The TRANS-lighthouses project is an EU-funded research project (May 2023 – Oct 2026), focused on understanding and improving Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for more inclusive and resilient communities. The project aims to gather evidence on material and immaterial results of NBS to rethink and reframe the elements that shape socially and ecologically just solutions, while strengthening socio-politics as part of the public agenda for systemic change.
At the heart of the TRANS-lighthouses project is a commitment to collaboration, aiming to engage citizens and open spaces for diverse conversations. To achieve this, the project tests new, scalable methods of governance and collective learning, with an important focus on bridging the gap between scientific research and practical application. The project has created a set of educational, interactive, and easy-to-use resources. They are designed to inform and inspire a wider audience and can be valuable tools for communities, educators, and anyone interested in NbS.
All resources featured in this article are open access and available on the project’s digital channels through the links below.
Exploring NBS: Resources from TRANS-lighthouses
NbS games - Learning through play:
The NBS board game
The project has developed a NBS board game that makes the complex world of NBS more accessible. This educational tool allows players to explore the challenges and opportunities of implementing NBS in a fun and interactive way. It's currently available in English and Portuguese, with German and French versions coming soon. This game is a great tool for workshops, classrooms, and community events, encouraging collaborative learning and strategic thinking about environmental solutions.
NBS cards
For quick and easy access to information, the project offers NBS cards. These interactive cards provide clear and concise details about various Nature-Based Solutions, making complex ideas simple to grasp. Available in English and Portuguese, these cards are useful for educational displays, as a quick reference, or as a helpful addition to discussions about NBS.
Both games are available in ready to print, free PDF’s under the resource section on the project website. https://trans-lighthouses.eu/en/research-&-innovation
Ebook: Communicating for community transformation
Demonstrating its commitment to sharing knowledge, TRANS-lighthouses has published an Ebook titled 'Nature-based Solutions: Transforming local communities through communication'. This book explores the crucial role of effective communication in successfully adopting and implementing NBS at the local level. It's a practical guide for community leaders, environmental advocates, and anyone looking to connect scientific understanding with public action in the field of nature-based solutions.
The Ebook is available in English, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish
https://trans-lighthouses.eu/en/research-&-innovation
Animated videos
Both videos focus on the human dimension of Nature-based Solutions, but from different angles. The first video highlights the importance of early and meaningful community involvement, especially of local stakeholders and people directly affected by environmental challenges, showing how their knowledge and engagement are essential for the long-term success of NbS initiatives.
The second video shifts the focus to young people and our broader relationship with nature, exploring how increasing disconnection from the natural world has real consequences and arguing for participatory, long-term approaches that help children and youth build a sense of belonging to nature, not just occasional contact with it.
Watch the videos on the project’s Youtube channel;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP4l_WCpOk4&t=86s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqLalxkX7Hc
The community website
The community website is a dynamic hub that offers a window into the on-the-ground activities of the communities involved in the project across Europe. It is fed directly by the local communities and shows the practical application of NBS in diverse contexts. By sharing their stories, the platform is a space for collective learning and connection among the various pilot teams and the wider public, ensuring that the project's progress and real-world impact are transparent and accessible to all interested stakeholders.
