Plants in the View of Ecosystem Services and Their Role in Nature-based Solutions

Adopting an ecosystem services–based approach in urban design delivers a wide range of benefits to citizens, often through the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbSs). These benefits extend across social, environmental, and economic dimensions, contributing to more sustainable, resilient, and cost-efficient urban systems. Typical NbS interventions include transforming abandoned land into community gardens, converting brownfields into green areas, installing green roofs to address climate change mitigation and adaptation, and developing rain gardens to manage and purify stormwater. A key component of effective urban greening is the management of plant–soil interactions. In human-impacted environments, targeted actions such as improving soil structure, increasing nutrient availability, controlling erosion, and using vegetation to rehabilitate degraded soils are often required. Interactions among soil, plants, and microorganisms are fundamental in sustaining soil fertility and ecosystem performance. Green infrastructure and soil conservation practices support carbon sequestration, improve water quality, reduce surface runoff, mitigate urban heat island effects, enhance air quality, and promote psychological well-being, creating healthier urban environments. Moreover, urban rivers are dynamic ecosystems that provide multiple services, including habitat diversity, water resources, transport functions, and recreational spaces. They also act as ecological corridors, facilitating species movement and genetic exchange, thus supporting urban biodiversity. In this context, phytoremediation based on the combined action of plants, microorganisms, and substrates, offers an effective natural approach to water purification through physical, chemical, and biological processes. Finally, urban vegetation plays a vital role in moderating urban climate by influencing temperature, humidity, and air circulation, improving thermal comfort and reducing heat island effects. Green spaces also enhance human health, particularly through air pollutant removal. However, careful management is necessary, as practices like intensive mowing, pruning, and pesticide use can damage pollinators and urban wildlife. Preserving biodiversity, especially wild bees, is therefore essential for sustaining ecosystem services and ecological balance in cities.