Milder, wilder, drier: understanding preferences for urban nature-based solutions in China

Nawrath, Maximilian; Furst, Kathinka; Hutchins, Michael ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3764-5331; Seifert-Dahnn, Isabel. 2024 Milder, wilder, drier: understanding preferences for urban nature-based solutions in China. Science of the Total Environment, 921 (2), 171148. 14, pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171148

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Abstract/Summary

Nature-based solutions have gained recognition for their potential to address urban environmental challenges, particularly in rapidly urbanising countries such as China. However, financial and spatial constraints hinder their widespread adoption. Here we explore urban residents' preferences for nature-based solutions targeting stormwater management, urban heat island reduction, and biodiversity support through monetary, time, and space contributions. We carried out three choice experiment surveys with 1536 Chinese respondents, employing three payment vehicles: willingness to pay (WTP), willingness to contribute time (WTCT), and a novel metric, willingness to contribute space (WTCS). The WTCS metric assesses individuals' willingness to voluntarily convert sealed surfaces on private land into greenspace. We found strong preferences for temperature and flooding reduction across all payment vehicles, reflecting substantial challenges of urban heat islands and flooding in China. Additionally, we reveal a preference for moderate greenspace management intensity, highlighting the potential for biodiversity benefits through reduced management intensities. The introduction of the WTCS payment vehicle expands the methodological toolkit for choice experiments and offers a novel approach to assess citizen support for nature-based solutions. These findings have practical implications for designing effective nature-based solutions programs to address urban environmental challenges and meet the preferences of urban residents in China and beyond.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171148
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pollution (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0048-9697
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	willingness to contribute space, choice modelling, ecosystem services, developing countries
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	28 Feb 2024 09:55 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/535931

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171148

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Pollution (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0048-9697

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

willingness to contribute space, choice modelling, ecosystem services, developing countries