Conceptual framework for nature-based solutions: A systematic review and co-occurrence analysis

The conceptual quantitative assessment framework for Nature-based Solutions (NbS)

The Tibetan grassland ecosystems possess significant carbon sink potential and have room for improved carbon sequestration processes. There is a need to uncover more ambitious and coherent solutions (e.g., Nature-based Solutions) to increase carbon sequestration. Here, we investigated the rationale and urgency behind the implementation of Nature-based Solutions on sequestering carbon using literature review and meta-analysis. We also project the changes in terrestrial carbon sink of Tibetan Plateau grassland ecosystems using model simulations with different future emissions scenario. The results show that the Nature-based Solution projects are expected to increase the carbon sink of Tibetan Plateau grassland ecosystems by 15 to 21 tetragrams of carbon by 2060. We defined a conceptual framework of Nature-based Solutions that integrates initiatives for the restoration of degraded grasslands and carbon sequestration. Our framework consists of four stages: theory, identification, practice, and goal. Traditional Tibetan knowledge plays an important role in reframing the proposed Nature-based Solutions framework. We also apply this framework to optimize ecological restoration techniques and projects and to evaluate the annual changes in the carbon sink under different socioeconomic pathway scenarios.

The so-called Framework approach to the research and design of complex spatial information systems (SpIS) is considered. An example of such a SpIS is the National Geospatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI) of Ukraine in the sense documented as of the end of 2024 in the Law of Ukraine and in the Terms of Reference for the geoportal. Due to the ambiguity of the term, it is advisable to consider the approach from three points of view (interpretations). In this paper, attention is paid to one of these three points of view - the approach as a strategy. This strategy, as well as the Framework approach itself, are called constructive, because they are based on the so-called Conceptual Framework and Solutions Framework (SoFr) of the SpIS. According to the authors, the proposed strategy will solve the most important problem of the NGDI today - the actual lack of astrategy. In addition, the Framework approach will help solve the three biggest problems of the NGDI today: product, process and expertise (quality control).In the domains of NGDI and NSII (National Spatial Information Infrastructure) and in their contexts, the most important are three points of view (interpretations) on the Framework approach: 1) as a specific constructive strategy for using geographic information systems and technologies (GIS&T) to manage the territory of Ukraine; 2) as a generalization of the methodology for dealing with SpIS such as NGDI and NSII; 3) as a γ-method, which is denoted by γSoFr, where γ means general, and which “works” at the level (stratum) of IGIM (Integrated Geospatial Information Framework) for Ukraine. The limitations of the article allow us to dwell in more detail only on the consideration of the first interpretation. The second and third interpretations are only formulated for general understanding and with the expectation of sufficiency for conscious planning of the NGDI project.One of the concretizations of the Framework approach is the so-called “AtlasSF Framework Approach”. It is a generalization of the AtlasSF method and tool (Atlas Solutions Framework), which were previously used to create (classical) Atlas systems (AtS). The AtlasSF Framework approach is a hierarchy of three homogeneous Solutions Framework (SoFr) methods. They are called General (γ), Conceptual (β) and Application (α) SoFr, respectively, and are combined into a hierarchical system (model) - Conceptual Framework of the subject X, where X, in addition to AtS, can take the values of NGDI or NSII.The Framework approach in the NGDI project is proposed to be used as follows. The first problem – theproduct– is solved by harmonizing the model of the existing NSII of Ukraine with the INSPIRE model. To make this proposal constructive, the concept of Atlas GIS (AGIS, AGIS-CH) and the currently known implementations of its parts, proven in solving Cultural Heritage problems, are recommended for describing the necessary systems.The second problem –process– is solved by using the AtlasSF Framework approach. The specifics are the application of the γ-, β-, and α- SoFr methods of this approach. The not yet created γSoFr method should be a meta-method of βSoFr, working at the level (stratum) to which the IGIF projection for Ukraine belongs. The IGIF projection includes the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and its subset NGDI, βSoFr is an update of the GeoSolutions Framework, and αSoFr is the current revision of AtlasSF1.0+.The third problem –expertise(quality control) of key solutions – is solved by using the V-model of development, in which validation and verification of solutions must be immediately consistent with the requirements and architecture. In addition, the use of architectural patterns (frameworks) is a “native” property of the pattern. Otherwise, the pattern cannot be a “typical solution to a typical problem”.

