Nature-based solutions in arid and semi-arid countries: A review of best practices and lessons learned

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:Provides a systematic overview of NBS types and their effectiveness in drylands, useful for comparative studies.

🏢実務担当者:Can guide selection of NBS for water management and flood mitigation in arid/semi-arid urban planning.

🏛政策担当者:Supports development of region-specific guidelines for green infrastructure in water-scarce regions.

Arid and semi-arid regions are defined by low annual precipitation, which contributes to chronic water scarcity and frequent severe drought events. In recent years, climate change has exacerbated these challenges, causing more frequent and intense rainfall events, which increase flood risk, particularly in highly urbanized and densely populated areas, followed by prolonged drought periods. To mitigate both water scarcity and flood effects, several nature-based solutions, commonly used in humid areas, have been readapted and implemented in arid and semiarid climates. Specific guidelines and directives for their implementation in these contexts are, however, not available nor well defined. Based on well-established real applications, this work presents a literature review of the most efficient and commonly used nature-based solutions installed in arid and semi-arid areas. The geographical distribution, the main purpose, the structure, and the vegetation chosen in real case studies have been assessed through a systematic analysis of 89 papers. Results highlight frequent use of green roofs, rain gardens, and water harvesting systems in these regions. The findings of this research could serve as a valuable reference for other cities with similar climatic conditions and support the global promotion and adoption of green infrastructure, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.

• openalex https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2026.103060first seen 2026-07-27 05:04:56