With a growing density in the cities, we are building more and more compact with fewer space for green areas. At the same time, the biodiversity has been going through extensive changes due to humans’ impact on the planet. Nature-based solutions (NbS) is one of the important tools to cope with climate change and other important challenges of the community. The aim of this study is to create a deeper understanding of what possibilities and limitations there is for Nature-based solution for the Swedish circumstances. This is a qualitative study based upon a literature study and interviews, that unravels what NbS implies, what the project process looks like and how it overlaps with the plan and building law in Sweden. The study shows how to implement NbS to the plan and building process, there are many possibilities to implement but few means to control the outcome through the process. Today the sustainability work is mostly built on minimum requirements, society impacts and on good will. To better implement NbS the study shows that though the environmental impact assessment the work is the most equivalent compared to NbS project process and also has the authority to regulate different protection measures.

This scoping review examines the current state of the evidence linking specific types of green infrastructure to human health outcomes. The literature indicates broadly that green infrastructure provides services or co-benefits that affect health outcomes. However, the state of the evidence is such that there is no unifying or dominant conceptual framework representing the relationship between green infrastructure and health. The hypothetical linkages between the two are many and the supporting evidence is scarce. This is further confirmed by a near-absence of studies on the linkages between green infrastructure and women’s health, as well as other sub-categories of human health. This review advances a definition of green infrastructure that is more nuanced and based on specific criteria than what is available in published literature, consolidates and refines existing main typologies of green infrastructure, and demonstrates a simple qualitative methodology for scoping out conceptual linkages between GI and human health based on a literature review.

Global urbanization and climate change impacts have exacerbated the urban water crisis. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are promoted globally as ‘just’ and equitable strategies to build sustainable and resilient cities for environmental risks and societal challenges. However, there is still a gap in synchronizing socio-spatial perspectives to understand the cumulative impacts of environmental risks and evolve strategies accordingly. It is also envisaged that future urbanization will be led by small and medium-sized cities from Global South which are more vulnerable due to limited infrastructure, economic and institutional capacity, yet they offer easier management and better stakeholder coordination to integrate resilient strategies. This study attempts to evolve nature-based solutions for urban water security in the fast-emerging medium-sized city of Dehradun in India while bringing socio-spatial perspectives to examine the risks. The evolving research paradigm in urban water security and NbS point towards community-oriented scholarship to promote inclusive urbanism. The research was designed to empirically embed socio-spatial perspective in resilience framework through external and internal biophysical and social factors of hydrometeorological risks, built-environment, socio-economic demographics, perceptions, attitudes participation and representation for these risks. The study employed a multi-level socio-spatial exploratory and explanatory methodology, examining integrated spatial patterns of drought and flooding risks at city level to generate hotspots. It gathered social perspectives on the risks in a critical hotspot and also recorded the preferences for NbS through a semi-structured questionnaire from 452 respondents at neighbourhood-level. The parameters helped identify the key socio-spatial determinants for urban water security to contextualize NbS. Household income, education, and size; dwelling unit plot size and structure were the critical internal socio-spatial determinants for urban water security. Results show very little percentage of participation and representation in the study area, yet, the role of participatory process was a crucial external social factor in determining urban water security. Suitable strategies were considered based on identified socio-spatial determinants, NbS preferences and participation interest of the respondents. The preferences for various types of NbS were collated with their social, environmental, and economic benefits as well as spatial scale of implementation. A close synergy between the socio-economic demography and the built-environment was observed. This influences the cost and scale of