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Nature-based solutions for securing contributions of water, food, and energy in an urban environment

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Abstract

There is growing awareness that nature-based solutions (NBS) prevent negative effects and secure ecosystem services. However, the potential of NBS to provide intended benefits has not been rigorously assessed. Water, food, and energy (WFE) are essential for human well-being. This study highlights the importance of NBS in terms of water, food, and energy. A set of on-site NBS that includes permeable pavements, plant microbial fuel cells, bio-filtration basins, and rain gardens is used to determine the contribution of NBS to the environmental and economic development of urban environments. The results of this study show that NBSs benefit an urban environment in terms of water treatment, stormwater retention, food production and energy generation, carbon sequestration, pollination, sedimentation retention, and cultural services dimension. This research highlights an urgent need for the integration of water, food, and energy plans to ensure that NBSs contribute to the environment and for the conservation of ecosystem services.

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All data that is generated or analyzed during this study is included in this manuscript.

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Acknowledgements

The study is greatly enhanced by the assistance of Tsz-Wai Percy So, Wen-Chi Yang, Ching-Mei Wu, and Wei-Xuan Liu. This study is financially supported by the National Taiwan University (NTUCCP-110L901003, NTU-110L8807), and the NTU Research Center for Future Earth from The Featured Areas Research Center Program within the framework of the Higher Education Sprout Project of the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Taiwan, and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of China ( MOST110-2621-M-002-011, MOST110-2625-M-001-002-MY3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica (AS), Academia Rd, No. 128, Sec. 2, Taipei, 115, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Mei-Hua Yuan

  2. Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 71, Chou-Shan Rd, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Fang-Chen Lo, Chang-Ping Yu, Hsin-hsin Tung, Pei-Te Chiueh,  Huang, Chao-Chin Chang, Zi-Xuan Xu & Shang-Lien Lo

  3. Department of Horticulture, Hungkuo Delin University of Technology, No. 1, Ln. 380, Qingyun Rd, Tucheng Dist, 236302, New Taipei City, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yu-Sen Chang & Chun-Wei Wu

  4. Department of Environmental Engineering, National Ilan University, No. 1, Sec. 1, Shennong Rd, Yilan, 260, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chung-Yu Guan

Authors
  1. Mei-Hua Yuan
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  2. Fang-Chen Lo
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  12. Zi-Xuan Xu
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  13. Shang-Lien Lo
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Contributions

Mei-Hua Yuan conceived the idea, conceived and planned the framework, wrote the manuscript, modified the manuscript, and produced the final version of the manuscript. Fang-Chen Lo conceived and planned the framework, analyzed the data, performed the analytic calculations, and interpreted the results. Chang-Ping Yu, Hsin-Hsin Tung, Yu-Sen Chang, and Pei-Te Chiueh conceived and planned the framework, discussed the results, and commented on the manuscript. Hsin-Chieh, Huang, Chao-Chin Chang, Chung-Yu Guan, Chun-Wei Wu, and Zi-Xuan Xu analyzed the data, performed the analytic calculations, and interpreted the results. Shang-Lien Lo supervised the project, discussed the results, commented on the manuscript, and produced the final version of the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shang-Lien Lo.

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Yuan, MH., Lo, FC., Yu, CP. et al. Nature-based solutions for securing contributions of water, food, and energy in an urban environment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 58222–58230 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19570-8

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