News articles

NetworkNature is known for its clustering work, and it fulfilled this role at the June SRI Congress where representatives facilitated a roundtable “Horizon Europe Partnerships’ Dialogue: Nature-based Solutions for Urban, Water and Marine Ecosystems and Biodiversity.”

The event opened a...

#NetworkNatureReads is inspired by # ReadingRainbow and the #NewYorkTimes # ByTheBook series, both of which spread a love of reading by highlighting standout books and the people who love them. Our goal is to do the same, but with a #naturebasedsolutions flavor....

NetworkNature is proud to have been a sponsor of the incredible and engaging 2024 The Nature of Cities Festival . The fourth edition of the Festival concluded with remarkable success, emphasizing knowledge-sharing, interdisciplinary collaboration, and actionable outcomes to shape the cities of...

The City of Aalborg is proud to again be the host of the European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns from 1-3 October 2024. Following the ground-breaking Aalborg Charter (1994) and the Aalborg Commitments (2004) from the city's past times as host, the 10th conference in 2024 will be a...

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) offer immense promise for tackling climate change, but what's holding them back? The BiodivClim Knowledge Hub of the European Biodiversity Partnership Biodiversa+, has designed a survey specifically to gather the views of practitioners directly involved in NbS...

The NetworkNature Task Force 4 (Communicators) is pleased to provide you with a summary of upcoming events and opportunities announced by Horizon 2020/Europe projects and select Missions. This Task Force is responsible for synergizing and enhancing communication approaches and messages across...

Dive into cutting-edge research on coastal ecosystem restoration with the latest publication "Key Innovations in Financing Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Adaptation" from the groundbreaking REST-COAST project. This study represents a significant step forward in addressing the daunting...

As climate challenges intensify, Europe's cities are at the frontline of climate change impacts, resulting in a clear call for adaptation to climate change in cities. The latest European Environment Agency (EEA) report on climate change adaptation in cities emphasises the urgency and importance...

NetworkNature is happy to announce the opening of the in-person registration for the Annual Event with the theme “Busting myths: People o̶r̶ with nature”. The event will be hosted in the Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles on September 25 th in Brussels.

The NetworkNature Annual Event...

A landmark publication from the Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD) focuses on the complex relationship between biodiversity, climate change and energy policies. Entitled “Integrating Biodiversity Concerns in Climate Change and Energy Policies: EU Initiatives and Synergies”, this report...

Globally, 2023 was the warmest year on record, and the average global temperature in the 12-month period between February 2023 and January 2024 exceeded pre-industrial levels by 1.5°C. Europe is the fastest-warming continent.

The first European Climate Risk Assessment report developed by...

The NetworkNature Task Force 4 (Communicators) is pleased to provide you with a summary of upcoming events and opportunities announced by Horizon 2020/Europe projects and select Missions. This Task Force is responsible for synergizing and enhancing communication approaches and messages across...

Nadina Galle is an ecological engineer who researches, develops, and brings to market emerging technologies to build better communities for people and nature. Nadina is the host of the Internet of Nature Podcast and her debut book, " The Nature of Our Cities ," will be published on June 18....

In a move to boost research and innovation initiatives, the European Commission has given the green light to a significant increase in the 2024 budget of Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research programme. The amendment provides an additional €1.4 billion for the year. Key highlights of the...

The European Commission has launched a feedback opportunity for Horizon Europe work programme 2025.

Responses submitted through the survey will contribute to the co-design of the ‘main’ work programme 2025. The feedback opportunity is open for three weeks and will close on 6 May 2024...

The 7th of April is World Health Day . This international celebration organised by the World Health Organisation is focused on the topic ' My health, my right ’ in 2024.

Around the globe the World Health Organization estimates that at least 140 countries recognise health as a human right...

Great things are possible when we gather together for nature. Join in for an exciting lineup of virtual events at the upcoming TNOC Festival — 15-26 April ! From talks to workshops, art exhibitions to films, and even virtual field trips, there's something for everyone to enjoy over the span of...

The second edition of the "NbS EduCommunity Workshop: Shaping the future of sustainability learning" will take place online on 7 May 2024, from 14:00 to 16:00 PM CEST . This dynamic event is a public gathering of the European NbS EduWORLD community.

