In recent years, urban nature-based solutions (NBS) have emerged as pivotal strategies in the global effort to create resilient and sustainable cities. These solutions, ranging from green roofs and urban forests to wetlands and permeable pavements, offer multifaceted benefits including climate adaptation, biodiversity enhancement, air quality improvement, and psychological well-being for urban residents. However, a critical dimension often overlooked is the temporality of these interventions—how their effectiveness and benefits unfold and change over time. A groundbreaking study led by Chelli, Raymond, Korpilo, and colleagues, published in npj Urban Sustainability, delves into this very aspect by exploring citizens’ preferences for the temporal effectiveness of urban NBS through participatory Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Urban environments are dynamic and complex systems that continuously evolve due to natural and anthropogenic influences. Hence, the sustainability of NBS depends not only on their design and initial implementation but also on how their ecological and social benefits manifest in the short, medium, and long term. This multidimensional challenge calls for a more nuanced understanding of how city dwellers perceive and value different timeframes of NBS effectiveness. The study harnesses the power of participatory GIS, an innovative methodological approach that integrates public input into spatial data analysis, enabling researchers to capture fine-grained insights into citizens’ preferences and perceptions about urban green infrastructure.
The research team engaged a diverse set of urban residents from various European cities, each characterized by distinct environmental, social, and climatic conditions. Using a digital participatory platform, participants were invited to spatially indicate their preferences regarding the temporal effectiveness of existing and proposed NBS projects. This interactive, map-based tool allowed citizens to visualize and contribute to the discussion about the timing and expected impacts of urban nature interventions in their local areas. By directly involving citizens in the data collection and analysis process, the study transcended traditional top-down planning models and amplified community voices in shaping urban sustainability agendas.
One of the central findings of this research is that temporal preferences for NBS vary significantly among citizens, influenced by socio-demographic factors, local environmental context, and personal experiences with urban green spaces. Some residents expressed a stronger inclination towards immediate benefits, such as quick improvements in air quality or shade provision during heatwaves. Others placed more value on long-term ecological stability and gradual biodiversity recovery, which might take years or even decades to fully materialize. This diversity of temporal values underscores the need for flexible and adaptive urban planning policies that can accommodate these different expectations.
From a technical standpoint, the use of participatory GIS in this context exemplifies the fusion of geospatial technology with social science inquiry. The platform facilitated multi-layered data integration, from citizen-generated spatial inputs to environmental monitoring datasets and urban infrastructure maps. By overlaying these datasets, researchers could dynamically model and visualize the spatial-temporal dimensions of NBS performance. This approach provides urban planners and policymakers with a powerful decision-support tool that not only reflects community priorities but also aligns them with scientific assessments of ecosystem services over time.
Importantly, the study sheds light on how understanding temporal effectiveness preferences can improve the design and communication of urban greening projects. For instance, if a target community favors rapid cooling effects during increasingly frequent heatwaves, planners might prioritize deploying green infrastructure components with immediate shading and evapotranspiration benefits. Conversely, in neighborhoods emphasizing biodiversity restoration, the focus might shift towards afforestation and soil health improvements that accrue gradually but yield significant long-term resilience against climate change impacts.
Beyond the local scale, the research carries broader implications for urban sustainability transitions worldwide. As cities confront mounting environmental challenges, integrating citizens’ temporal preferences into NBS management could enhance social acceptance, foster stewardship, and ultimately increase the resilience of urban ecosystems. The participatory GIS methodology thus acts as a democratizing platform, bridging the gap between scientific knowledge, policy frameworks, and everyday lived experiences of city inhabitants.
Moreover, the study invites a rethinking of temporal metrics traditionally used to evaluate the success of urban nature projects. Conventional assessments often focus on static snapshots, ignoring the dynamic progression and possible trade-offs between immediate and future benefits. By emphasizing temporal dynamics, this research advocates for evaluation frameworks that incorporate time-sensitive indicators, enabling planners to balance short-term urgencies with sustainable long-range outcomes.
Another notable contribution of the study lies in its ability to capture heterogeneity within communities. Temporal preferences were not only variable across different cities but also within neighborhoods and demographic groups. For example, elderly populations tended to prioritize short-term improvements for health and comfort, while younger residents were more open to investing in long-term ecological projects with future payoffs. Recognizing these intra-community differences is vital for equitable urban greening that addresses the needs of all social strata.
In addition to revealing citizen perspectives, the participatory GIS approach also highlighted spatial patterns of preference clustering. Certain urban districts exhibited strong demand for immediate nature-based interventions due to historical neglect or environmental degradation, whereas others with existing green cover showed greater appreciation for sustained biodiversity gains. This spatial intelligence informs targeted interventions, ensuring resources are allocated where temporal benefits are most urgently desired or needed.
The technical robustness of the participatory GIS tool also opens avenues for scenario planning and predictive modeling. By simulating various NBS deployment timelines and their projected ecosystem service outcomes, the platform can help stakeholders envision future urban landscapes shaped by their collective choices. This foresight capacity is especially valuable under the accelerating pace of urbanization and climate change, where anticipatory governance is crucial for adaptive urban management.
In light of the ongoing pandemic and the rising emphasis on public health, urban NBS have gained renewed attention for their role in promoting mental well-being and fostering community resilience. The temporal dimension adds complexity, as the timing of green infrastructure benefits can influence recovery trajectories in post-crisis contexts. Citizens’ input into this timing can thus optimize the timing of interventions to maximize health dividends, making urban spaces not only greener but healthier and more inclusive.
This study by Chelli and colleagues represents a paradigm shift in urban sustainability research. By centering citizens’ temporal preferences and employing an innovative participatory GIS methodology, it captures the intricate interplay between human values, ecological processes, and urban form. The resulting insights empower cities to co-create nature-based solutions that are temporally aligned with community aspirations, enhancing both environmental outcomes and social equity.
Looking ahead, the integration of real-time environmental sensors, big data analytics, and participatory digital platforms promises to further refine our understanding of temporal dynamics in urban nature. As these technologies evolve, they will facilitate more nuanced and adaptive co-management of urban ecosystems, ensuring that nature-based solutions deliver timely, context-sensitive benefits to diverse populations.
In conclusion, the exploration of temporal effectiveness preferences introduces a critical dimension in designing resilient urban futures. The adoption of participatory GIS elevates citizen engagement from symbolic participation to substantive influence, fostering a collaborative ethos essential for sustainable city transformation. Chelli, Raymond, Korpilo, and the research team’s pioneering work marks a milestone in tailoring green infrastructure strategies that resonate with the temporal rhythms and priorities of urban inhabitants worldwide.
Subject of Research: Exploring citizens’ preferences regarding the temporal effectiveness of urban nature-based solutions through participatory GIS methods.
Article Title: Exploring citizens’ preferences for the temporal effectiveness of urban nature-based solutions through participatory GIS.
Article References:
Chelli, A., Raymond, C.M., Korpilo, S. et al. Exploring citizens’ preferences for the temporal effectiveness of urban nature-based solutions through participatory GIS. npj Urban Sustain 5, 44 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00229-5
Image Credits: AI Generated
