Nature-Based Solutions for Water in the Peri-Urban: Case Study Brief - Spain

The nature-based solution (NBS) implementation examined in this case study is part of a restoration project in the Barcelona metropolitan area that in-cludes the Besòs river park and the Montcada i Reix-ac constructed wetlands (1996-2006). To address the river alteration, NBS were implemented through the use of overlapping blue and green infrastructure as riverside park and constructed wetlands. Chal-lenges related to water quality as a result of indus-trial pollution; to water quantity due to flooding risks (torrential storms), water-stressed flows; and hy-drology as a natural system. The NBS approach has proven to be beneficial as a long-term intervention for re-integrating water resources in order to close the cycle gap in water management, while providing additional services and benefits. It has improved environmental quality, by reinforcing ecosystem functions and biodiversity. The purpose of this case study was to identify the interlinked results of the processes involved in implementing the NBS. It aimed to first, identify the NBS implementation as the eco-system services provider, focusing on cultural ecosystem services (social aspects of landscape aesthetics and recreation); second, recognize how previous NBS experiences helped to build capacity for current and future urban green/blue infrastructure implementations; and third, analyse how the NBS improves the environmental quality and drives innovation towards a more sustainable water management (e.g. NBS river and sea connectivity, groundwater use and water quality improvement).This Case Study Brief is part of a Series of nine international case study briefs published under Project NATWIP. The Series is edited by Amy Oen and Sarah Hale, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), Oslo, Norway