NbS which subsequently determine the prospects of benefits. Effective participation and representation can enhance water security but its absence can adversely impact the livelihood, health or property of different groups even within one community which can lead to inequity and injustice. From the overall results it can be inferred that small-scale NbS had better synergies with the social determinants as compared to large-scale solutions. Hence, to maximize the benefits with equitable and ‘just’ measures, small-scale NbS need to be upscaled by replication. This also offers a unique opportunity for emerging cities which can embed them locally and replicate them in new neighbourhoods as the cities grows. Since these cities often have a strong sense of local identity, engagement with the community and enabling actors is also crucial for the successful contextualization of NbS. Thus, socio-spatial perspective becomes decisive for the multiple benefits sought from NbS while playing a significant role in equitable social inclusion to achieve urban water security.:1 Introduction 1.1 Global Urbanization Prospects 1.2 Sustainable Development Goals & the New Urban Agenda-III 1.3 The Growing Urban Water Crisis 1.4 Research Rationale 1.5 Structure of the Dissertation 2 Theoretical Background 2.1 Inclusive Urbanism 2.1.1 What is Inclusive Urbanism? Why is it needed? 2.1.2 Three dimensions for inclusion 2.1.3 Equity, Justice and Participation 2.2 Urban Water Security: Evolving Definitions & Parameters 2.3 Nature-based Solutions 2.3.1 Definitions and Implications 2.3.2 NbS Environmental, Social, Economic and Spatial Aspects 2.4 Inclusive Urbanism for Urban Water Security & NbS in Socio-spatial Perspective 3 State-of-the-art Literature Review 3.1 Literature Search and Analysis Criteria 3.2 Codes and Coding 3.3 Emergent Themes and Trends 3.4 Evidences of NbS for Urban Water Flooding & Drought 3.5 Evidences on Scale of Implementation of NbS 3.6 Evidences of NbS for Social, Environmental and Economic Aspects 3.7 Methodological Evidences for Social Inclusion in NbS 3.8 Gaps and Opportunities: Formulation of Research Questions 4 Research Design 4.1 Conceptual Framework 4.1.1 The Lens of Resilience 4.1.2 Enabling Social Inclusion in Urban Resilience 4.2 Operationalizing the Conceptual Framework Epistemological and Ontological Considerations 4.3 Methodological and Analytical Framework 4.3.1 Research Objectives 4.3.2 Case Study Selection 4.3.3 Spatial Assessment - Parameters, Methods & Tools 4.3.4 Social Assessment - Parameters, Methods & Tools 4.4 Scope and Limitations of the Study 5 Spatial Perspectives on Urban Water Security 5.1 Case Study Profile: Dehradun City 5.2 Demographics and Urbanization Trends 5.3 Climate and Seasonal Trends 5.4 LPA Precipitation Trends and Spatial Pattern 5.5 Groundwater Trends and Spatial Pattern 5.6 Urban Flooding Spatial Pattern 5.7 Study Area Selection 5.7.1 Hotspots Identification 5.7.2 Validation and Selection of Study Area 5.7.3 Study Area 6 Social Perspectives on Urban Water Security 6.1 Respondents’ Profile 6.2 Multi Factor Analysis 6.3 MFA Model 6.3.1 MFA Analysis Steps 6.3.2 Dimensions, Contributions & Selection 6.4 Ordinal Exploration of Significant Parameters 6.4.1 Perception and Attitudes towards Biophysical Environment 6.4.2 Role of Participatory Processes in Water Security 6.4.3 Summary of Results 6.5 Categorical Association of Significant Parameters 6.5.1 Association of Socio-economic Demographics with Water Security 6.5.2 Association of Built-environment with Water Security 6.5.3 Summary of Results 6.6 Urban Water Security in Socio-Spatial Perspective 7 Synthesizing NbS for Urban Water Security 7.1 Considerations for NbS from Socio-spatial Perspectives 7.2 NbS Awareness and Preferences from Surveys 7.3 NbS Preferences in Social Environmental and Economic Aspects 7.4 Spatial Aspects in NbS Preferences 7.5 Evolving NbS in Socio-spatial Context: Synergies & Trade-offs 7.6 NbS Prospects in Urban Planning, Policy and Practice 7.6.1 From ‘S.E.E.’ to ‘S.E.E.S.’ 7.6.2 Enabling via Participation 7.6.3 Enabling via Policy and Regulations 7.6.4 Contextualizing NbS via Practice 7.7 Ensuring Equity and Justice through NbS 8 Conclusion: Contribution and Way Forward 8.1 Revisiting Research Questions, Aims & Objectives 8.2 Contributions of this Research 8.2.1 Research Contributions 8.2.2 Policy and Practice Contributions 8.3 Implications for Small and Medium-sized Cities 8.4 Limitations and Further Scope 8.5 NbS as Driver of Inclusive Urbanism for Urban Water Security 8.6 Achieving Sustainable Development Goals 8.7 A Note on Open Science Practice in the Thesis Annexure-1 Papers selected for state-of-the-art literature review Annexure-2 Spatial Assessment Tables Annexure-3 Social Survey Questionnaire Annexure-4 Multi Factor Analysis Test and Supplementary Tables Annexure-5 Code Scripts Bibliography

