A new SELINA-supported scientific article, “Prioritising nature-based solutions for urban flood mitigation in public and private spaces: A study in Trento, Italy”, by partners from the University of Trento, has been published in Sustainable Cities and Society. 

Urban flooding results not only from surface runoff but also from pressure within sewer systems. However, approaches to prioritising nature-based solutions often focus solely on surface runoff and rarely consider the different opportunities for flood mitigation in public and private spaces.   

The study addresses this by developing a method to identify where different nature-based solutions should be prioritised, considering both flood risks and the suitability of public and private spaces.

The findings show that different nature solutions are suitable for different areas of the city. Permeable pavements had the widest potential for implementation, while private spaces emerged as an important opportunity for urban flood mitigation, offering larger suitable areas that were more often located in high-priority subcatchments.

Beyond Trento, the method could help urban planners identify suitable locations for NbS and integrate flood risk information into climate adaptation strategies.