Organised by the Horizon Europe...

In a landmark development, the MERLIN project has released a policy briefing , illuminating European Union (EU) policies crucial for driving the integration of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in freshwater restoration efforts across Europe. This brochure, a treasure trove of insights, holds immense...

In a world where comics capture the imagination of millions of people, why not use the power of visual storytelling to raise awareness of critical environmental and social issues? With an estimated 500 million people around the globe regularly reading comics, the potential impact of this medium...

Amidst of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai the Urban Nature Program , launched at the event themed "Nurturing Nature: Bringing Nature-Positive Cities to the Forefront of Urban Climate Action". In a collaborative effort, leading organisations such as the World...

The CO-OP4CBD project team extends an invitation to researchers and practitioners across Europe, EEA, and beyond, as they open the second call for experts to join their biodiversity expert network. This opportunity offers professionals at all career levels the chance to actively contribute to...

TNOC Festival 2024: The distance between dreams and reality is action Virtual: April 15-26 | Berlin: June 4-7

The Nature of Cities (TNOC) is thrilled to announce the TNOC Festival 2024, a global gathering of scientists, artists, and practitioners dedicated to pushing the boundaries of...

In response to the urgent need for effective climate change adaptation strategies, a call is underway for research contributions to a special issue on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) . The UNEA defines NbS as ‘actions to protect, conserve, restore, sustainably use and manage natural or modified...

Healthy soils are essential for life on Earth, supporting our food systems, providing clean water, and fostering biodiversity. Furthermore they contribute to climate resilience, support cultural heritage, shape landscapes and underpin economic prosperity.However, soils are under multiple...

The Nordic Cities Nature-Based Solutions Project is a pivotal initiative within the Nordic Council of Ministers' comprehensive program to achieve Vision 2030 – making the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated region in the World. Focused on promoting nature-based solutions in Nordic...

The Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) is currently seeking public input for the mid-term review of the 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP), and your project is invited to join the conversation. The 8th EAP outlines the European Union's environmental goals until 2030 and envisions a...

Save the date! The Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Fund for Scientific Research (F.R.S-FNRS), and Science Europe are teaming up to present a pivotal High-Level Conference on Science Communication from March 12th to 13th, 2024. Mark your calendars for this vital event that highlights the...

The CLEVER Cities project concludes after an impressive 5-year initiative that has set significant milestones in urban regeneration. It leaves behind successful achievements and a path for transformative urban regeneration that others can follow. The project spanned across European cities such...

Virtual 25-26 April + Berlin 4-7 June 2024...

NetworkNature+ is proud to work with six local partnerships known as Nature-based Solutions hubs and invites all interested to discover synergies between climate and biodiversity to join an upcoming Nordic Hubs webinar on 17 November 14:00 CET . The hubs bring researchers policy-makers,...

The EU-funded project CLEARING HOUSE is coming to an end - the four-year Sino-European project focused on Urban Forests as Nature-based Solutions (UF-NbS) to improve urban living in Europe and China. Urban Forests are a subset of Nature-based Solutions which use tree-based urban ecosystems to...

The five-year CLEVER Cities project concluded with a final conference in Hamburg in September 2023. The project aimed to promote sustainable and socially inclusive cities globally, emphasising the importance of green urban spaces, community involvement, knowledge sharing, and Nature-based...

Biodiversa+, the European Biodiversity Partnership under Horizon Europe, is thrilled to unveil its upcoming initiative: the BiodivNBS research call. This transnational joint research call focuses on Nature-based solutions for enhancing biodiversity, human well-being, and driving transformative...

NetworkNature is coming to an end this July, but NetworkNature+ will carry the work forward starting in August. NetworkNature+ will build on the legacy of NetworkNature, evolving it into a comprehensive 'network of networks' that partners with diverse audiences to address societal challenges...

The mainstreaming of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) at global level reinforces the necessity of boosting the implementation of NbS interventions at scale. Currently, approximately 133 billion dollars are channelled into NbS interventions, and investments must at least triple by 2030 to achieve...

