Integrated approaches to nature-based solutions in Africa: Insights from a bibliometric analysis
Open accessAbstract
The recognition of nature-based solutions (NbS) is on a growing trend worldwide in an era of climate change, and intensified demand for improved human health, better preparedness for disasters, food and water security. The solutions seek to restore, protect and sustainably manage natural and modified ecosystems to optimize biodiversity and human wellbeing benefits. In this study, a scientometric analysis of works indexed in Web of Science database until April 2022 was carried out to analyze 123 studies on NbS in Africa. The most active institutions, authors, and countries involved in publication on the topic and their evolution with time was assayed. African countries with exception of South Africa conducted limited research on the topic. About 38.2% of total searched outputs were affiliated to South African institutions. Most research output on the search query was in the environmental sciences and ecology subjects. A sluggish growth in research on the topic was established from the bibliographic coupling of authors and countries as well as keyword analysis. The study recommended for institution and policy overhaul, creation of NbS awareness and better financing of related projects to enhance the documentation and research on the topic in Africa by African researchers to supplement research already conducted by developed countries.
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In some Global South contexts, the term NbS is increasingly seen as problematic and is actively resisted due to its potential to stimulate greenwashing practices, reinforce legacies of oppression, or to negate rights to land tenure.
“In some Global South contexts, the term NbS is increasingly seen as problematic and is actively resisted due to its potential to stimulate greenwashing practices, reinforce legacies of oppression, or to negate rights to land tenure (98, 99).”
From Global synthesis and regional insights for mainstreaming urban nature-based solutions (2025) · cites this paper as [99]
The Introduction (page unavailable) links inadequate NbS implementation in Africa to narratives that can involve greenwashing. It does not say that the term NbS is actively resisted, or connect it to legacies of oppression or loss of land-tenure rights. Its account of greenwashing also differs from the claim that the term itself may stimulate it. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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“In some Global South contexts, the term NbS is increasingly seen as problematic and is actively resisted due to its potential to stimulate greenwashing practices, reinforce legacies of oppression, or to negate rights to land tenure (98, 99).”
- Authors
- Nyika, J., & Dinka, M. O.
- Affiliations
- University of Johannesburg (ZA)
- Corresponding author
- Nyika, Joan
- Venue
- Nature-Based Solutions
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-12
- Volume
- 2
- Pages
- 100031
- ISSN
- 2772-4115 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4296402758
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 3.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature-Based Solutions (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › scientometrics and bibliometrics research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
- Keywords
- Africa, research trends, publication output, research collaboration, South Africa, ecological restoration, biodiversity, climate change, research funding, science policy
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