Spring 2025 marked a key moment for the Nature-based Solutions community, with Biodiversa+ kicking off 34 innovative projects under the BiodivNBS call, titled “Nature-based Solutions for biodiversity, human well-being and transformative change.” Energy was high in Montpellier, France, as researchers, policy experts, funders, evaluation committee members, and European Commission representatives shared a commitment to tackle pressing biodiversity challenges through nature-based solutions (NbS).
Held in collaboration with French partners ANR, the French National Research Agency, and the Office français de la biodiversité, FRB, Foundation for Biodiversity Research, MTE FR, French Ministry for the Ecological Transition and University of Montpellier, the event marked a key milestone in the European research and innovation agenda on biodiversity. Attendees explored how to translate scientific insight into lasting policy and societal impact, with six core themes guiding the day’s discussions:
- Monitoring the multidimensional impacts of NbS across ecological, social, and economic dimensions.
- Ensuring legacy beyond the funding period by embedding sustainability and continuity into project design.
- Prioritising justice, including environmental equity and the inclusion of diverse perspectives in NbS planning.
- Strengthening the science-policy interface to integrate NbS into multilateral environmental frameworks.
- Enhancing collaboration across projects and linking with broader EU and international initiatives.
- Scaling up from local action to systemic transformation.
The event also included a dedicated policy-making capacity-building day as part of the Biodiversa+ Science-Policy Forum in Montpellier and online. This forum brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from across Europe and beyond to explore how to better connect science, policy, and practice to effectively scale up NbS in support of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Network Nature EU coordinator Daniela Rizzi of ICLEI Europe presented on the role of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in shaping NbS implementation, and highlighted the synergy between NetworkNature EU, the emerging NbS hubs, and the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR). The Italian and Caucasus NbS hubs were also well represented, adding further momentum to cross-regional knowledge exchange.
Bridging Science Policy and Practice with NetworkNature
NetworkNature is following a series of Biodiversa+ exchanges closely, contributing to the outcomes of project collaboration in the NbS space. NetworkNature was invited to moderate a dedicated BiodivClim panel with group of NbS climate-biodiversity project, led by Paola Lepori, ICLEI Europe to exchange on:
- Planning under uncertainty and climate modelling.
- Science communication, inclusive engagement, and social buy-in.
- Strategies for navigating political expectations and evidence-based messaging.
- Cross-sectoral challenges and institutional silos.
Discussions centred on future research priorities and structural barriers to more integrated climate–biodiversity approaches. These insights will inform how the community navigates the evolving landscape of NbS, particularly in relation to policy developments under the Global Biodiversity Framework and EU Green Deal.
NbS Hubs: a Catalyst for NbS upscaling
The French NbS Hub, co-initiated by IUCN and NetworkNature was actively involved in the kick off meeting of the project SUNLOOP, focused on spontaneous nature in urban spaces (e.g. brownfields). During the event, NetworkNature expert Simon Racé was instrumental to roundtable discussions which brought ICLEI Europe and NetworkNature perspectives on Nature-based Solutions forward, flagging their importance at the EU level and connecting it with the net zero landtake policy at the European level (NRR legislation, Berlin Urban Nature Pact and more).
A visit organised by the local association of scientists seeking to protect the area has recognised this area as a nature-based solution of its own right. Further workshops collected the group perspective to define more precisely what spontaneous nature in urban areas can be. Last but not least, the French hub of NetworkNature explained further how to get involved in its activities and many participants took high interest in taking part, showcasing a real life example of co-creation in action!
A Community with Purpose
As the 34 projects move forward, they do so as part of a broader, growing community committed to excellence, equity, and impact in NbS and a renewed commitment to cooperation and sharing for transformative change. NetworkNature is committed to furthering such exchanges by virtue of our positioning in the science-policy-practice space of NbS. Moving forward, the NbS community will need to lay down the groundwork for lasting change, providing for example, structured forums for shared learning and policy alignment. With the support of Biodiversa+ and its partners, the 34 projects are now positioned to generate actionable knowledge and catalyse meaningful impact across science, policy, and society.
Catch up on the projects and discussions.