HIBOU 2030: an integrated method for the Hybrid assessment of the Interactions between the BiOdiversity, the nature-based solutions, and the Urban system

The objective of this paper is to present the integrated method HIBOU 2030, which is employed to assess the efficiency of the Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and their alternatives (e.g. grey, hybrid solutions) for urban projects. The HIBOU 2030 method aligns with international initiatives, such as the Science-based targets Network for nature[1] that promote the integrated assessment approaches. The HIBOU 2030 method is thus design to place the urban system integrating the NBS and theirs alternatives at the core of its approach, with the objective of contributing to several of the action-oriented global targets for 2030 outlined in the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)[2] such as: Target 11 - Restore, Maintain and Enhance Nature’s Contributions to People, the Target 12 - Enhance Green Spaces and Urban Planning for Human Well-Being and Biodiversity and the Target 14 - Integrate Biodiversity in Decision-Making at Every Level.

HIBOU 2030 is based on the hybridization of several area of expertise (e.g. Life Cycle Assessment, ecology, urban planning, etc.) and its fundamental principles are as follows: 1) interactions (both positive and negative ) between biodiversity, NBS and the urban project occur on the project site (in situ) but also on global scale (ex-situ) 2) the multifunctionality of NBS is one of the answers to numerous urban challenges and it must be taken into account in the analysis of the results; 3) the integrated approach necessitates the establishment of a shared semantics among the various fields of expertise; a common macro-model to characterize the system to be assessed and the different development options; the interdependence of results for each issue. Consequently, a parameter variation to address one of the questions will inherently influence the others.

HIBOU 2030 method and its associated toolset facilitate the assessment the urban project’s contribution to the following urban challenges: 1) the climate change (1 indicator); 2) the biodiversity in situ and ex situ (8 indicators). These indicators are designed to address as much as possible of the five pressures on the biodiversity: global warming, land use change, pollution, overexploitation of resources, introduction of invasive species; 3) the stormwater management (1 indicator); 4) the urban heat island (UHI) mitigation (1 to 3 indicators); 5) the urban quality for the citizens, based on a qualitative assessment grid considering 24 criteria.

HIBOU 2030 is a tool used to conduct expertise and research studies, thereby supporting various stakeholders’ analyses and decision-making processes concerning construction and renovation actions for buildings and urban projects. Continuous improvement is achieved through the collection and analysis of feedback from its use in various European contexts.

[1]https://sciencebasedtargetsnetwork.org

[2]https://www.cbd.int/gbf/targets