Abstract for: Using SD methods to support the development of the NbS Services concept: Insights from the NBSPLUS project

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly promoted for climate resilience and urban sustainability, yet their implementation remains fragmented. Traditional planning practices and evaluation metrics often fail to capture the multifunctionality of NbS, limiting their uptake. There is a need for approaches that integrate ecological, social, and governance dimensions to support more systemic, context-sensitive planning and institutional learning. The NBSPLUS project introduces the ‘NbS Services’ concept, supported by participatory system dynamics (SD) methods. In the first Stakeholder Engagement Meeting (SEM) in Malmö, Sweden, researchers and municipal practitioners co-developed causal loop diagrams (CLDs) to explore how governance structures, policy mandates, and institutional dynamics influence NbS implementation. Pre- and post-workshop surveys and observer notes were analysed to assess shifts in understanding. Findings from the Malmö SEM suggest that participatory SD methods can help broaden practitioner perspectives from operational challenges to systemic insights. Participants identified key institutional factors—such as interdepartmental coordination and policy support—as critical to NbS uptake. While learning outcomes varied, the co-created CLDs facilitated shared understanding and highlighted the complex feedbacks shaping NbS implementation in urban contexts. The Malmö workshop provides early evidence that participatory SD methods can support the development of the NbS Services framework. These initial insights will inform upcoming SEMs in Canada and Spain, where the approach will be refined and tested across diverse governance and environmental settings. Continued engagement and comparative analysis will strengthen the framework’s relevance for mainstreaming multifunctional NbS. For drafting, editing, and initial basic review of literature at early stages.