Governance-Driven Nature-Based Solutions and the Implementation Gap in Protected Areas: Evidence from an Arid Context

Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly promoted as governance-oriented approaches for enhancing environmental management and ecosystem service delivery in protected areas. Despite their widespread adoption, empirical evidence suggests that improvements in governance and institutional arrangements do not always result in high-quality ecological outcomes. This study investigates the implementation gap between governance-driven NbS and ecosystem service quality (ESQ) in protected areas operating under arid and resource-constrained conditions. Using survey data collected from 256 professionals working in twelve protected areas and affiliated environmental organizations, the study examines the effects of key NbS dimensions—environmental efficiency, resilience, socio-economic efficiency, and governance and stakeholder engagement—on ecosystem service quality. Regression analysis reveals that governance-related NbS dimensions exert a statistically significant positive influence on ESQ; however, the overall level of ecosystem service quality remains persistently low across the study context. These findings indicate the presence of an institutional implementation gap, where governance-oriented NbS adoption generates procedural and coordination benefits without ensuring commensurate ecological outcomes. The study reframes ecosystem service quality as an indicator of institutional effectiveness rather than purely ecological performance and highlights the limitations of governance-centric NbS strategies in arid protected areas. The results offer important implications for policymakers and managers seeking to align NbS governance frameworks with on-the-ground ecosystem service delivery.