Nature-Based SolutionsPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-03-20DOI: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100228
Tibor Vegh , Todd K. BenDor , Frederick W. Cubbage
{"title":"Testing factors that enhance private participation in payments for ecosystem service programs targeting flood mitigation","authors":"Tibor Vegh , Todd K. BenDor , Frederick W. Cubbage","doi":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100228","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100228","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the severe consequences of low participation, more studies are needed that empirically evaluate how different factors affect enrollment in payments for ecosystem services (PES) programs. In this paper, we provide empirical insight into how different land-leasing, purchase, and management arrangements might affect potential participants’ willingness to enroll in these programs. We administer a choice experiment in the coastal plain of the State of North Carolina (USA), to explore how a hypothetical, flood mitigation-focused PES program could optimize participation across a variety of natural infrastructure practices and across multiple aspects of program design. We find evidence that higher proportions of total household income from farming have a significant relationship with the likelihood of participation in PES programs that seek to mitigate flooding. Other factors that we examined – including income loss from past flood events, respondents’ previous participation in PES programs, and different combinatorial arrangements of payment structuring and timing – had no discernable relationship to initial decisions about program participation. Furthermore, we find evidence for the importance of previous participation in PES programs as a key factor in decisions regarding the extent or level of program participation. In light of this, we propose a risk-based reframing of PES program participation decisions. From this risk avoidance perspective, we theorize that potential participants who are more dependent on farming revenue for their income may be proportionally more risk averse to any actions that could complicate farming or endanger future farming revenue.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100945,"journal":{"name":"Nature-Based Solutions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100228"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143923802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature-Based SolutionsPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100215
Maoko Yoshino , Kazuo Asahiro
{"title":"A basic study on tree growth and landscape greening in Coastal Urban areas: The case of Hakata port in Fukuoka City, Japan","authors":"Maoko Yoshino , Kazuo Asahiro","doi":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100215","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fukuoka City is one of Japan's most advanced cities in incorporating climate change and greening into its policies. This study focuses on seven port green areas adjacent to Hakata Port in Fukuoka City. The purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between the tree growth vitality and the outline of the plan in port green areas within 100m of the coastline and to provide guidelines for sustainable green space management. During the field survey, tree species in the port green space were identified, and the growth activity of representative tree species was evaluated. A literature review and interviews with stakeholders provided insight into the historical and technical aspects of green space development from the 1970s to the 2000s. The study identified <em>Machilus thunbergii, Morella rubra</em>, and <em>Pasania edulis</em> as representative tree species forming the port green space in Fukuoka City. These trees showed a trend of fewer trees with poor growth vigor in green spaces opened between 1995 and 2007, suggesting that differences in growth vigor reflect greening maintenance policies, soil research results, and other factors. However, growth differences may also be influenced by soil conditions, wind speeds, and human activities. Therefore, further analysis using more detailed physical and chemical surveys, wind conditions, and human use data is needed. By reviewing 35 years of port green space development, this study confirms that iterative maintenance improvements and policy establishment have contributed to better tree growth vitality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100945,"journal":{"name":"Nature-Based Solutions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100215"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143144454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Blue infrastructure as nature-based solutions for urban sustainability: Evaluating local perceptions from four Indian megacities","authors":"Koushik Chowdhury , Sukanya Basu , Malay Pramanik , Tobias Plieninger","doi":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100211","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban blue infrastructure provides multiple economic, social, and ecological benefits to local residents, and can enhance urban sustainability. However, few studies have examined the potential of traditional forms of blue infrastructure as nature-based solutions for mitigating common challenges of urban sustainability. The perceptions of 616 urban dwellers from four Indian megacities were analyzed through surveys to understand and demonstrate how blue infrastructure can be seen as a nature-based solution to urban sustainability challenges. A quantitative methodology involving descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, and binary logistic regression was used to analyze survey data. Results showed that blue infrastructure provides multiple ecosystem services to the urban residents, with regulating and cultural services being most prominently valued. Both neglected and well-maintained blue infrastructure demonstrated significant potential as nature-based solutions for improving urban sustainability, but they contribute differently. The socio-cultural characteristics of the respondents significantly influenced their perceptions of the significance of blue infrastructure in addressing urban sustainability challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100945,"journal":{"name":"Nature-Based Solutions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100211"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143145746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature-Based SolutionsPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-04-02DOI: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100231