The INTERLACE Urban Governance Atlas was officially launched on 11 May at the INTERLACE Cities Talk Nature Conference in Chemnitz. The first of its kind, the online database showcases 250 policy instruments from 41 countries supporting nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration. The...

EU policy needs to remove support for the further erosion of nature through harmful subsidies and create more incentives for nature-based solutions if it is to build societies that are resilient to climate change, concludes an EIB report presented in Brussels on 8 June. “Investing in nature-...

“By promoting the improvement of ecological status, biodiversity, and ecosystem connectivity through the development and implementation of innovative Win-Win Nature Based Solutions, DANUBE4all aims to enhance the free-flowing status of rivers and floodplains, reduce flood and drought risks, and...

What role do municipalities play in managing natural water retention? How do regions plan these projects together and what challenges arise in this multi-stakeholder collaboration? How do we account for natural disaster, drought and flood response in all of these efforts? When it comes down to...

CLEARINGHOUSE is excited to announce the launch of our Second Call to Action to participate in the CLEARING HOUSE project , aimed at promoting knowledge and experiences sharing among local and municipal authorities on green infrastructure and urban forests as nature-based solutions (UF-NbS)....

Following a busy and promising Biodiversity COP 15 and the adoption of the Monitoring Framework for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity , an ad hoc technical expert group is to be established for the Convention on Biological Diversity. To this end, a call for experts is now out to search...

Supported by NetworkNature, NbS Task Force 6 is inviting proposals for developing an online decision support system (DSS) that will help users find solutions for the co-creation and co-governance of nature-based solutions.

The aim is to develop an online tool that will guide users...

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the past, present and future of the EU R&I framework programmes.

The public consultation asks participants to:

NetworkNature is supporting the creation of six NbS Hubs to help build long-lasting structures for NbS uptake...

BioAgora project was launched on 10 November 2022 in Helsinki. This new collaborative project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, aims to provide knowledge on biodiversity to the needs of decision-makers. It will set up the Science Service for Biodiversity, a platform for...

Want to create a comic about nature that saves the world? About nature-based solutions to our shared global challenges? We are creating a new series of comics called Nature-based Solutions Comics, or NbS Comics ; it’s a partnership between...

The NetworkNature Annual Event took place on 27 th September 2022, at the Museum of Natural Sciences of Brussels.

Nature-based solutions (NbS), if designed and implemented well, can produce a multitude of benefits simultaneously, including for health and wellbeing, agriculture, water,...

The recently proposed EU Nature Restoration Law constitutes the first ever legal requirement for large-scale nature restoration with the aim of ensuring no further deterioration of hitherto protected habitats and species. The Law aims to introduce area-based restoration measures for at least 20...

The Merlin Innovation Awards (MIA) launched as part of the MERLIN project

Innovation is one of the pillars of MERLIN , the flagship project of the European Commission, which commits to transformative ecosystem restoration, mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions for the urgent systemic...

Are you part of an initiative trying to create a more sustainable urban food system ? Or do you know such an initiative that deserves international recognition? This could be an urban gardening project , a community kitchen , an urban beehive , or anything else that uses food to help make our...

The 20th edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC), the biggest annual Brussels-based event dedicated to cohesion policy, is drawing near. This year’s EWRC will take place in-person on 10-13 October 2022.

Event sessions sit under the overarching theme “New challenges for...

The NetworkNature Nordic hub launch is fast approaching. On 13 October, the Nordic hub will bring together organisations, associations, companies, researchers, professionals and others who work with nature-based solutions in the Nordic region.The purpose of this and other nature-based solutions...

As a part of the WHO Bonn Environment and Health School , the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health is offering two online courses to support capacity building of experts working in the health and environment field in 2022. The two courses are:

Are you a practitioner directly involved in, or thinking of starting, a restoration project but would like to find out more about what types of benefits can be achieved and what actions can best support effective restoration? This factsheet is for you!

This factsheet explores the...

NetworkNature highlights a timely topic in the nature-based solutions field with its semester themes, identified in consultation with the nature-based solutions community.

The current NetworkNature semester theme is about ' Nature-based solutions and Standards ', covering quality aspects...

