A Nature-based Solutions Research Incubator (NBSRI) for Healthy Cities

Our research team seeks funding to support planning activities focused on the development of a nature-based solutions approach to assess health benefits from urban infrastructure development and renewal. Nature-based solutions are actions to protect, manage and restore urban ecosystems as a part of urban planning while also providing benefits to human health. More than 82% of Canadians live in cities and there is increasing evidence that natural features are an important feature of built environments that mitigate stressors on health. Grant funds will be used to identify urban challenges where health benefits can be found from implementing nature-based solutions. Funds will also be used to plan for the creation of a nature-based solutions research incubator to evaluate health impacts or benefits from urban development projects, assess health outcomes associated with existing programs and interventions and implement innovative data collection and sharing processes using citizen science and integrated school-based curriculum opportunities.