Nature-Based Solutions for Resilience: A Global Review of Ecosystem Services from Urban Forests and Cover Crops

Climate change and land-use intensification are speeding up the loss of ecosystem services that support human health, food security, and environmental stability. Vegetative interventions—such as urban forests in cities and cover crops in farming systems—are increasingly seen as nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. However, their benefits are often viewed separately. This review combines 20 years of research to explore how these strategies, together, improve provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services across various landscapes. Urban forests help reduce urban heat islands, improve air quality, manage stormwater, and offer cultural and health benefits. Cover crops increase soil fertility, regulate water, support nutrient cycling, and enhance crop yields, with potential for carbon sequestration and biofuel production. We identify opportunities and challenges, highlight barriers to adopting these strategies, and suggest integrated frameworks—including spatial decision-support tools, incentive programs, and education—to encourage broader use. By connecting urban and rural systems, this review underscores vegetation as a versatile tool for resilience, essential for reaching global sustainability goals.