OpenLivingLab Days (OLLD) is the annual global gathering of...

Summary

NetworkNature organised a session on “Nature-based solutions for sustainable urban development” at the World Urban Forum 11 th Session in Katowice, Poland.

The World Urban Forum (WUF) is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanisation. Under the theme of “...

The NetworkNature Annual Event will provide an opportunity to learn more about the state-of-the-art developments in NbS practice & policy.

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

9:30 AM – 6:00 PM CEST

About the event:

Nature-based solutions (NbS), if designed and...

International actors, national and local governments, businesses, and community groups increasingly recognize the importance and the utility of nature-based solutions (NbS) to protect, manage, or restore different landscapes and ecosystems worldwide. According to the European Commission , NbS,...

In recent days a workshop entitled, "Standards for Climate and Nature-based Solutions" took place (23 May) hosted by CEN and CENELEC, which was instrumental in identifying the cross-sectoral gaps and opportunities for the development of new standards to support the uptake of nature-based...

RECONECT, an EU project implementing Nature-based Solutions to reduce water-related climate risks, spanning 5 years, held its 7th general assembly in Zurich between the 23rd and 25th of May.

IUCN is a key partner in the project, along with a diverse network of Demonstrators and...

Adaptation and Climate resilience involves many sectors and levels of governance. In order to tackle climate change future leaders must be equipped to create future solutions. To this end, the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), Centre for Environment Education (CCE), and Foundation for...

Working with nature to strengthen urban resilience can be cost-effective for addressing climate adaptation and mitigation while bringing out broader benefits for biodiversity, communities, and the local economy. Nature-based solutions like urban park development and river restoration are found...

The European Commission under the The Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy - Europe, has launched a Policy Support Facilit y . This innovative initiative will support local and regional authorities implement climate change adaptation actions. Cities and regions from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech...

UNCCD’s evidence-based flagship Global Land Outlook 2 (GLO2) report, five years in development with 21 partner organizations, and with over 1,000 references, is the most comprehensive consolidation of information on the topic assembled.

It offers an overview of the breadth and projects...

Youth around the world are voicing their stances on a wide set of environmental issues, including recent engagement on Nature-based solutions (NbS). During the course of the European Year of Youth , dedicated young leaders for climate and nature produced an position paper on Nature-based...

OpenLivingLab Days (OLLD) is the annual global gathering of Living Labs organized by the European Network of Living Labs. This year, the event will be held in Turin, Italy, between 20-23 September . Hosted and co-organised by the City of Turin , CTE NEXT – The...

Closer-to-Nature Forest Management is a concept proposed in the EU Forest Strategy for 2030, which aims to improve the conservation values and climate resilience of multifunctional, managed forests in Europe. Building on the latest scientific evidence, a new From Science to Policy study from EFI...

In the framework of a market assessment project conducted on behalf of the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the topic of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) financing, Bankers without Boundaries is collecting information of currently existing projects at the EU level.

This project aims at...

Awareness for nature based solutions is spreading. NetworkNature is proud to take these lessons learned to the classroom - schools, higher education, and professional training are often the places where people’s thinking, understanding, and perceptions are transformed, leading to long term...

Currently many well intended forest restoration and tree planting measures, are not designed with longevity and biodiversity in mind. To help develop more sustainable and holistic measures Nature4Climate, Hamerkop, Trillion Trees, WWF, WCS, Birdlife International and 1T.org have developed a new...

The European Commission has today launched an invitation to EU regions and communities to join the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change.

The Mission’s objective is to support 150 regions and communities to accelerate their transformation towards climate resilience by helping them...

NetworkNature is launching a call for its semester on nature-based solutions standards . NetworkNature semesters cover timely issues in the nature-based solutions (NbS) field, to gather, share knowledge and raise awareness on the topic together with the wider nature-based solutions community....

This toolkit provided by the IUCN equips people with the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to restore ecosystems back to productive and healthy spaces. Readers are shown examples of the importance of community organizing, potential aspects of projects, successful examples of community...

The CONEXUS project is collecting NbS professional skill gaps in order to recommend a professional training curriculum in Nature-based Solutions that can respond to local needs and challenges for successful NbS planning and implementation.