Dharmendra Dugaya , Pradeep Chaudhry
{"title":"Developing multidimensional agro-silvi-pastoral-horti-medicinal plants models around urban areas: A lesson from corona pandemic","authors":"Dharmendra Dugaya , Pradeep Chaudhry","doi":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Present research communication suggests the needs of developing a multidimensional agroforestry model considering the native plant species naturally growing in the area. This may serve as long-term solution for combating the situations arisen by the corona virus and alike issues in future. India, like other countries, experienced three waves of COVID-19 and the situation was more alarming at the time of second wave in April-May months of 2021 when oxygen cylinders went short in supply for the patients. The use and importance of plant based medicines for the human immunity is well discussed and established in literature. The availability of raw material for the plant based pharmaceutical industries in the future at the present pace may not be sufficient given the interest and demand for these medicines in different parts of the world. This calls for bringing in more area under plant cultivation, wherever possible in urban and semi urban areas. The suggested approach for introducing the multidimensional agro-silvi-pastoral-horti-medicinal plants in the urban and surrounding area and the similar areas of central India could serve as a basis for others to follow. In addition, the effective use of agroforestry systems can considerably improve soil fertility, biodiversity, aesthetics, aid in carbon sequestration, and serve as one of the recognised tools for climate change adaptation and mitigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100945,"journal":{"name":"Nature-Based Solutions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100231"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143799395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature-Based SolutionsPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-03-03DOI: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100225
Nelson Nuwahereza , Susan Balaba Tumwebaze
{"title":"Assessment of the adoption of nature-based solutions for flood risk mitigation: Socio-economic determinants in the River Nyamwamba catchment, Uganda","authors":"Nelson Nuwahereza , Susan Balaba Tumwebaze","doi":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Floods are the most common and destructive natural disaster being experienced worldwide. This necessitates effective flood risk reduction measures and Nature Based Solutions (NBS) have emerged as promising measures that not only reduce the flood risk but also offer additional environmental and societal benefits. This study aimed to establish the household socio-economic characteristics that determine adoption of NBS for flood risk reduction in the rural mountainous River Nyamwamba catchment, Southwestern Uganda. The study answered the following research questions, (a) to what extent have NBS for flood risk reduction been adopted in River Nyamwamba catchment, (b) How does the stage at which a household becomes involved in a NBS project influence its likelihood of adopting NBS for flood risk reduction? (c) What household socio-economic characteristics significantly affect adoption of NBS for flood risk reduction? The study revealed moderate adoption of NBS for floodrisk reduction, with 54% of households in the catchment having adopted at least one or a combination of river buffer zone restoration and/ or on-farm tree planting. Findings revealed that access to flood risk information, past flood experience, and the number of contributors to household livelihood (number of breadwinners) are the household socio-economic characteristics that significantly affect the adoption of NBS for flood risk reduction. The study also revealed that the stage at which a household becomes involved in a NBS project has no significant impact on the likelihood of adoption of NBS for flood risk reduction. The study recommends improving access to flood risk information, leveraging past flood experiences, and addressing intra-household land use conflicts to enhance adoption of NBS for flood risk reduction. Moreover, the study highlights the need for participatory approaches and sustained community engagement to ensure that NBS interventions are locally acceptable</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100945,"journal":{"name":"Nature-Based Solutions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100225"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143579057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature-Based SolutionsPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-05-08DOI: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100234
Yaw Agyeman Boafo , Kirk B. Enu , Kofi Dua Agyei , Jude Dokbila Kolog
{"title":"Citizen-led initiatives and hydro-meteorological risks reduction: Who is implementing nature-based solutions?","authors":"Yaw Agyeman Boafo , Kirk B. Enu , Kofi Dua Agyei , Jude Dokbila Kolog","doi":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100234","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100234","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Citizen-led initiatives are crucial in mitigating hydro-meteorological hazards such as floods, extreme heat, and drought, as they complement state-led efforts and fill gaps where institutional responses fall short, especially in developing regions. As advocacy for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) grows—valued for their efficacy, cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and multifunctionality—there is an urgent need to understand how citizens are adopting these measures to inform strategies for scaling NbS uptake. This study surveyed 1286 respondents across the dense Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) and the rapidly growing Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA) in Ghana to map citizen-led initiatives and identify factors influencing NbS adoption using a multinomial logit model. The results show that GAMA residents predominantly rely on non-structural measures, such as temporary relocation and water conservation, reflecting spatial constraints and dense urban form. In contrast, GKMA residents favor structural measures, particularly NbS, including tree planting, rainwater harvesting, and home gardens. Demographic and household factors significantly influenced NbS uptake. Younger individuals, those with technical education, and larger households were more likely to adopt NbS. Older individuals and those with higher education levels often preferred conventional or reactive strategies. Prior hazard experiences increased the likelihood of NbS adoption; however, more severe experiences tend to shift preferences toward immediate non-structural or conventional measures, highlighting perceptions of the time-intensive nature of NbS effectiveness. The findings advocate for integrating NbS into urban planning frameworks, supported by policies that incentivize citizen-led initiatives and address spatial and financial barriers. Furthermore, underutilized local knowledge and widely adopted non-structural strategies offer complementary pathways to enhance NbS adoption and foster more inclusive and sustainable urban resilience. This study provides actionable insights for promoting NbS in rapidly urbanizing cities of the Global South.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100945,"journal":{"name":"Nature-Based Solutions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100234"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144090421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature-Based SolutionsPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2024-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2024.100205
Andrea Soledad Enriquez , Manuela Fernández , Fernando Umaña , María Victoria Cremona
{"title":"The role of healthy wetlands in mitigating volcanic tephra impacts in Northern Patagonia","authors":"Andrea Soledad Enriquez , Manuela Fernández , Fernando Umaña , María Victoria Cremona","doi":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2024.100205","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2024.100205","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In natural grasslands under extensive grazing, volcanic events pose risks to livestock health and production. Volcanic tephra tends to persist and remain remobilized for years in arid and semi-arid environments, which can be problematic. Healthy wet meadow-wetlands developed in the bottom valleys of Northern Patagonia, Argentina, offer a natural solution for mitigating volcanic tephra impacts. By combining existing geographic information (North Patagonia wetland distribution map and tephra fallout deposit map), the extent of wet meadows affected by the 2011 Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex (PCCVC) volcano was calculated. The regional amount of available forage in the aftermath of the eruption was estimated through field assessments of aerial net primary production (ANPP); this was conducted during the first peak of plant growth after the PCCVC volcanic event in 5 m x 5 m paired plots, both with and without manually removed tephra a month after the event. To compare the tephra effect on vegetation type throughout time, normalized vegetation index (NDVI) was used to monitor plant activity two years before, the following year, and five years after the PCCVC event in wet meadows and surrounding steppes. In addition, the regional amount of tephra removed from the environment and stabilized in the soil was assessed using prior research findings of ash immobilization and stabilization within meadow soil profiles five years after the PCCVC event. Around 106,000 ha (52%) of North Patagonian meadows were identified to be exposed to volcanic hazard. The plant growing season following the eruption generated, on average, 3929±2146 kg DM ha<sup>−1</sup>, indicating an active functional wet meadow recovery despite a 25-20% reduction in ANPP due to the tephra effect. NDVI data supported these findings, with the historical maximum level (0.46±0.02) being restored the year following the event, while surrounding steppes recovered at least three years after. Healthy wet meadows mitigated the adverse effects of around 2279 tons of regional tephra, while simultaneously providing nearly half a billion tons of fodder production the year following the eruption- a critical period of cattle food scarcity. These findings highlight the reduction of negative impacts following recurrent volcanic eruptions and underscore the positive effects of conserving, restoring, and sustainably managing wetlands as a Nature-Based Solution for Disaster Risk Reduction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100945,"journal":{"name":"Nature-Based Solutions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100205"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143145149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature-Based SolutionsPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-03-08DOI: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100227
Kiran Tota-Maharaj , Oluwatoyin Opeyemi Ajibade , Shanika Arachchi , Colin Douglas Hills , Upaka Rathnayake
{"title":"Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) for rainwater harvesting and stormwater management in temporary humanitarian settlements","authors":"Kiran Tota-Maharaj , Oluwatoyin Opeyemi Ajibade , Shanika Arachchi , Colin Douglas Hills , Upaka Rathnayake","doi":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100227","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100227","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Effective management of stormwater runoff is crucial in refugee camps and temporary shelters. Across the Africa, this is vital especially with the intense rainfalls due to the climate effect. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) can be implemented to provide potential sources of water resources across refugee camps and internally displaced people (IDPs). The performance of two SuDS (engineered wetlands and biofilters) was evaluated to assess their effectiveness at reducing levels of pollutants in harvested rainwater and stormwater under simulated environmental conditions of an IDP camp. The SuDS comprised a matrix of sub-surface bedding materials and filter media. Stormwater quality analysis aligned with the WHO and CIRIA standards was carried out over 61 weeks simulating environmental conditions. The SuDS significantly reduced nutrients and organics loading from the influent stormwater. The Constructed Stormwater Treatment System S1-a had an overall high performance in removing impurities (BOD – 60 %, COD – 70 %, Turbidity – 70 %, Colour – 72 %, Phosphates – 63 %, Ammonium – 57 % and Nitrates – 57 %). In addition, the Refugee Camp Engineered Stormwater Treatment System S2-d has overall well-performed impurities removal (TDS – 52 %, COD – 100 %, Turbidity – 100 %, Colour – 41 %, Phosphates – 96 %, Ammonium – 98 % and Nitrates – 88 %). The outflow samples from these SuDS found the concentrations are with high standards. However, it is recommended that the treated stormwater be reused for non-potable sources in these conditions. The implementations of this research findings can be further incorporated into the United Nations sustainable developmental goals of good health and wellbeing (SDG 3) clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), and Peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100945,"journal":{"name":"Nature-Based Solutions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100227"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143600163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature-Based SolutionsPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100216
Caroline Kibii , Flávia Guerra , Philip Bonera Bananayo, Simone Sandholz
{"title":"Nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and resilience in urban informal settlements: Insights from kibera, kenya and Villa 20, Argentina","authors":"Caroline Kibii , Flávia Guerra , Philip Bonera Bananayo, Simone Sandholz","doi":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100216","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100216","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are gaining much recognition for their contribution to addressing climate change impacts and overall environmental challenges in urban areas. NbS in urban areas have been associated with varied benefits and ecosystem services such as flood management, cooling effects and recreational values. However, implementation and effectiveness are influenced by various factors, such as space availability. In urban informal urban settlements with limited space, and high exposure to climate risks, NbS implementation is particularly challenging, despite their proven benefits. Noting the heterogeneity of informal settlements, understanding the existing NbS and how they are perceived locally is crucial for their uptake. Based on surveys and interviews in the informal settlements of in Kibera (Nairobi, Kenya) and Villa 20 (Buenos Aires, Argentina), implemented NbS, their particular benefits and perception as well as key factors influencing their implementation, effectiveness and acceptance were identified. Lastly, the extent to which the identified NbS can be considered transformative was assessed. A key conclusion of the paper is that despite differences in geographies and upgrading and planning processes in the two settlements, somewhat similar NbS enablers and barriers could be identified. NbS effectiveness and sustainability in urban informal settlements seem realizable with active multi-stakeholder engagements and consistent integration of NbS initiatives into participatory urban planning programs and policies. Looking into NbS dimensions beyond environmental benefits can be particularly helpful to identify barriers, enablers but also transformative potentials, thereby supporting sustainable livelihoods, capacitation and participation of dwellers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100945,"journal":{"name":"Nature-Based Solutions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100216"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143144456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Differences in habitat complexity between restored and natural seagrass meadows shape fish community structure","authors":"Julia Castro-Fernández, Inés Castejón-Silvo, Hilmar Hinz, Aleida Escandell Westcott, Jorge Terrados","doi":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seagrass meadows play a crucial role in providing essential ecosystem functions and services, serving as habitat and nursery areas for numerous fish species. Seagrass structural complexity is a key factor influencing these functions. The alarming degradation rate of seagrass beds has boosted research into restoration efforts as Nature-Based Solutions, aimed at recovering meadow structure and associated functions. A comprehensive understanding of how fish communities respond to seagrass restoration is necessary to quantify the ecosystem services in restored areas. This study evaluates the restoration progress of habitat structure in a rehabilitated <em>Posidonia oceanica</em> meadow and the fish communities inhabiting this area, encompassing juvenile and adult fish populations. The structural recovery dynamics of the restored meadow and its fish assemblages were compared to those in the inner and edge areas of a natural reference meadow. <em>In situ</em> measurements of habitat complexity were taken, while fish communities were evaluated through diver-operated stereo-video transects. The restored area exhibited reduced structural complexity, lower juvenile and adult species richness, total density, and biomass compared to reference areas, with a distinct species composition. Differences were more pronounced for adults than juveniles, suggesting that after a three-year recovery period, the restored area may provide food and shelter for some juvenile species but remains inadequate for adults. Although some fish utilize the restored area, reference levels for the habitat and nursery functions have not been attained yet. Further research on the long-term evolution of the state of ecosystem functions following restoration actions is critical for assessing potential effective technical measures of replanting that may help accelerate the recovery rates of these functions to reference levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100945,"journal":{"name":"Nature-Based Solutions","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100230"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143760182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}