Cities continue to grow, and the rapid population growth, and overcrowding are increasing the pressure on local governments to provide basic services (e.g., housing, clean water, sanitation, basic health services, and education) and green space planning. Climate change and the human impact on the environment are putting even more pressure on urban areas and their corresponding government. Green infrastructure is a nature-based solution that uses vegetation to address both the challenge of urban sprawl and threats caused by climate change. Thus, this thesis explores the potential of how the city of La Paz can integrate green infrastructure solutions to respond to the four priority areas (flooding, water scarcity, landslide, and urban heatwaves) of the city-region’s strategic planning outlook, Plan 2040. The Plan 2040 is the first strategic municipal developing plan for land use planning in Bolivia. To carry out this investigation the author undertook several interviews, to find if there are any implications on gender during green infrastructure implementation. The thesis is based on a case study qualitative approach and the research method draws on literature review, desk study and eight interviews. It was concluded that green infrastructure with reforestation and afforestation responds positively to the four priority areas. Additionally, green infrastructure has different configurations to develop a resilient community at several scales from school grounds or a row of trees to open park space or planting rain gardens. Moreover, poorly designed green landscaping can increase the fear of crime. Thus, a greater understanding is needed about which types of green infrastructure measures are effective in increasing urban resilience in La Paz, and how these measures can be better designed, implemented, and maintained without causing the perception of fear of harassment or crime. Finally, it was concluded that Plan 2040 will be strengthened if it was to consider and incorporate the following: 1) non-invasive plant species; 2) financing for implementation; 3) a study that determines the sustainable development areas for urban greening; 4) its maintenance, and care measures; 5) coordination between the functional and operational unit of the municipality (environmentalists, urban planners, and gender specialists); 6) and how green infrastructure planning, design and implementation could be more gender sensitive. / I detta dokument diskuteras argumenten till förmån för urban grön infrastruktur för en plan för anpassning till klimatförändringar för kommunen La Paz, Bolivia. Grön infrastruktur är en naturbaserad lösning som använder vegetation för att skapa ett hållbart samhälle och lösa samhällsutmaningar som utsläppsminskningar, klimatanpassning och förbättrad hälsa. Grön infrastruktur i städer kan definieras som naturlig infrastruktur, såsom gatuträd, gräsmattor, parker, stadsskogar, odlad mark och våtmarker; som förenar grönområden och öppna ytor inom och utanför staden genom att bilda ett grönt stadsnät. Dessa nätverk tillhandahåller ekosystemtjänster som bidrar till att upprätthålla och utveckla den biologiska mångfalden, skapar renare luft och vatten, förebygger översvämningar, reducerar buller, tar hand om dagvatten, stärker grundvattenbildningen, kyler städerna, renar avlopp samt möjliggör rekreations- och kulturvärden.  Därför undersöker denna avhandling potentialen i hur staden La Paz kan integrera gröna infrastrukturlösningar för att svara på fyra huvudhot: översvämningar, vattenresursbrist, jordskred och extrema händelser på grund av höga temperaturer inom den strategiska planeringen av La Paz, plan 2040. Plan 2040 är den första kommunala strategiska utvecklingsplanen för markanvändningsplanering i Bolivia. I enlighet med detta är kapitlet efter introduktionen inriktat på den konceptuella översynen av grön infrastruktur och beskrivningen av några av dess viktigaste egenskaper och de fördelar det medför. Det poängterar också vikten av att bygga mer socialt inkluderande städer och nämner vissa utmaningar och behov för alla människor (män och kvinnor). För att genomföra denna forskning genomförde författaren flera intervjuer för att ta reda på om det finns någon implikation gällande könstillhörighet under genomförandet av grön infrastruktur.  Avhandlingen bygger på ett kvalitativt förhållningssätt och forskningsmetoden bygger på litteraturgenomgång, skrivbordsarbete (eftersom det på grund av pandemin inte var möjligt att besöka La Paz) och åtta intervjuer. Slutsatsen drogs att grön infrastruktur med återbeskogning och beskogning bidrar positivt i bekämpningen av de fyra största hoten. Begreppet grön infrastruktur är nytt på regeringens dagordningar, och även om det inte har någon homogen konceptuell ram, finns det vissa principer som gör grön infrastruktur viktigt att inkludera i stadsutvecklingsplaneringen. Det behövs dock en större förståelse för vilka typer av gröna infrastrukturåtgärder som är effektiva för att öka motståndskraften i La Paz och hur dessa åtgärder bör utformas och genomföras. Slutligen kunde