Aligning Stakeholder Objectives to Ecosystem services and Nature-based Solutions in the Henriëttewaard, 's-Hertogenbosch

Around the world, urban governors are confronted with the task to protect their inhabitants against the effects of climate change. To take such measures, developers nowadays turn more towards nature-based solutions. For instance, the Henriëttewaard in ‘s-Hertogenbosch has been chosen for nature development to contribute to the city’s resilience as part of the Green Delta Program. By gaining insight and incorporating the demands of stakeholders into area plans, a more inclusive nature-based solution can be developed which increases support for these types of projects. This study aims to investigate how stakeholder objectives can be aligned with the potential ecosystem services and nature-based solutions elements in the Henriëttewaard. A literature survey and a survey with qualitative and quantitative questions were used to get insights into stakeholder demands for ecosystem services, as stakeholder participation can significantly improve the quality of spatial development projects....Show moreAround the world, urban governors are confronted with the task to protect their inhabitants against the effects of climate change. To take such measures, developers nowadays turn more towards nature-based solutions. For instance, the Henriëttewaard in ‘s-Hertogenbosch has been chosen for nature development to contribute to the city’s resilience as part of the Green Delta Program. By gaining insight and incorporating the demands of stakeholders into area plans, a more inclusive nature-based solution can be developed which increases support for these types of projects. This study aims to investigate how stakeholder objectives can be aligned with the potential ecosystem services and nature-based solutions elements in the Henriëttewaard. A literature survey and a survey with qualitative and quantitative questions were used to get insights into stakeholder demands for ecosystem services, as stakeholder participation can significantly improve the quality of spatial development projects. Results reveal that through potential ecosystem services mapping and engaging stakeholders in setting objectives for the Henriëttewaard, bottlenecks surface, and connections form, which allows the alignment of objectives and NbS elements. The main bottleneck is the disagreement among stakeholders about allowing agricultural activities in the Henriëttewaard. Fostering deliberation, cooperation, and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders, will support aligning objectives like recreation, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience with potential ecosystem services. This research contributes to the integration of nature-based solutions in the Henriëttewaard, supporting the overall importance of facilitating inclusivity and quality. It expands existing knowledge by identifying what challenges can be expected in similar projects. Notwithstanding the limited sample, this research offers clarification into the complexities of stakeholder engagement in nature-based solution projects that are key to creating a livable city.Show less

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Aligning Stakeholder Objectives to Ecosystem services and Nature-based Solutions in the Henriëttewaard, 's-Hertogenbosch