Local governments, international cooperation...

The new European Biodiversity Partnership Biodiversa+, co-funded by the European Union is bringing together 74 research programs, funders, and environmental policy actors from 37 European and associated countries to help put nature back on a path of recovery. Biodiversa+ started on the 1st of...

The EEA briefing ' Who benefits from nature in cities? Social inequalities in access to urban green and blue spaces across Europe ' shows how access to public green and blue spaces differs across Europe. Cities in northern and western Europe tend to have more green space than cities in southern...

What is an ecological restoration approach?

Restorative actions exist at first to bring more nature, ecological functions and natural features from natural areas to fully anthropized ones. In Brussels, Belgium, the city is setting up insect hotels and meadows in green spaces to recreate...

In the framework of the LIFE program, the LIFE 2020 call of NGOs on the European Green Deal (NGO4GD) was launched to help NGOs from the Member States to strengthen the participation and contribution of civil society to the implementation of the European Green Deal .

This special "LIFE...

UrbanByNature, the global capacity-building programme in Nature-based Solutions (NbS) coordinated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability , is starting 2022 with a new, standalone website and a revamped logo. The UrbanByNature website ( www.urbanbynature.eu ) allows participants to...

Nature-based solutions are a quick and cost-effective way to transform our surroundings to become more sustainable and will be a key element in building more resilient and healthy societies. They are a safe and sound investment as case studies from Bologna, Glasgow, Copenhagen and Hamburg prove...

In Europe, almost one-third of the landscape is covered by cities, villages, agriculture and forests. There are lots of different types of trees, bur also damaged forest areas due to human activities and climate change consequences. At the European level a series of political commitments are...

At the September IUCN UK Peatland Programme/LIFE Conference film night, the North Pennines AONB Partnership launched its new film: PeatLIFE People .

The documentary-style film shows some views of UK's peatland landscapes and the work of the Pennine PeatLIFE project and, as said by the...

The “ Water Framework Directive” (DIR 2000/60/EC) has radically changed the policies of European countries regarding water, which throughout the 1900s were mainly aimed at facilitating its use for human activities and protecting public health from the risks associated with pollution. The...

European cities are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to become a stop on the Connecting Nature Roadshow - a mobile exhibition showcasing innovative solutions to co-create, implement and manage nature based-solutions.

The Roadshow will customize interactive workshops...

On 1st December, the European Business Statement was officially delivered to the European Commission at the EBNS 2021.

The statement calls businesses and policy makers to mainstream biodiversity in all decisions and policies. In particular, the European businesses are called upon to...

The Border Meuse Initiative, wich kicked off 30 years ago in the Netherlands, has demonstrated how rewilding can make socio-economic and environmental benefits. Restoring natural landscapes is one of the most effective and cheapest ways of addressing challenges such as climate change and...

As part of the NetworkNature semester ‘ Nature-based solutions for ecosystem restoration ’, which aims to create opportunities for local, regional and international cooperation on nature-based solutions and to explore how ecosystem restoration can contribute to biodiversity conservation whilst...

How can stakeholders balance the potential risks, drawbacks and concerns of the Nature-Based Solutions Framework with its benefits and opportunities? A brief is now available pertaining to this very topic. As a partnership between Global Youth Biodiversity Network, Youth4Nature and YOUNGO, the...

The new report "Nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation", authored by experts from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Union or Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) finds the...

The new Horizon2020 funded NICE project aims to promote the use of nature-based solutions for circular urban water management. The project will generate knowledge for the design and implementation of NbS with the goal of closing urban water loops. The solutions will capture water,...

On 21 st October, Network Nature held its first Annual Event which focused on the Network Nature semester theme “ Ecosystem restoration through nature-based solutions ”, in line with current EU ambitions for achieving the European Green Deal and the start of the UN Decade on Ecosystem...

NATURVATION and NetworkNature have collaborated to create the first NetworkNature project group.

NetworkNature project groups will bring together project case studies, resources and news. This content will be preserved in NetworkNature and in Oppla long after the project has finished....

New awarenesses are emerging today: the need to curb the growth of GHG emissions for global economic recovery and the destruction of the natural world. Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) help address both these problems and increase resilience to climate change. NCS are conservation, restoration...