utredningen påvisa att Plan 2040 skulle förbättras om den gröna infrastrukturplanen skulle inkludera följande: 1) icke -invasiva främmande arter av växter i stadsmiljön; 2) en plan för finansiering av genomförande; 3) en studie som fastställer hållbara och gröna utvecklingsområden; 4) en plan för drift- och underhåll; 5) stärkt samordning mellan kommunens funktionella och operativa enheter (miljöaktivister och stadsplanerare); och 6) eventuella konsekvenser av grön infrastruktur för att förebygga brott och fostra positiva sociala interaktioner. / Actualmente las ciudades de Bolivia enfrentan un amplio espectro de desafíos para poder ser efectivamente sustentables. Las ciudades se entienden como sustentables cuando identifican y visibilizan las conexiones y dinámicas rurales-urbanas de forma integral, incluidos los ecosistemas y los sistemas agropecuarios; adoptan métodos eficientes de uso de energía y recursos; mitigan la contaminación de cuerpos de agua, suelo y atmósfera; reconocen las capacidades de regeneración sustentación y las limitaciones de los sistemas naturales en los que se basan; priorizan la conservación y generación de áreas verdes, biodiversas para mejorar la infiltración de agua, reducción de escorrentía, promover evapotranspiración y protección de fuentes de agua; y valoran las funciones de los ecosistemas por el papel que desempeñan en la salud urbana, la protección ambiental, el paisaje y la habitabilidad.  Entre los principales desafíos para la sustentabilidad de las ciudades del país, destacan la reducción de la contaminación del aire, agua, suelo y visual, degradación de lagunas y ríos urbanos, pérdida de calidad y cantidad de agua en acuíferos, el ruido, islas de calor, escasas áreas verdes multifuncionales y conectadas. El crecimiento de las manchas urbanas no planificadas reduce cada vez más a las tierras agropecuarias, expulsándolas cada vez más lejos. Impactando también de forma alarmante a la pérdida de cobertura vegetal, degradación de suelos, ocupación y avasallamiento de bosques, zonas de alto valor ecológico y áreas protegidas aledañas a las ciudades.  El trabajo discute los argumentos a favor de la infraestructura verde urbana para un plan de adaptación al cambio climático para el municipio de La Paz en Bolivia. La infraestructura verde es una solución basada en la naturaleza que utiliza la vegetación para la conservación de la biodiversidad, adaptación al cambio climático, como posible solución a disminución de inundaciones, control de escorrentías y manejo de drenajes, aumento y mejoramiento de espacios verdes.  Por lo tanto, esta tesis investiga el potencial de cómo la ciudad de La Paz puede integrar soluciones de infraestructura verde para responder a cuatro amenazas principales: inundaciones, escasez de recurso hídrico, deslizamiento y eventos extremos por altas temperaturas para la planificación estratégica de La Paz. Para lo cual se revisó el Plan 2040 que es el plan estratégico municipal de ordenamiento territorial de La Paz.  En concordancia con ello, el capítulo después de la introducción se enfoca a la revisión conceptual de la infraestructura verde y descripción de algunas de sus principales características y los beneficios que aporta. También se plantea la importancia de construir ciudades más inclusivas, y menciona algunos desafíos y necesidades de todas las personas (hombres y mujeres).  Para llevar a cabo esta investigación, la autora realizó varias entrevistas, para averiguar si hay alguna implicación sobre el género durante la implementación de la infraestructura verde. La tesis se basa en un enfoque cualitativo y el método de investigación se basa en la revisión de la literatura, trabajo de escritorio (ya que por la pandemia visitar La paz no fue posible) y entrevistas.  Se concluyó que la infraestructura verde con reforestación y forestación responde positivamente a las cuatro amenazas principales. El concepto de infraestructura verde es de reciente aparición en las agendas gubernamentales y aunque no cuenta con un marco conceptual homogéneo, prevalecen algunos principios que lo convierten en un hito para la planeación del desarrollo urbano. Por lo tanto, se necesita una mayor comprensión sobre qué tipos de medidas de infraestructura verde son efectivas para aumentar la resiliencia urbana en La Paz, y cómo estas medidas podrían diseñarse, implementarse y mantenerse sin causar la percepción de miedo al acoso o al crimen en las mujeres. Finalmente, se concluyó que el Plan 2040 se fortalecerá si se considera e incorpora lo siguiente: 1) especies de plantas nativas y/o plantas no invasivas; 2) financiación para la ejecución; 3) un estudio que determine las áreas de desarrollo sostenible para enverdecimiento urbano; 4) su mantenimiento y medidas de cuidado; 5) coordinación entre la unidad funcional y operativa del municipio (ambientalistas, urbanistas y especialistas en género); 6) y cualquier implicación de la infraestructura verde para la equidad de género.

