NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS IN RIVER CONTRACTS

Integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) into water policies raises a governance question: what institutional arrangements and decision-making processes are needed to translate their potential into lasting socio-ecological benefits?

The conference explores this question by examining River Contracts (RCs) as a key setting for analysing the relationships between water sustainability, spatial planning and collective action. The discussion focuses on the Tuscan context, highlighting River Contracts as platforms for cooperation among institutions, communities, researchers and economic stakeholders, where shared strategies for climate adaptation and territorial regeneration can be developed.

NBS require approaches that recognise their multifunctionality, ecological dynamics and interdependencies with grey infrastructure. Integrating them into River Contract initiatives calls for a reorganisation of skills, resources and responsibilities throughout the entire strategic management cycle: from developing shared visions and planning to implementation, maintenance, evaluation and learning.

The discussion will address a set of questions common to ongoing initiatives:

• What conditions foster the systematic integration of NBS into River Contract strategies and, more broadly, into the spatial planning and governance of the areas concerned, in line with local priorities and climate risk mitigation objectives?
• What adjustments to decision-making processes and stakeholder engagement methods are needed to design and implement NBS?
• How can partnerships and governance arrangements for NBS be established to support mitigation and adaptation strategies through appropriate funding for their design and implementation, including in coordination with grey infrastructure?

The analysis of these experiences focuses on coordinating actions and stakeholders with different areas of expertise, interests and decision-making powers. Particular attention is given to the links between territorial scales and administrative sectors, the negotiation of objectives, and the mechanisms connecting participation, decision-making and implementation. From this perspective, the quality of governance also depends on how the costs and benefits of NBS are distributed, and on the inclusion of local knowledge and underrepresented groups.

A second strand of reflection concerns the contribution of public participation: how can scientific evidence and local knowledge be brought together when developing River Contract strategies involving NBS? How can the process make explicit the synergies, conflicts and uncertainties associated with implementing NBS?

Drawing on ongoing River Contract initiatives in Tuscany, the conference explores the conditions under which these voluntary agreements can support adaptive governance of NBS, linking ecological effectiveness, social equity and institutional capacity.

The program of the event is in development.