The term nature-based solutions (NBS) has gained traction in recent years and has been applied in many settings. There are few comprehensive assessment frameworks available that can guide NBS planning and implementation while at the same time capturing the short- and long-term impacts and benefits of the NBS. Here a recently presented framework, which builds on the theory of change and was developed to assess NBS at different phases of the project cycle, was applied to seven diverse case studies. The case studies addressed water quality and quantity issues in peri-urban areas across the global north and south. Framework indicators covering the sustainability dimensions (environmental, social and economic) were assessed at three stages of the framework: context, process and results. The work sought to investigate the following research objectives: (1) Can this framework be robust and yet flexible enough to be applied across a diverse selection of NBS projects that are at different phases of the project cycle and address different kinds of water challenges within varied ecological, social and economic contexts? (2) Is it possible to draw generalisations from a comparative analysis of the application of the framework to the case studies? Results showed that the framework was able to be applied to the case studies; however, their diversity showed that NBS projects designed in one context, for a specific purpose in a specific location, can not necessarily be transferred easily to another location. There were several process-based indicators that were universally significant for the case studies, including expertise, skills and knowledge of the involved actors, roles and responsibilities of involved actors and political support. The result-based indicators were case study-specific when environmental indicators were case study-specific, and important social indicators were environmental identity and recreational values. Overall, the use of the framework benefits the recognition of the implementation’s advances, such as the change in context, the processes in place and the results obtained.

Recent efforts to achieve social, economic, and environmental goals related to sustainability emphasize the importance of nature-based solutions (NBS), as grey infrastructure alone is insufficient to address current challenges. The majority of frameworks proposed in the literature fail to address the full potential of NBS, neglecting long-term results, unintended consequences, co-benefits, and their contribution to achieving global environmental agreements, such as the Agenda 2030, especially for water management in a peri-urban context. Here we present an innovative framework that can be applied to both NBS project planning and evaluation for several water-based challenges, giving practitioners and researchers a tool not only to evaluate ongoing projects but also to guide new ones. The framework considers three main stages of a NBS project: (1) context assessment, (2) NBS implementation and adaptation process, and (3) NBS results. This tool has the potential to be used to evaluate whether NBS projects are aligned with sustainability dimensions through a set of adaptable sustainability indicators. The framework can also highlight how the NBS targets are related to the sustainable development goals (SGD) and contribute to catalyzing the 2030 Agenda. The framework is an important tool for water management and other NBS types.

Using nature to address socio-environmental challenges has emerged as a promising alternative to improve human well-being. Therapeutic gardens are landscaped outdoor spaces in health institutions, squares, and schools developed to improve the well-being of their users. However, there are information gaps on how to implement them. This study aims to systematize information about therapeutic gardens and use it to develop recommendations for implementing these spaces. We conducted a systematic review, which included 27 studies that contained the words therapeutic gardens, design, and/or implementation. The results indicated that the topic does not have a constant number of publications. Most articles are case studies in Europe (n = 8) and published in journals about environmental and health issues (n = 25). Furthermore, most studies (n = 23) relate the implementation of therapeutic gardens to health institutions. A framework with seven stages of recommendations was developed to guide the implementation and monitoring of these gardens in different spaces. This study is expected to contribute to the development of therapeutic gardens with an interdisciplinary team, promote SDG 3 (good health and well-being), and, mainly, improve the well-being of users.

The reduction of tropical forests has generated a loss of ecosystem services across the globe. In Brazil, essential biomes related to water provision (such as the Atlantic Forest and Savanna) have been degraded, compromising water-ecosystem services. Payment for water-ecosystem services (water PES) has been implemented as a tool to stimulate changes in the use and management of these areas. Many water PES projects have emerged in Brazil using forest restoration, aiming to improve water ecosystem services. In this context, this study identified the types of monitoring carried out in Brazilian water PES projects, to include their main characteristics and gaps. Five Brazilian projects were selected for analysis as case studies. Interviews were then conducted with stakeholders to get current data on their monitoring practices. The data from the literature review, case study approach, and interviews were analyzed from the perspective of monitoring guides recommendations. Different aspects were analyzed, such as objectives, institutional arrangements, type of monitoring, indicators, and frequency of monitoring. The study indicates that there is a lack of standardized methods, making it difficult to specify the results of the implemented actions. The central gap is related to benefit monitoring. It is necessary to establish a holistic monitoring system, dealing with the ecosystem as a complex socio-ecological system. Some perspectives to solve the problems were proposed. The results of this work may help not only improve the current and future PES schemes in Brazil but also in other countries, especially developing ones, where vulnerable populations depend upon them.

The ongoing challenges of climate change, ecosystem degradation and demand for natural resources make sustainability a global priority. Models, guidelines and frameworks are particularly valuable in the field of management as they help to solve problems. This study aims to explore them from an interdisciplinary perspective, including a concern with the SDGs. The study involved a bibliometric analysis using the SALSA method on 352 documents published between 2015 and 2023. Additional data sources supported the analysis. The content analysis assessed the interdisciplinarity and alignment with the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. The study highlighted the level of interdisciplinarity in the research that is being pursued. Furthermore, it demonstrated the uptake of the SDGs in the field of management. The study gives researchers and editors a valuable view on interdisciplinarity and suggests fruitful opportunities for future research in the context of emerging sustainability concerns.