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, with coastal areas being especially vulnerable. Along the Bangladeshi coast lies mangrove forests that protect against storm surges, tropical cyclones, SLR, coastal erosion, and salt-water intrusion. On Char Kukri Mukri, a remote island in the Bay of Bengal, Keora-species (Sonneratia apetala) mangroves are planted. The forest is virtually a monoculture in degradation and thus needs restoration through enrichment. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the opportunities and limitations of mangrove enrichment as climate adaptation on Char Kukri Mukri. We conducted semi-structured interviews with local communities and other key stakeholders and analysed soil and water samples along the island's south coast to assess this. Our results indicate that the soil is highly saline, which, combined with projected climate impact, limits the abilities of more sensitive mangroves to survive there. Climate impacts severely affect the lives and livelihoods of the people living on Char Kukri Mukri. Successful adaptation requires further involvement of local communities, site-specific solutions, and a holistic approach to adaptation. However, a hindrance to adaptation measures is the lack of resources to fund large-scale projects, which leads to beneficiaries being required to provide money and land themselves to be considered for projects. This risks systematically excluding the landless poor, and there is therefore a need to reform adaptation financing systems so that measures benefit the most vulnerable. / Bangladesh är ett av de länder i världen som är mest sårbara för klimatförändringarna. Kustområdena är mest känsliga. Längs Bangladeshs kust finns mangroveskogar, som skyddar mot klimateffekter som stormar, cykloner, havsnivåhöjning, kusterosion, och saltvattenintrång. På Char Kukri Mukri, en avlägsen ö utanför Bangladeshs centralkust i Bengaliska viken, har mangrover av arten Keora (Sonneratia apetala) planterats. Skogen är praktiskt taget en monokultur som håller på att förstöras, och det finns därför ett behov av att restaurera skogen. Denna studie syftade till att undersöka möjligheterna och hindrena för restaurering av mangroveskogarna som klimatanpassning på Char Kukri Mukri. För att uppnå detta genomförde vi semistrukturerade intervjuer med lokalbefolkningen och andra nyckelintressenter, och analyserade jord- och vattenprover tagna vid öns sydkust. Våra resultat indikerar att jorden har hög salthalt, vilket i kombination med ökade klimateffekter minskar mer känsliga mangrovearters möjligheter att överleva i dessa områden. Klimateffekter påverkar människorna och deras försörjning på Char Kukri Mukri i hög grad. Lyckad klimatanpassning kräver mer inkludering av lokalbefolkningen i initativ, platsspecifika lösningar, samt ett holistiskt tillvägagångssätt. Resursbrist hindrar dock investeringar i storskaliga och långsiktiga projekt, vilket gör att förmånstagare behöver bidra med pengar och mark till projekten. Detta gör att fattiga människor som inte äger mark systematiskt exkluderas ur anpassningsprojekten. De nuvarande finansieringssystemen behöver därför reformeras för att projekten ska ge fördelar till de människor som är mest sårbara för klimatförändringarna.

