D2.5 – Report on typology of NBS Lighthouses (R)

Deliverable D2.5 and its correlated task T2.3 aim to develop a

comprehensive typology of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) by categorizing them

according to their territorial contexts and anthropogenic characteristics. This

typology will serve as a foundational tool for understanding how different types of

NBS function across diverse landscapes—urban, rural, coastal, and forested—as

well as how they interact with human activities, social structures, and built

environments. By systematically identifying and classifying these variations, D2.5 

will support more context-sensitive planning, implementation, and evaluation of

NBS. It will also contribute to the development of adaptable strategies that

acknowledge both environmental and socio-cultural specificities, thereby

enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of NBS in addressing climate and

ecological challenges.

This task (T2.3) and connected deliverable (D2.5) aim to explore and define the

concept of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Lighthouses — exemplary projects that

serve as guiding references for the application of NBS across diverse territorial and

urban contexts. Building on interdisciplinary theoretical perspectives and

contextual analysis, the work will identify the potential of NBS

lighthouses/exemplary projects to address environmental and social challenges

at multiple scales.

The initiative will classify design criteria for NBS lighthouses based on natural and

human-made morphologies, such as material and immaterial categories,

environmental conditions, and sustainability objectives. A key output will be the

development of a toolbox for analyzing different types of NBS lighthouses and

a portfolio of conceptual and design-based solution-sets. These outputs aim to

support orientation among a wide array of coastal, forest, rural, and urban NBS

implementations.

Drawing upon prior findings (Tasks 2.1 and 2.2, Task 5.1 and 5.2), the analysis will

utilize diagrams, schemes, and data-driven tools to cross-reference pilot projects

with assessment cases, supporting an integrated understanding of how NBS can

effectively address urgent environmental issues. The work will also incorporate

insights from general theoretical frameworks to inform considerations of scale,

sustainability, energy, and climate adaptation. The task uses a text analysis

evaluation of descriptive narrative contents provided by the Pilot Cases and the

Assessment Cases.

This report examines the challenges and opportunities in applying typological

classifications to Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), emphasizing their inherently

complex and multi-dimensional nature. While typologies provide a useful

framework for analyzing and comparing NBS, the study highlights that no single

category can fully capture the diverse social, environmental, cultural, and

economic dimensions each solution entails. 

The analysis identifies key patterns and gaps across territorial typologies—urban,

rural, forestry, and coastal. Urban areas are the most represented, reflecting a

focus on sustainability in dense environments, while coastal and forest-exclusive

typologies are underrepresented, pointing to areas for future research. Hybrid

typologies acknowledge the overlapping nature of socio-ecological systems.

Flexibility in territorial classification is shown to be crucial, as demonstrated by the

Cáceres case, which shifted from urban to rural classification in response to

governance needs, leading to improved community engagement.