Global evidence on enhancing urban ecosystem services through Nature-Based solutions

We review the contribution of nature-based solutions (NbS) to urban ecosystem services and examine barriers to their implementation. Using PRISMA guidelines, we analyzed 115 peer-reviewed studies. First, we identify how spatially informed NbS enhance urban ecosystem services, with urban greening emerging as the most common intervention (92 of the 115 interventions coded in our dataset (80%), providing measurable benefits for air quality, mitigation of urban heat islands, and mental health. Second, we assess barriers to implementation, including limited spatial research, weak socio-ecological integration, fragmented governance, and inadequate financing. Across EEA-38 capital cities, the average share of urban green space is 42%, with substantial variation between cities while financial and accessibility constraints restrict adoption in many African cities. Case studies from Copenhagen, Singapore, and Oslo illustrate how targeted interventions, such as stormwater retention parks and vertical gardens, strengthen resilience when spatially prioritized. From our analysis, we find that NbS deliver significant co-benefits but remain unevenly distributed and constrained by institutional and financial limitations. We conclude that future progress requires spatial prioritization using geospatial tools, interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative financing, and inclusive community engagement. Advancing these strategies can support urban planning frameworks that embed NbS more effectively and ensure the equitable distribution of ecosystem service co-benefits.