Living shorelines and other nature-based solutions have become more widely accepted as a cost-effective, multi-functional, and sustainable approach to coastal resilience. However, in spite of growing stakeholder support, a planning-level understanding of the hydrodynamic impact of living shorelines is not well-developed. Not only do these features vary in size, shape, and structural characteristics, but the wave environment in which they exist can be quiescent or extreme. The work presented in this paper explores the hydrodynamic effects of living shoreline features in such a way that can be generalized across a range of varying physical environments. In a series of Simulation WAves Nearshore (SWAN) simulations, we investigate the effect of wave period, wave height, bed slope, living shoreline feature length in the cross-shore direction, and feature friction coefficient on wave attenuation. Results showed that higher wave period, higher wave height, milder slopes, longer feature lengths, and higher feature roughness largely correlated with higher wave attenuation. However, only on mild slopes did additional feature lengths result in appreciable additional attenuation. Characteristic lengths were thus computed to better illustrate the cost-effectiveness of additional feature lengths given a particular wave environment. These characteristic lengths provide one way to evaluate the hydraulic efficacy of proposed living shoreline projects. In this way, regardless of the particularities of individual project sites, we aim to help planners screen potential living shoreline projects before pursuing more detailed, costly analyses. / Master of Science / Living shorelines and other nature-based solutions have become more widely accepted as a cost-effective, multi-functional, and sustainable approach to coastal resilience. However, in spite of growing stakeholder support, a planning-level understanding of the hydrodynamic impact of living shorelines is not well-developed. Not only do these features vary in size, shape, and structural characteristics, but the wave environment in which they exist can be quiescent or extreme. The work presented in this paper explores the hydrodynamic effects of living shoreline features in such a way that can be generalized across a range of varying physical environments. In a series of Simulation WAves Nearshore (SWAN) simulations, we investigate the effect of wave period, wave height, bed slope, living shoreline feature length in the cross-shore direction, and feature friction coefficient on wave attenuation. Results showed that higher wave period, higher wave height, milder slopes, longer feature lengths, and higher feature roughness largely correlated with higher wave attenuation. However, only on mild slopes did additional feature lengths result in appreciable additional attenuation. Characteristic lengths were thus computed to better illustrate the cost-effectiveness of additional feature lengths given a particular wave environment. These characteristic lengths provide one way to evaluate the hydraulic efficacy of proposed living shoreline projects. In this way, regardless of the particularities of individual project sites, we aim to help planners screen potential living shoreline projects before pursuing more detailed, costly analyses.

This thesis studies the role of community cultural wealth (CCW), an asset-based framework, and environmental education (EE) to better understand how to support Black, Asian, and Latine individuals in their interactions with nature (chapter 1) and civic engagement related to the environment (chapter 2) - two activities that have been impacted by structural racism in the US. In the introduction, we give a brief overview of how historical segregation and structural racism impacts equity in outdoor spaces, how EE may be an avenue for increased equity in these spaces, a brief overview of CCW, and existing research on drivers of participation in nature-based activities and civic engagement related to the environment. In chapter 1, we use interviews and surveys to understand how CCW, EE, and the intersection of gender and race are associated with Black, Asian, and Latine individuals' participation in nature-based activities. We found that social connections, connections with organizations, family, community, and EE can provide the necessary skills, information, and emotional support to persist in nature-based activities. Using the same interviews and surveys, chapter 2 investigates how EE and CCW are associated with Black, Asian, and Latine participation in civic engagement related to the environment. The results of this study show that a knowledge of systems of oppression and the motivation to challenge those oppressive systems are important predictors for the civic engagement related to the environment of Black, Asian, and Latine individuals. Additionally, EE, social connections, community organizations, and family provide opportunities to participate in civic engagement related to the environment and the skills and information necessary to participate. The findings from this thesis contribute valuable insights to initiatives aimed at enhancing equity in nature-based activities and civic engagement related to the environment. Such efforts can provide individuals with the benefits of interactions with nature, equip them with tools to address adverse environmental impacts in their communities, and ultimately foster broader support for the environmental movement. Additionally, this study could help public land managers reach a broader portion of their constituents and stay relevant in a rapidly diversifying US. / Master of Science / In the face of global environmental crises such as climate change and biodiversity loss, scholars are pointing to nature-based recreation and civic engagement related to the environment as potential avenues for addressing these pressing issues. Positive interaction with nature not only provides cognitive, emotional, and physiological benefits to people, but also improves pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. Civic engagement related to the environment benefits people and the planet as well – by creating more equitable and representative societies and by providing an avenue to address environmental issues. However, both nature-based recreation and civic engagement related to the environment have historically been impacted by structural racism and by the framing of the outdoor narrative in the US as a "White space", which still disproportionately impacts people's participation today. To help address these inequities, this thesis investigates the role of community cultural wealth (CCW), an asset-based framework, and environmental education (EE) in supporting Black, Asian, and Latine individual's participation in nature-based activities and civic engagement related to the environment. Results from semi-structured interviews and a nationwide survey showed that social connections, family ties, community organizations, and previous experiences with EE significantly influenced the involvement of Black, Asian, and Latine individuals in nature-based activities. These factors, along with an understanding of structures of oppression, were also important precursors to civic engagement related to the environment in our study. Our findings suggest that creating institutional opportunities (e.g., community organizations or affinity groups) for both nature interaction and civic engagement related to the environment may be a key method of diversifying outdoor spaces. Additionally, our results suggest that increasing equity within EE is necessary to expand its benefits.