Purpose Geopolitical actors are exploiting a critical vulnerability beyond physical disruptions for strategic advantage: the informational interdependency of supply chain activities. This study reviews past research to identify associations between informational influence operations (IIO) and perception-based attributes of supply chain performance (PASCP). The aim is to synthesise findings into a conceptual framework for future empirical research. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review (SLR) of 391 articles published over a 25-year period was undertaken to identify associations between IIO and PASCP. QDA Miner software and a co-occurrence analysis were used to establish the associations in line with assumptions from Information Processing Theory (IPT). Findings Supply chain management (SCM) literature on IIO is nascent, but on an expanding trajectory. The authors identified 15 direct associations between information disorders and PASCP as evaluated through the Balanced Scorecard framework and conceive influence operations mechanisms and mediums of propagation as potential moderating factors in this relationship. A narrow focus on siloed information systems that overlook geopolitical interference across types of supply chain information, and fractional responses to multifaceted IIO threats, highlight vulnerability concerns. The findings reveal a notable lack of commonality in SCM theory perspectives on IIO as a source of enduring disruption threats. Originality/value The paper advances knowledge on mitigating informational-process driven risks by mapping the mechanisms underlying IIO to hedge supply chains against geopolitical threats. From juxtaposing Information Processing Theory and Framing Theory, the paper proposes a superior conceptual framework for future research, comprising supply chain information disorders and influence operations mechanisms as higher-order constructs.

Thousands of natural and synthetic compounds pollute soils and threaten ecosystems and human health. In 2021, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme (FAO/UNEP) declared soil pollution a global crisis. Remediation is essential to achieve the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the One Health approach. While cleaner production reduces emissions at the source, existing polluted soils require transformative solutions beyond conventional, resource-intensive methods. Soils host many self-organizing processes that remain underexplored as remediation strategies. Although soil contains only approximately 3% total iron, this relatively low content strongly influences the fate of pollutants. Here, we introduce a concept of microbial iron mining that refers to the process where microbes actively 'mine' iron (>40% purity by weight) from soil through reduction and dissolution of iron minerals, followed by re-oxidation. This dynamic iron cycling generates reactive iron species such as secondary iron nanoparticles that serve as powerful sorbents and redox mediators. They can scavenge and transform diverse pollutants, including toxic metals and metalloids (e.g., arsenic and mercury), rare earth elements (e.g., neodymium), organic contaminants (e.g., persistent organic pollutants and antibiotics), microplastics, antibiotic resistance genes, and eutrophic nutrients such as phosphate. This self-sustaining, redox-driven process aligns with the framework of nature-based solutions (NbS), offering environmental compatibility, cost-efficiency, and resource recovery benefits. Microbial iron mining thus offers a potential NbS pathway to transform polluted soils into self-purifying biogeochemical reactors for sustainable remediation.

Purpose This study aims to examine company evaluation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) for sustainability performance and green innovation to uncover the theme’s current research development, identify themes and predict future trends. Design/methodology/approach Bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review (SLR) were conducted on 520 publications published between 2014 and 2024. Performance analysis, context analysis and science mapping techniques using visualised graphs and charts are used to reveal the research developments, themes and trends. Subsequently, this study conducts keyword co-occurrence and cluster analyses and finds significant linkages between corporate ESG, sustainability and green innovation. Findings The findings confirm increased attention to ESG, sustainability and green innovation, which are on an upward trend. Four key knowledge structures were outlined, and a progression of themes was identified. In addition, gaps and future research directions are provided based on the theories, contexts, characteristics and methods framework, providing new insights. Practical implications This study proposes an “ESG + Innovation” combination strategy, suggesting that companies adopt a dual-track model of “short-term low-cost ESG practices + long-term innovation investments” to balance short-term profitability and long-term sustainable value, thereby enhancing competitive advantage. Originality/value This review offers a comprehensive overview of the connection between corporate sustainability performance, ESG and green innovation. A conceptual framework is provided to reveal their relationship filling the knowledge gap while revealing the understudied research area. The review also identifies the knowledge structure and evolutionary trends in the field, providing four dimensions of direction for academic literature.

Abstract* Background Coastal ecosystems, including mangrove forests, are at the core of the socio-economic life of the local communities. Conversely, these ecosystems remain highly sensitive to the increasing impacts of climate change. Against such a backdrop, bamboo has been an important material, especially for construction and tool-making in coastal areas like East Lampung Regency. Despite the importance, such bamboo demands have yet to be met by local supplies or by the development of downstream value-added processing. Policy and Implications This study illustrates the strategic potential of bamboo as an economic and ecological resource, contributing to coastal resilience in East Lampung. If integrated into the Nature-based Solutions (NbS) framework, bamboo utilization can enhance livelihoods while restoring and protecting coastal ecosystems in communities. The study has revealed that sustainable management of bamboo provides a means to link environmental conservation to inclusive local development and climate adaptation. Recommendations The study outlines four strategies designed to advance the sustainable use of bamboo in East Lampung, including (a) empowering community-based bamboo cultivation focuses on facilitating regeneration activities that restore ecosystems and provide economic benefits to local communities, (b) investing in capacity building to equip local communities and key stakeholders with essential knowledge and skills in sustainable bamboo management and utilization, (c) driving policy advocacy that aims to champion the cause of sustainable bamboo utilization across multiple sectors, and (d) strengthening institutional frameworks that strengthen upstream bamboo resource management and optimize downstream processing and marketing systems, establish a robust industry infrastructure. Conclusions Bamboo utilization in East Lampung has the potential to change from a traditional subsistence material to a strategic instrument toward coastal sustainability. Bamboo-based initiatives can support ecological resilience, help boost the economy along the coast, and inspire a stronger socio-cultural regeneration toward a more sustainable future for East Lampung through the NbS approach.

