Challenges and Adaptive Solutions for the Adoption and Scaling of Nature‑based Solutions in three Central and Eastern European regions: A Comparative Regional Analysiс

Nature‑based solutions (NbS) are increasingly promoted as a multi‑benefit pathway for climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity recovery, and sustainable regional development. Yet, mainstreaming NbS into sub‑national planning and investment pipelines remains uneven across Europe. This paper addresses the research question: What are the challenges and suitable adaptive solutions for the adoption of NbS in the Plovdiv, Centru, and Podravje regions, situated in Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovenia, respectively? Drawing on several EU research project ARCADIA documents, e.g., the regions’ self‑assessment, the comparative analysis of the fellow regions, and review materials, the study team conducted a structured comparative policy and governance analysis using the ARCADIA common assessment pillars (governance, climate risk assessment, and adaptation planning). Results show that (i) Plovdiv region (Bulgaria) combines strong EU policy alignment with fragmented regional execution and NGO‑dependent coordination; (ii) Centru region (Romania) exhibits a comprehensive multi‑tier governance and strategic planning orientation but is slowed by inter‑agency complexity and data and monitoring gaps; and (iii) Podravje region (Slovenia) presents a coherent, performance‑driven model with stronger NbS integration and monitoring, but faces constraints related to municipal‑level funding boundaries, social acceptance, and local decision‑maker knowledge. Across all regions, the most limiting factors include weak vertical coordination, inconsistent monitoring frameworks, and insufficiently institutionalized stakeholder platforms. The study proposes a portfolio of adaptive NbS governance and policy solutions and instruments such as clarifying mandates and establishing regional coordination hubs; adopting KPI‑based and learning‑oriented monitoring; developing co‑innovation labs and twinning pathways for capacity building; and introducing results‑based financing and blended funding structures. The paper concludes with region‑specific and cross‑regional recommendations to accelerate NbS mainstreaming while respecting diverse administrative architectures.

Keywords

Nature‑based solutions, climate adaptation, governance, policy coherence, monitoring and evaluation, regional development, ARCADIA

URI

https://doi.uni-plovdiv.bg/handle/store/1125

Collections

Ecologia Balkanica

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