The thesis is focused on climate change impact in cities. In its first general section various nature-based adaptation solutions for urban areas are presented. Functional instances of finished implementations from city of Brno are named. The second, practical, section a particular proposal of nature-based solution for Brno by partial revitalization of Svratka river and its surrounding area is shown. The feasibility is supported by 1D and 2D numerical models. Crucial output of the work are technical drawings and flood simulation maps.

A key challenge for sustainable urban development is to deal with the effects of climate change. To approach this issue, ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), i.e. the use of ecosystem services for climate adaptation, has been promoted by both scholars and practitioners. In this context, the thesis addresses two research questions: how EbA is included in strategic climate adaptation planning and how EbA is implemented in practice. To tackle these topics, the study uses a multiple case study design, where the process from strategic planning to its implementation is investigated in two Northern European cities: Copenhagen and Malmö. To collect in-depth data, qualitative methods were used: a document analysis and semi-structured interviews with planning officials were conducted. The findings of the study show that there is a high degree of awareness of the different EbA measures, their potential role to address climate change effects and their co-benefits in climate adaptation plans. However, the practical implementation of the plans was executed only at a project-based scale to address some climate change impacts rather than holistically and on a regional level. The main EbA measure that was used was the expansion and transformation of public green space. The thesis concludes that a more comprehensive approach concerning the use of EbA is needed and further mainstreaming is highly required. / En viktig utmaning för hållbar stadsutveckling är att adressera effekterna av de stundande klimatförändringar. För att ta sig an denna fråga har användningen av ekosystembaserad anpassning (EbA), dvs. användningen av ekosystemtjänster för klimatanpassning, främjats av både forskare och utövare. I detta sammanhang behandlar studien två forskningsfrågor: hur EbA ingår i strategisk klimatanpassningsplanering och hur EbA implementeras i praktiken. Studien innehåller en fallstudie- design, där processen från strategisk planering till dess genomförande undersöks i två nordeuropeiska städer: Köpenhamn och Malmö. För att samla in data användes två kvalitativa metoder: en dokumentanalys och semistrukturerade intervjuer med tjänstepersoner på kommuner. Resultaten från studien visar att det finns en hög grad av medvetenhet om de olika EbA åtgärderna, deras potentiella roll för att hantera klimatförändringseffekter och deras synergier i klimatanpassningsplaner. Det praktiska genomförandet av planerna utfördes endast i en projektbaserad skala för att ta med vissa klimatförändringseffekter snarare än på ett holistiskt vis och på en större regional nivå. Den viktigaste EbA åtgärden som användes var utbyggnaden eller omvandlingen av de offentliga grönytorna. Sammanfattningsvis har studien visat på att det finns behov av ett mer heltäckande tillvägagångssätt och ytterligare integrering beträffande användandet av EbA krävs.

Children have the intrinsic drive to play and be outdoors, as well as the curiosity to explore the world around them (Louv, 2008). Connections and interactions with nature tend to be beneficial for children’s cognitive development, with outcomes ranging from improved cognitive functioning (Wells, 2000) to the development of important academic skills (Miller, 2007). Perhaps more significant though are the positive outcomes among nature, health, and wellbeing (e.g., Taylor & Kuo, 2009), along with the cultivation of environmental appreciation, empathy, and stewardship (e.g., Ewert et al., 2005). Many nature-based early years programs have been developed and adopted around the world, placing emphasis on fostering children’s experiences, interactions, and connections with the natural world. As this global early years phenomenon continues to build momentum, the need to investigate how children are experiencing these nature-based early years programs becomes more pertinent. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of four children’s experiences at a nature-based early years program located in a small town on the outskirts of an Eastern Ontario urban centre. Data were collected using qualitative methodology (observations, photographs, semi-structured interviews, and photo elicitation) and took place over a five-week period in the winter term. Data were analyzed using conventional qualitative means, through open coding and identifying categories and overarching themes (McMillan & Schumacher, 2010). Using Place-Based Education as the theoretical guide, data were explored using three main themes: lived experience; connections to place and to community; and learning, growth, and development. The findings from this research not only illuminate the children’s experiences at a nature-based early years program, but also provide the fertile ground upon which further examination and discussion can grow—an examination and discussion of the significance of nature-based learning as it relates to contemporary education. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-30 10:33:49.614