AIPH , the International Association of Horticultural Producers and the world’s champion for the power of plants proudly presents the AIPH World Green City Awards , which recently opened for entries for the 2022 inaugural edition.

The leading role of city authorities is...

The Urban Forest Innovation Lab (UFIL) , is a innovation lab in forest bioeconomy based in the city of Cuenca (Spain) and hosts a prestigious entrepreneurship program. UFIL's main objective is to provide participants with the necessary tools and knowledge to become entrepreneurs in the...

What if food could build biodiversity and tackle climate change?

Everything we eat is designed, from our breakfast to our favourite takeaway. Food brands and supermarkets make decisions about our food - from how it tastes and how it's grown to how nutritious it is. The latest study by...

As part of the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities - World Bank Webinar series “ Bringing Nature to Cities: Integrated Urban Solutions to Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change ” , NetworkNature hosted a webinar on mainstreaming biodiversity and climate change into EU Urban Planning and Policy...

On 21st September an insightful event took place to highlight a crucial topic for preserving our environment and mitigating climate change; Nature-based solutions Webinar on Peatland Restoration , organised by Scotland House Brussels and ICLEI Europe. The webinar gathered experts together to...

The FAO e-learning on Sustainable financing of forest and landscape restoration (FLR) is now available in French . To meet countries’ national commitments to restoring degraded landscapes, adequate public and private investments are needed to support the different steps of the FLR cycle....

In the aftermath of a society altered by COVID-19, cities have a unique opportunity to “build back better” and harness the power that Nature-based Solutions have to offer.

A report, “Smart, Sustainable and Resilient cities: the Power of Nature-based Solutions'' produced by UNEP together...

NetworkNature is collecting knowledge gaps to contribute to the development of a roadmap for EU Research and Innovation on nature-based solutions (NbS).

A new survey is an opportunity to bring NbS knowledge gaps to the attention of major EU Research and Innovation programmers. In...

A new report from the EU Commission Directorate titled, “Evaluating the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions: A Summary for Policy Makers”, was released providing a high-level summary for practitioners and policy-makers alike to assess the impact of nature-based solutions (NbS) using...

Coastal dunes are high-value areas of biodiversity, providing a home to rare flora and offering protection to coasts against storms. They can, however, be vulnerable to degradation and should therefore be protected. The challenge lies in the changing nature of dunes as an ecosystem...

The new IPCC special report on effects of global warming above pre-industrial levels , sounds an alarm on the irreversible negative impacts of human activity on our own habitat. In order to to steer away from a climate catastrophe, scientists state that stark and immediate cuts on emissions are...

Nature should be at the heart of our cities, because they are the places where we work, play and engage. Today, more than 55% of the world's population lives in cities and this figure is likely to continue to grow, as urbanization is growing at an unprecedented rate and this contributes...

Nature-based solutions (NbS) help address the effects of climate change in an integrated way, such as biodiversity loss and poverty.

If done well, nature-based solutions could be the key to protecting, sustainably managing and restoring ecosystems, in cost-effective ways while addressing...

A new paper has been published on the Ecosystem Services Journal on using ecosystem services to measure the degree to which a solution is nature-based.

Recently, Nature-based Solutions have gained increasing interest as a broad concept which encompasses several fields (sociology,...

The first draft of a new global framework on biodiversity was released by the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to guide actions around the world until 2030 for the conservation and protection of nature and its essential services to people. At the end of...

NetworkNature highlights timely topics in the nature-based solutions field with its semester themes , identified in consultation with the nature-based solutions community. Each semester NetworkNature will focus on a specific...

Economic entities are increasingly regognizing that nature is tied to all activities and that the state of the environment also affects the economy. OECD launched a new policy guide for finance, economic and environment ministes titled ' Biodiversity, natural capital and the economy ' in May...

During the NetworkNature semester ‘ Nature-based solutions in light of the pandemic ’ we have explored how these solutions affect health and well-being. There is increasing research and findings indicating that among the many benefits of natural spaces, are improvements to mental and physical...

