A review of hydro-meteorological hazard, vulnerability, and risk assessment frameworks and indicators in the context of nature-based solutions
A systematic literature review was carried out to examine the suitability of, or gaps in, existing frameworks for vulnerability and risk assessment of social-ecological systems (SES) to hydro-meteorological hazards. The review confirms that very few frameworks have been developed in the context of Nature-based solutions (NBS). Most of the frameworks have emphasised social systems over ecological systems. Furthermore, they have not explicitly considered the temporal dimension of risk reduction measures.
A list of 135 indicators is identified through literature review and surveys in NBS project sites. This list is composed of indicators representing the social sub-system (61% of total indicators) and the ecological sub-system (39% of total indicators).
The study proposes an indicator-based vulnerability and risk assessment framework in the context of NBS (VR-NBS) that addresses both the above limitations and considers established NBS principles. The framework aims to allow for a better consideration of the multiple benefits afforded by NBS and which impact all the dimensions of risk. The proposed VR-NBS framework and indicator library provide a basis for vulnerability and risk assessment in the context of NBS, which can be further developed through practical application and customized to specific contexts and stakeholders’ needs.
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