Participatory Selection of Nature-Based Solutions and Bioeconomy Solutions for WEFE Nexus Implementation: Applications on Tinos Island, Greece

Abstract

Climate change challenges necessitate innovative, effective and sustainable mitigation measures to enhance ecosystem resilience. This study presents the development and application of a participatory, and cross-sectoral multi-criteria assessment (MCA) decision-support tool designed to prioritize Nature-based Solutions (NBS) and Bioeconomy Solutions (BES) based on Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus and selected impact (Social, Economic, Climate change, Institutional) criteria. The methodology and tool are adaptable in different contexts and can address several climate change, sustainability, and circularity challenges. The participatory MCA methodology was applied and validated during an all-day workshop on Tinos, a Greek island on the Aegean Sea. Local challenges were addressed and examined within the framework of two distinct sites. Workshop results identified habitat loss and biodiversity decline as the island’s primary challenges, with Conservation Agriculture and Agroforestry emerging as the top-rated solutions, scoring 78/100 and 71/100, respectively. Although stakeholders prioritized different interventions for each site, the selected solutions consistently aimed to address these environmental issues. This research study contributes to advancing understanding and practice in the field of sustainable resource management within the WEFE nexus, while underscoring the importance of participatory approaches in developing effective and context-specific sustainability strategies.

Bibliographic Information