Introduction: In response to the escalating challenges of climate change and rapid urbanization, urban resilience and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have emerged as an innovative approach that leverages natural processes to enhance cities’ capacity to cope with environmental hazards while improving overall livability.
Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the impact of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) on enhancing the resilience of the city of Rasht, and to present a theoretical model to explain this relationship.
Geographical area: The geographical scope of this research is the city of Rasht, the capital of Gilan province, located in the southern coastal plain of the Caspian Sea. The city is situated at approximately 37° north latitude and 49° east longitude.
Methodology: This research is applied in nature and follows a sequential-exploratory mixed-method design. In the first stage, factors influencing urban resilience were identified through a literature review and environmental scanning (STEEPVL model), and a conceptual model was developed using grounded theory and thematic analysis (open, axial, and selective coding) with MAXQDA 2020 software. This model was then localized to the context of Rasht through an online Delphi method with 46 urban planning experts. In the final stage, the model was evaluated using data from 384 citizens (determined by Cochran's formula) selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. Quantitative data analysis was performed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS software.
Results and Discussion: The findings indicate that causal conditions (climate change, urban growth, socio-spatial inequalities, and increasing urban stress) have a significant impact on a nature-based resilient city in Rasht. Furthermore, contextual conditions (environmental challenges, urban infrastructure, and weaknesses in urban policies) and intervening conditions (citizen awareness and participation, land-use change constraints, and political commitment of urban managers) play a significant role in shaping resilience strategies (nature-oriented governance, development of green infrastructure, biophilic urban design, and the formulation of nature-based standards). The structural equation modeling confirmed the model's high goodness of fit, with significant path coefficients for all hypothesized relationships (R² for the core phenomenon was 0.856, and Q² values were all above 0.35, indicating strong predictive power).
Conclusion: The results emphasize the importance of Nature-Based Solutions in urban planning and demonstrate that this approach can serve as an effective policy instrument for reducing urban vulnerability, improving quality of life, and achieving sustainable urban development. The study also highlights the need for innovative financing mechanisms (e.g., green bonds), intersectoral collaboration, and local community education to overcome existing barriers in Rasht.