Scattered seeds, missing garden: a critical review of asset management for nature-based stormwater solutions

ABSTRACT Nature-based stormwater solutions (NBSSs) have originated as a response to urban drainage challenges, offering today a wide range of co-benefits driven by underlying complex ecological processes. As these systems age, concerns about their effectiveness highlight the need for a comprehensive asset management approach. This study aims to (i) uncover the foundations of NBSS asset management research; (ii) examine its evolution over time, particularly in relation to operation and maintenance; and (iii) identify future research needs within the field. Findings reveal that while the concept of asset management is relatively recent for NBSSs, its individual components have been explored since the 1990s, primarily in North America and Australia. Performance – especially water quantity and quality control – has been the dominant focus, often through experimental studies. In contrast, socio-ecological dimensions remain largely theoretical. Rehabilitation and deterioration have gained traction recently, though not yet as central themes. Maintenance is seldom addressed directly, although it frequently intersects with other asset management aspects. Over the past decade, research interest in NBSS asset management has expanded to more than 30 countries and 38 disciplinary fields. This momentum presents an opportunity to foster interdisciplinary studies that integrate all facets of asset management, in order to support NBSS sustainability.