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Scientific Mapping of Research on Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable Water Management

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Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NBS), including the protection and restoration of ecosystems, can provide a major contribution to global sustainable water resources management (WRM) in both urban and rural areas, yet the knowledge base essential for facilitating widespread uptake is lacking. The objective of this paper is to identify the main developments and trends in NBS-related research over time, including areas for future research. A bibliometric approach is used to quantitatively analyze relevant publications indexed in the Web of Science database from 1990 to 2018. The study identifies five thematic hotspots within the research landscape and several areas for future research, including the evaluation of ecosystem services provided, design and implementation at the landscape scale and consideration of cultural aspects, to push forward operationalization.

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Funding

Research supported by Red Sistemas Inteligentes y Expertos Modelos Computacionales Iberoamericanos (SIEMCI), project number 522RT0130 in Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnolog?a para el Desarrollo (CYTED).

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I. De La Vega Hernandez – Conception and Design, Material preparation, Data collection, Analysis, Writing - Review; L. Bunclark – Conception and Design, Writing – First Draft.

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Correspondence to Lisa Bunclark.

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Bunclark, L., Hernández, I.D.V. Scientific Mapping of Research on Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable Water Management. Water Resour Manage 36, 4499–4516 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-022-03242-w

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