-Gamboa AJ. La resiliencia en el contexto universitario, un estudio mixto exploratorio. Pensamiento Americano. 2023;16(31):1-15. https://doi.org/10.21803/penamer.16.31.636
Liu Y, Huang T, Zheng X. A method of linking functional and structural connectivity analysis in urban green infrastructure network construction. Urban Ecosystems. 2022;25:909-925. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-022-01201-2
Cannatella D, Van Der Waal M, Rizzetto F. A Data-Driven Design Approach for Multi-scale Green Infrastructure Design: Integrating Landscape Connectivity and Phytoremediation in the Piedmont Region (IT). In: Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 2024:388-405. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-65285-1_25
Muñoz Bonilla HA, Menassa Garrido IS, Rojas Coronado L, Espinosa Rodríguez MA. La innovación en el sector servicios y su relación compleja con la supervivencia empresarial. Región Científica. 2024;3(1):2024214. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc2024214
Kabisch N, Frantzeskaki N, Hansen R. Principles for urban nature-based solutions. Ambio. 2022;51:1388-1401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-021-01685-w
Almenar J, Elliot T, Rugani B, Philippe B, Gutiérrez T, Sonnemann G, Geneletti D. Nexus between nature-based solutions, ecosystem services and urban challenges. Land Use Policy. 2021;100:104898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104898
Cárdenas M, Wilde V, Hagen-Zanker A, Seifert-Dähnn I, Hutchins M, Loiselle S. The Circular Benefits of Participation in Nature-Based Solutions. Sustainability. 2021;13:4344. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU13084344
Sánchez-Castillo V, García-Rojas R, Gómez-Cano C. Redes Sociales Rurales y Capital social: El caso de los paneleros de Bellavista. Universidad y Sociedad. 2023;14(5):383-393. https://rus.ucf.edu.cu/index.php/rus/article/view/3991
Wickenberg B. Collaborating for nature-based solutions: bringing research and practice together. Local Environment. 2023;29:118-134. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2023.2254797
Pérez-Guedes N, Arufe-Padrón A. Perspectivas de transición energética en América Latina en el escenario pospandémico. Región Científica. 2023;2(1):202334. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc202334
Hoffman K. Justifying nature-based solutions. Biology & Philosophy. 2023;38:1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-023-09926-w
Gómez-Cano C, Sánchez-Castillo V, Santana-González Y. Factores que inciden en la procrastinación académica de los estudiantes de educación superior en Colombia. Universidad y Sociedad. 2023;15(4):421-431. https://rus.ucf.edu.cu/index.php/rus/article/view/3995
Wang D, Liu C, Guo Y, Tang P, Jiao J, Kong W, Zhang L, Liu Y, Kong D. Research strategy for constructing a green infrastructure network based on spatial prioritization. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. 2022;8. https://doi.org/10.1080/20964129.2022.2088403
Sanabria Martínez MJ. Construir nuevos espacios sostenibles respetando la diversidad cultural desde el nivel local. Región Científica. 2022;1(1):20222. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc20222
Hekrle M. What benefits are the most important to you, your community, and society? Perception of ecosystem services provided by nature-based solutions. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water. 2022;9. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1612
Gonzales-Tito YM, Quintanilla-López L, Pérez-Gamboa AJ. Metaverse and education: a complex space for the next educational revolution. Metaverse Basic and Applied Research. 2023;2:56. https://doi.org/10.56294/mr202356
Wang Y, Qin P, Önal H. An optimisation approach for designing wildlife corridors with ecological and spatial considerations. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 2022;13:1042-1051. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13817
Moreira AJ, Reis Fonseca RM. La inserción de los movimientos sociales en la protección del medio ambiente: cuerpos y aprendizajes en el Recôncavo da Bahia. Región Científica. 2024;3(1):2024208. https://doi.org/10.58763/rc2024208
Seddon N, Smith A, Smith P, Key I, Chausson A, Girardin C, House J, Srivastava S, Turner B. Getting the message right on nature-based solutions to climate change. Global Change Biology. 2021;27. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15513
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Gelber Rosas Patiño, Verenice Sánchez Castillo, Tulio Andrés Clavijo Gallego (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Unless otherwise stated, associated published material is distributed under the same licence.