Entrepreneurial ecosystems have recently emerged as a central topic on the agenda of both researchers and political leaders. As a consequence of the multiple studies published in recent times, this promising avenue of research is currently disjointed, lacking both a systematic structure and a theoretical framework. Intrinsic to entrepreneurial ecosystems, the networks established among the diverse stakeholders impact on the configuration, the evolution and the outcomes of entrepreneurial ecosystems. This study systematically analyzes 65 conceptual and empirical articles identified in the Web of Science database to explore, analyze and discussing the main trends in the literature on the topic of entrepreneurial ecosystems and networks (EEsN (2) Established Networks; (3) Challenges to the Affirmation of Minorities; (4) Formal Structures. In turn, the analysis of keywords co-occurrence revealed the most important literature trends on this topic: (1) innovation and dynamics: actors and norms; (2) performance, knowledge, and entrepreneurship; (3) technology and firms. The systematization of these results allowed us to identify the institutional/contextual dimension, the relational dimension, and the organizational/structural dimension as the main approaches followed by the researchers on this topic. The conceptual framework advanced attests to the interdependencies among the research paths found on EEs&Ns. Finally, following the systematic literature review undertaken, we identify the promising paths and proposals for future research that may advance still further the academic understanding of EEs&Ns.

Environmental health inequalities (EHI), understood as differences in environmental health factors and in health outcomes caused by environmental conditions, are studied by a wide range of disciplines. This results in challenges to both synthesizing key knowledge domains of the field. This study aims to uncover the global research status and trends in EHI research, and to derive a conceptual framework for the underlying mechanisms of EHI. In total, 12,320 EHI publications were compiled from the Web of Science core collection from 1970 to 2020. Scientometric analysis was adopted to characterize the research activity, distribution, focus, and trends. Content analysis was conducted for the highlight work identified from network analysis. Keyword co-occurrence and cluster analysis were applied to identify the knowledge domain and develop the EHI framework. The results show that there has been a steady increase in numbers of EHI publications, active journals, and involved disciplines, countries, and institutions since the 2000s, with marked differences between countries in the number of published articles and active institutions. In the recent decade, environment-related disciplines have gained importance in addition to social and health sciences. This study proposes a framework to conceptualize the multi-facetted issues in EHI research referring to existing key concepts.

Climate change and the current biodiversity crisis are challenging the sustainability of human societies. Nature Based Solutions (NbS) strategically deployed in the landscapes could help reducing the impact of climate risks and help restoring and preserving biodiversity. The NBRACER Horizon Europe project has recently developed a new conceptual framework that connects regional climate risk assessments to the design of scalable networks of blue and green solutions. This framework synthesizes five core components:Climate Risk Impact Chains: Mapping hazard-to-risk propagation through environmental and social vulnerabilities, identifying critical intervention points where NbS can reduce exposure and enhance resilience.Landscape Functional Units & Archetypes: Decomposing regions into functional units reflecting hydrological, ecological, and socio-economic processes, organized as recurring landscape archetypes. This approach links localized ecosystem functions to broader multi‑risk patterns.Meta–Ecosystem Perspective: Viewing interconnected ecosystems across spatial scales, enabling the evaluation of Blue Green Infrastructure (B–GI) networks that deliver cumulative ecosystem services across functional units.Ecosystem Service and Hazard Regulation Linkages: Demonstrating how targeted NbS interventions mediate water, energy, and material flows to attenuate hazard impacts and provide co–benefits.Network and Scaling Strategy: Moving beyond stand–alone projects that are functionally not linked, our framework supports systemic network solutions aligned with regional adaptation pathways, ensuring replicability and transferability across contexts.By integrating these elements, the developed conceptual framework guides practitioners and policymakers from risk–mapping to the strategic design of interconnected B–GI networks. It supports the identification of optimal intervention locations, the selection of NbS types suited to specific landscapes, and the assembly of strategies that build long–term resilience. The framework’s logic underpins subsequent developments focused on spatial mapping, scenario quantification, monitoring, and NbS implementation.This conceptual foundation paves the way for evidence–based, scalable NbS deployment, contributing to regional adaptation pathways and compliance with the EU Adaptation to Climate Change Mission objectives.

