Abstract
Landscape-scale Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as vital for addressing the interconnected challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change. Their capacity to deliver multiple Nature’s Contributions to People (NCPs), maintain ecological connectivity, and enhance climate resilience makes them particularly valuable. However, their implementation is often hindered by complex policy, financing, social, and economic contexts. This paper explores the challenges of assessing these contextual factors in landscape-scale NbS, drawing on insights from a European research project. Using pondscapes – networks of ecologically valuable ponds and surrounding habitats – as an illustrative example, we synthesize methodological challenges and practical lessons from stakeholder engagement, policy and financing analyses, and socio-economic assessments. The results suggest that while assessing the specific context of landscape-scale NbS is essential for successful implementation, it is also challenging due to diverse stakeholder interests, lack of unified frameworks, and data limitations – factors that ultimately complicate implementation efforts. Our study underscores the challenge of balancing generalizable data collection with site-specific needs, highlighting the value of tailored, stakeholder-informed approaches. Co-production methods, especially workshops, help build trust and improve assessment practices. Our findings aim to inform researchers and practitioners working on systemic and integrated landscape-scale NbS planning.