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The global NATURA network announced the launch of The NATURA Global Roadmap for Urban Nature-based Solutions, a landmark assessment that charts a path for scaling nature-based solutions (NbS) to make cities more resilient, equitable, and sustainable.
The Global Roadmap was led by Dr. Timon McPhearson and Dr. Loan Diep, both of New York University, who co-directed the initiative along with more than eighty authors and collaborators from institutions around the world. The project was supported by the National Science Foundation and represents the most extensive global synthesis of urban NbS to date.
The Roadmap integrates evidence from seven regional assessments covering Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Oceania, and the US-Canada. Drawing on more than 1,250 scientific publications and over 150 representative regional NbS case studies, it provides an unparalleled overview of how cities can harness nature to address climate shocks, biodiversity loss, and public health risks while advancing equity and inclusion. The report calls for embedding NbS in urban governance, diversifying financial mechanisms for long-term investment, and institutionalizing inclusive planning that values Indigenous and local knowledge.
Regional perspectives were central to the synthesis. Insights from across continents highlight that nature-based solutions cannot be applied as a one-size-fits-all model; instead, they must reflect local ecological, cultural, and governance contexts. Examples range from water-sensitive urban design in Oceania to community-driven greening in African cities, demonstrating how diverse approaches can provide solutions that are both locally grounded and globally relevant.
By aligning local actions with international frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Global Roadmap demonstrates how urban NbS can scale from city-level interventions to global impact. Restoring ecosystems, expanding equitable access to green space, and creating climate-resilient urban infrastructure all serve to advance shared goals of biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and social equity.
The Global Roadmap for Urban Nature-based Solutions is intended as a resource for researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and communities worldwide working to accelerate just and ecologically sustainable approaches to urban resilience.