Nature‐based solutions (NBS) for climate adaptation encompass a range of approaches that work with nature to increase resilience to climate change while providing ecological, economic and social co‐benefits. These solutions have frequently been put forward for application in urban contexts, such as the creation of urban forests, but can likewise be applied to rural contexts where they may, for example, prevent soil erosion. However, NBS face numerous barriers to being considered on equal footing with technical climate adaptation interventions. Previous research that has sought to address this issue has focused on conceptual frameworks, on the one hand, and practical guidance on how to quantify the benefits provided by NBS, on the other. In this article, we supplement these existing frameworks by providing practical recommendations for the whole decision‐making cycle, from identification of objectives to the monitoring and scaling up of chosen interventions. We draw from a wide range of literature to, first, outline the barriers to the inclusion of NBS and, second, present policy recommendations for each step of the climate adaptation process. We find that policy recommendations which span across all decision‐making steps are: choosing a participatory decision‐making approach, involving a wide range of experts, considering social justice implications, and creating a legal and regulatory framework which can accommodate NBS. While we put an emphasis on climate adaptation, most of the recommendations presented here are not limited to this context.

A transformations framework for mainstreaming a nature-based solutions approach

In response to escalating climate change and ecological degradation, nature-based solutions (NBSs) have emerged as a critical paradigm for sustainable environmental governance. Simultaneously, artificial intelligence (AI) offers powerful capabilities for addressing the complexity and uncertainty inherent in natural systems. This study investigates the integration of AI within NBS through a hybrid bibliometric and semantic-enhancement framework. Drawing on 535 peer-reviewed articles from the Web of Science Core Collection (2011–2024), we employ keyword co-occurrence analysis via CiteSpace and semantic refinement using ChatGPT-4.0 to identify 15 key thematic clusters. Results reveal that AI is widely applied in ecological monitoring, carbon emission reduction, urban climate adaptation, and green infrastructure optimization—substantially improving the responsiveness, precision, and scalability of NBS interventions. The proposed methodology enhances both structural insight and semantic coherence in bibliometric review, offering a robust foundation for future interdisciplinary research. This study contributes to the theoretical development and practical implementation of AI-enhanced NBS, supporting data-driven, adaptive strategies for climate resilience and sustainable development.

The Design Framework of Urban Nature-Based Solutions for Regenerative Transformation

Abstract. Forests are an important component in the framework of nature-based solutions for mitigating climate change. However, there are still uncertainties about the biogeophysical effects of forest cover changes affecting heat and water fluxes as captured by Earth System Models (ESMs) simulations and observations. In this study, we investigate the differences in the surface temperature response to idealized, complete deforestation and the temperature sensitivity to percentage change in forest cover in ESMs and observations. In this comparison, the separation between local (at the place of deforestation) and non-local (nearby or distant locations) effects is crucial as observations capture only the former. Here, we propose a modified methodology to separate local and non-local effects in climate models suitable for simulations with linear rate of deforestation. The local sensitivity of a climate variable per unit deforested area is represented by the slope of the linear regression, where tree cover is an explanatory variable. The non-local effect is defined as the difference between the overall change in the respective climate variable and the local effect. Our analysis of eleven ESMs of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) that participated in the idealized global deforestation experiment deforest-glob, reveals a coherent local temperature response among climate models characterized by warming in the tropics and cooling in the northern higher latitudes. The temperature response however varies in magnitude, space and time with ESMs showing distinctive seasonal and spatial patterns. A closer look at the albedo response to deforestation across northern latitudes shows an overestimation in the ESMs in comparison to observations that translates via an emergent constraint (i.e. resulting from the linear relationships between local albedo and surface temperature within the model ensemble) into an overestimation of the overall simulated cooling effect. The overestimation of the local albedo sensitivity cannot be explained solely by the higher percentage of snow cover in ESMs. In terms of local latent heat flux sensitivity, the ESMs ensemble mean is overestimated for the boreal region, but it is in good agreement with the observational constraint in the temperate forests and the tropics. However, the inter-model spread and the internal model variation in these regions are considerable. ESMs having higher local albedo and latent heat flux sensitivities than the current observational constraints can still exhibit a realistic temperature response due to compensatory effects between the two sensitivities. Non-local effects contribute to consistent cooling throughout the globe, which persists also during the summer when the influence of the overestimated albedo sensitivity over snow is weaker. Having a deeper understanding of how local and non-local biogeophysical effects are represented in ESMs can give us insights into the net climate impact of deforestation and help us improve next generation ESMs.