Are field boundary hedgerows the earliest example of a nature-based solution?
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2021Author:
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Collier, Marcus J., Are field boundary hedgerows the earliest example of a nature-based solution?, Environmental Science and Policy, 2021, 120, 73 - 80Download Item:
Collier 2021.jpg (Published (author's copy) - Peer Reviewed) 500.7Kb
Abstract:
The arrival of the phrase nature-based solutions into the lexicon of academics, planners, managers and policy makers in recent years has sparked a heated debate as to the effectiveness of using nature as a viable solution for mitigating the impacts of anthropogenic environmental change. One of the difficulties of evaluating the potential efficacy and impact of nature-based solutions is that it is believed that there is little evidence by way of a precedent or long-term successful examples. Much literature exists on the subject of designing with nature to provide multi-functional green infrastructure, connectivity in the landscape, and ecosystem service provision. Indeed, in the opinion of many, the nature-based solution approach appears to synergise research into green infrastructure, ecological connectivity and ecosystem service provision for building climate-related resilience. However, when a nature-based solution has been specifically selected over, say, an engineered solution the literature is rather less clear. So, decision-makers may find it necessary to rely on less reliable sources of impact evidence. This paper argues that field boundary hedgerows may be considered to be exemplars of a nature-based solution, one that was planned, designed, perfected and mainstreamed at a landscape scale, that was specifically selected over a non-nature-based solution, and one that is still in providing solutions and co-benefits today. Therefore, hedgerows may provide some perspective into the potential or emergent co-benefits that the current nature-based solution approach seeks to provide.
Sponsor
Grant Number
European Commission
868764
European Commission
809988
European Commission
730222
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/colliema
Author: Collier, Marcus
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Environmental Science and Policy;Availability:
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Hedgerow, Nature-based solutions, Co-benefits, Field boundariesSubject (TCD):
Smart & Sustainable Planet , NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS , field boundaries , field boundary , hedgerow , hedgerow ecology , hedgerowsDOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.02.008Licences: