The Question
What strategies in engaging local stakeholders and fostering connection to communities in the planning and execution of NbS projects?
The Invest4Nature Living Labs have provided valuable insights into how they successfully engage the local community in the rollout of NbS projects. The common thread? Citizen engagement and involvement must be done with plan, intention, and early on in the project.
Across Europe, our Living Labs implement NbS, each tailored to their local context. While all LLs emphasize stakeholder engagement and community involvement, their strategies vary significantly, reflecting cultural, geographic, and project-specific differences. Here’s a look at how each LL fosters connection and participation in their NBS initiatives.
The Answer
Aarhus: Ground-Level Dialogue and Tailored Engagement
Aarhus Municipality showcases two contrasting projects: an urban climate adaptation initiative and a rural biodiversity effort. In Risvangen, urban residents participated in “neighborhood walks” and collaborated with local contractors to design stormwater solutions. Meanwhile, the “300 Hectares of New Nature” project relied entirely on face-to-face engagement, with municipal leaders using a mobile “green caravan” to build trust and encourage landowners to give space back to nature. Aarhus emphasizes transparency, listening, and dialogue at eye level, with a strong belief that no one-size-fits-all approach exists.
Cascais: Co-Creation and Inclusive Communication
Cascais focuses on inclusive, participatory methods such as co-creation workshops and community mapping. The AdaptCascais Fund supports citizen-led climate adaptation projects, engaging over 4,000 participants across 17 initiatives. Projects like “Our Dream” and “There Are No Birds Here” combine environmental goals with community building. Cascais highlights the importance of clear communication, visual storytelling, and engaging underrepresented groups, ensuring that NBS efforts are socially cohesive and long-lasting.
Poznań: Embedded Co-Creation and Education
Poznań’s approach centers on multi-phase co-creation, particularly in the green schoolyard projects. Stakeholders—including students, teachers, and parents—collaborate with architects from the design phase through implementation. The city integrates environmental education and awareness-raising throughout the process, ensuring that communities understand the social, economic, and ecological benefits of NBS. Poznań’s success lies in continuous engagement and trust-building, not just one-off consultations.
Norway: Blue Forests and Eco-Tourism Innovation
Norway’s LL, led by NIVA, focuses on kelp restoration and blue forest ecosystems. Engagement spans fishermen, SMEs, tourism operators, and financial institutions. Innovative strategies include volunteer sea urchin harvesting, eco-tourism experiences, and webinars on financing mechanisms. Norway uniquely integrates economic incentives and carbon market validation to sustain community involvement. Their model blends environmental restoration with commercial viability, making NBS both impactful and scalable.
Tyrol: Forest Resilience Through Long-Term Participation
Tyrol’s LL emphasizes sustainable forest management and climate resilience. Following past mudslides, the municipality partnered with citizens and organizations to restore protective forests. Initiatives include replacing fossil fuels with local wood, creating nature trails, and hosting workshops for schools and associations. The forest supervisor plays a key role in ongoing participatory processes, actively engaging stakeholders to promote long-term forest stewardship. Tyrol’s approach is deeply rooted in education, awareness, and intergenerational involvement.
Conclusion
While each Living Lab operates within its unique context, common threads emerge: co-creation, transparency, education, and adaptability. From urban green spaces to marine ecosystems and mountain forests, these LLs demonstrate that meaningful stakeholder engagement is not just a strategy – it’s the foundation of successful, resilient, and community-driven Nature-based Solutions.