The main work programme of Horizon Europe for the period 2021-2022 has been adopted by the European Commission. The programme outlines the objectives and specific topic areas that will receive a total of €14.7 billion in funding. Further to help accelerating the green and digital transitions in...

The 2021 Transformative Action Award is now accepting applications from cities, regions, and civil society organisations who are pioneering transformative actions to create sustainable, resilient, and liveable cities.

The actions taken reflect local or regional contributions to the...

The restoration of degraded environments offers beneficial impacts to alleviate stress, improve mental health, to mitigate pollution and provide spaces for contemplation, socialization and physical activity. The COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized the importance of nature for collective...

There is currently an active debate in the role that nature-based solutions should take in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Some parties advocate for the great potential of nature-based solutions to advance the protection sustainable using and restoration of biodiversity, while...

The United Nations has dedicated May 22nd each year as The International Day for Biological Diversity , to increase awareness and understanding of biodiversity. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has set the theme for Biodiversity Day 2021 as “ We’re part of the...

The concept of therapeutic or healing gardens is both modern and ancient. Ancient Egyptian, Persian and Greek gardens were all considered healing environments and all of them had well established guidelines in relation with the knowledge of that time and, most important, people were aware of...

New European Commission Carbon Farming Initiative

On the 27th of April 2021, the European Commission published a ‘ Technical Guidance Handbook: Setting up and implementing results-based carbon farming mechanisms in the EU ’ This guide is the result of a two-year study on how best to set...

The European Environment Agency presents a new report that gives valuable insights in how working with nature can help prevent the worst impacts of climate change, and biodiversity and ecosystem loss. Nature-based solutions offer multiple ways to do this. Science and policy have begun to...

Nature-based solutions are an increasingly popular means for tackling urban sustainability challenges. Nonetheless, there’s no one-size-fits-all method for every city, even when we are dealing with the same topic. Here are a few points/tips/inspirational stories you could learn from when taking...

UNEP has opened a call for best practices on investment in nature-based solutions, under their State of Finance for Nature initiative.

Contribute to shaping the financing landscape for nature-based solutions, by submitting best practices, to help demonstrate how investing in nature-...

As a result of the COVID19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in stress, poor mental health and domestic violence. And we have seen an increase in the visits to green and blue spaces, leading at times to overcrowding in these spaces. In a city like Barcelona, Collserola, a large urban forest...

In cities, the built and natural environment are important determinants of health, particularly among groups that are disadvantaged by relative poverty, unemployment, low status, gender, ethnicity and disability (WHO, 2012). Evidence of the impact of green and blue space provided by Nature-based...

In the wake of the pandemic, the realization that access to nature is crucial for well-being has dawned on many. Although the pandemic stems from nature, the role of human-led destruction of natural environments is a major causal factor, and thus a potential solution lies in re-establishing a...

News originally published on the GrowGreen website . Republished with permission from GrowGreen.

Download the summary and the full report produced by IUCN for GrowGreen on the Chinese Sponge Cities Programme.

Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province , is well-known as the “...

Nature-based solutions may often be small in scale, but this is wherein their power lies – they lend well to replication. To support their spread, NetworkNature , a new Horizon 2020 funded project, spearheaded by ICLEI Europe , IUCN , BiodivERsA , Oppla and Steinbeis 2i , gathers the nature-...

News originally published on the IUCN website . Republished with permission from IUCN .

Gland, Switzerland - The European Green Deal is aligned to mobilise action on nature-based solutions (NbS) and, at the same time, help deliver the European Recovery Package, according to IUCN, which...

Nature-based solutions that have proved successful in cities can be readily replicated in others – even across the globe. November 2020 saw two major events with European funded nature-based solutions projects engaging Chinese partners.

The UrbanByNature programme, a ground-breaking...

Blog originally published on the IUCN website . Republished with permission from IUCN .

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of green and blue infrastructure in cities as a refuge for urban residents, providing a range of health and other benefits. A webinar held on 29th...

News originally published on the GrowGreen website . Republished with permission from GrowGreen.

The new Espai Verd Benicalap (Green Space Benicalap), located in the Benicalap neighborhood in València, has been inaugurated with an open day for citizens. This project is one of the...