Improving the Environmental Performances of Informal Settlements Using an Ecosystem Services-Based Approach

This chapter presents the results concerning the activity of Ecosystem Services (ES) mapping and assessment in the favela of Rocinha conducted during the PolimiParaRocinha project. The analyses aim to evaluate the state of ES in terms of provisioning and regulating services, highlighting areas potentially subjected to disaster risks that could threaten the safety of inhabitants and their houses. The adoption of an ES-based approach allowed to define strategies, inspired or supported by nature, that can have a significant impact on current urban development practices, increasing local resilience. The strategies identified are nature-based solutions (NBS) specifically selected considering the socio-economic context, the environmental fragilities and the implementation feasibility. A review of existing experiences conducted in informal contexts was functional to select successful NBS, ensuring their operability.