Exploring the economic and environmental benefits of Colombo wetlands in urban planning with nature-based solutions
Floods have become a significant economic and social issue in many cities around the world. Urban wetlands have garnered considerable attention as a nature-based solution (NbS) for urban flood control. However, due to rapid urbanization and the lack of economic recognition of wetlands' flood ma...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Societal Impacts |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949697725000050 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832573042480381952 |
|---|---|
| author | Chethika Gunasiri Wadumestrige Dona Geetha Mohan Kensuke Fukushi Nadeera Dissanayaka |
| author_facet | Chethika Gunasiri Wadumestrige Dona Geetha Mohan Kensuke Fukushi Nadeera Dissanayaka |
| author_sort | Chethika Gunasiri Wadumestrige Dona |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Floods have become a significant economic and social issue in many cities around the world. Urban wetlands have garnered considerable attention as a nature-based solution (NbS) for urban flood control. However, due to rapid urbanization and the lack of economic recognition of wetlands' flood management functions, their role as an NbS is often undermined by unsustainable urban planning. This study evaluates the role of the Colombo Wetland Complex (CWC) in Sri Lanka as a nature-based solution for managing stormwater in the Colombo Metropolitan Area, and the impact of urbanization on this function. Between 2001 and 2024, the CWC complex has seen a reduction in the average annual area of 0.12 km²/year. Additionally, the unit value of the CWC for flood control purposes is approximately USD 72.08 per square meter. The findings of this study provide crucial insights for a wide range of stakeholders, including urban planners, hydrologists, engineers, decision-makers, environmentalists, and the public. These insights emphasize the economic, ecological, and social benefits of integrating the CWC into urban planning agendas and flood management plans as an NbS, compared to traditional flood intervention methods. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e14e3e79d6cb4f48b87b95c42bcff075 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2949-6977 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Societal Impacts |
| spelling | doaj-art-e14e3e79d6cb4f48b87b95c42bcff0752025-02-02T05:29:37ZengElsevierSocietal Impacts2949-69772025-06-015100106Exploring the economic and environmental benefits of Colombo wetlands in urban planning with nature-based solutionsChethika Gunasiri Wadumestrige Dona0Geetha Mohan1Kensuke Fukushi2Nadeera Dissanayaka3Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI), The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan; Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, United Nations University, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan; Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, No.03, Sri Jayewardenepura Mawatha, Welikada, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka; Corresponding author at: Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI), The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan.Global Research Centre for Advanced Sustainability Science (GRASS), University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama 930-8555, JapanInstitute for Future Initiatives (IFI), The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan; Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, United Nations University, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, JapanSri Lanka Land Development Corporation, No.03, Sri Jayewardenepura Mawatha, Welikada, Rajagiriya, Sri LankaFloods have become a significant economic and social issue in many cities around the world. Urban wetlands have garnered considerable attention as a nature-based solution (NbS) for urban flood control. However, due to rapid urbanization and the lack of economic recognition of wetlands' flood management functions, their role as an NbS is often undermined by unsustainable urban planning. This study evaluates the role of the Colombo Wetland Complex (CWC) in Sri Lanka as a nature-based solution for managing stormwater in the Colombo Metropolitan Area, and the impact of urbanization on this function. Between 2001 and 2024, the CWC complex has seen a reduction in the average annual area of 0.12 km²/year. Additionally, the unit value of the CWC for flood control purposes is approximately USD 72.08 per square meter. The findings of this study provide crucial insights for a wide range of stakeholders, including urban planners, hydrologists, engineers, decision-makers, environmentalists, and the public. These insights emphasize the economic, ecological, and social benefits of integrating the CWC into urban planning agendas and flood management plans as an NbS, compared to traditional flood intervention methods.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949697725000050Nature-based solutions (NbS)UrbanizationWetlandsFloodColombo Wetland Complex |
| spellingShingle | Chethika Gunasiri Wadumestrige Dona Geetha Mohan Kensuke Fukushi Nadeera Dissanayaka Exploring the economic and environmental benefits of Colombo wetlands in urban planning with nature-based solutions Societal Impacts Nature-based solutions (NbS) Urbanization Wetlands Flood Colombo Wetland Complex |
| title | Exploring the economic and environmental benefits of Colombo wetlands in urban planning with nature-based solutions |
| title_full | Exploring the economic and environmental benefits of Colombo wetlands in urban planning with nature-based solutions |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the economic and environmental benefits of Colombo wetlands in urban planning with nature-based solutions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the economic and environmental benefits of Colombo wetlands in urban planning with nature-based solutions |
| title_short | Exploring the economic and environmental benefits of Colombo wetlands in urban planning with nature-based solutions |
| title_sort | exploring the economic and environmental benefits of colombo wetlands in urban planning with nature based solutions |
| topic | Nature-based solutions (NbS) Urbanization Wetlands Flood Colombo Wetland Complex |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949697725000050 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chethikagunasiriwadumestrigedona exploringtheeconomicandenvironmentalbenefitsofcolombowetlandsinurbanplanningwithnaturebasedsolutions AT geethamohan exploringtheeconomicandenvironmentalbenefitsofcolombowetlandsinurbanplanningwithnaturebasedsolutions AT kensukefukushi exploringtheeconomicandenvironmentalbenefitsofcolombowetlandsinurbanplanningwithnaturebasedsolutions AT nadeeradissanayaka exploringtheeconomicandenvironmentalbenefitsofcolombowetlandsinurbanplanningwithnaturebasedsolutions |