Social Impact Framework for Nature-based Solutions

The document introduces a social impact framework developed by the NBSPLUS project to improve the intentional design and assessment of nature-based solutions (NbS). It defines NbS as the use of natural processes and blue-green infrastructure—including parks, wetlands, green roofs, and restored waterways—to tackle climate, biodiversity, and societal challenges. The framework categorizes social impacts into several dimensions, including physical and mental health, recreational value, place attachment, knowledge and learning, pro-environmental behavior, social cohesion, justice (recognitional, distributive, and procedural), economic value, food security, and empowerment.

• Nature-based solutions (NbS) utilize blue-green infrastructure and natural processes, such as restored waterways, green roofs, wetlands, and parks, to improve quality of life and address challenges related to society, biodiversity, and climate.
• The NBSPLUS project developed a social impact framework to assess how NbS enhance societal wellbeing, organizing impacts into categories such as health, recreational value, place attachment, learning, pro-environmental attitudes, social cohesion, economic value, food security, and various forms of justice and empowerment.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2026). Social Impact Framework for Nature-based Solutions. https://www.sei.org/publications/social-impact-framework-nbs/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Social Impact Framework for Nature-based Solutions. 2026. https://www.sei.org/publications/social-impact-framework-nbs/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Social Impact Framework for Nature-based Solutions |date=25 May 2026 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/social-impact-framework-nbs/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2026social, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Social Impact Framework for Nature-based Solutions}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/social-impact-framework-nbs/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }