Resilient urbanization for water limited environments

Abstract Dryland cities are important locations for human–environmental interactions and differ in many key characteristics from cities in wetter environments. Defined by chronic water deficit, these cities face challenges that include securing essential resources, reducing vulnerability to hazards and conserving threatened species. The resilience of dryland cities depends on interactions across the entire urban continuum, from urban cores and suburban areas to teleconnected zones and wildland–urban interfaces. Resilience solutions must enhance the well-being of residents and institutions while fostering adaptive capacity throughout the urban continuum. Key axes of solutions include hydrologic integration, including stormwater capture and reuse, nature-based solutions, including expanding urban tree cover for cooling and health benefits, and landscape sustainability, including the incorporation of spatial heterogeneity into planning and development. Addressing the large uncertainties in ensuring more resilient cities requires convergence research, the integration of theoretically driven science that brings researchers and stakeholders together to identify problems, solutions and opportunities for action. While convergence approaches look to address pressing scientific uncertainties, they also are inherently place-based and address compelling case studies to understand system dynamics and improve decision-making and land management. New research is needed to address the trade-offs resulting from decision-making and urban management activities, to meet the needs of diverse stakeholders and to ensure that policies do not marginalize underserved communities. By leveraging innovative technologies, sustainable practices and community involvement, dryland cities can overcome the challenges posed by chronic water limitations and thrive in their diverse environments.