Towards a decolonial planning praxis for nature-based solutions: bridging inclusive planning of NBS in cities with decolonial thinking through a systematic literature review

Abstract

The planning of nature-based solutions (NBS) has typically heavily relied on technology and ecological expertise. However, critics have shown the importance of considering social dynamics, especially a justice lens. To date, such analyses have largely failed to engage with or incorporate insights from decolonial work, particularly concerning the legacies of coloniality persistent through planning institutions, knowledges, and practices. The research question that guides this paper is: What does it mean to decolonise the planning of NBS? In this literature review, we analyse how the topic of decoloniality is treated with regard to the planning of nature, ecosystems, and biodiversity, and we bring these insights into NBS practice. We synthesise the literature around questions regarding narratives of nature, the treatment of situatedness, and imagining ways out of coloniality in the planning of NBS. Our review argues that a decolonial approach to the planning of NBS is needed to address the root causes of climate change and shift our ways of relating to human and non-human others to enable a transformative approach to the planning, design, and implementation of NBS.