Nature-Based Solutions Task Forces

NBS Task Force

Task Force 1: Data and Knowledge Sharing

Task Force 1 is a community for people in the field of data and knowledge sharing. Its overarching purpose is to support delivery of the European Research and Innovation Roadmap for Nature-based Solutions, specifically focussing on the first strategic action area for transdisciplinary research: “Advancing NbS knowledge and data on NbS”.

NBS Task Force

Task Force 2: Integrated Assessment Framework

Task Force 2 will enable all NbS projects funded under Horizon Europe to collaborate on demonstrating the multiple benefits of NbS, using a coherent and integrated assessment framework based on common indicators. The projects develop and implement their own methodologies for assessing effectiveness of NbS within this framework.

NBS Task Force

Task Force 3: Finance and Business Models (for NbS) in a Nature-Positive Economy

Task Force 3 will promote the systemic integration of NbS into sustainable urban and land planning and management, adopting a co-management, co-design, co-development and co-implementation; and create new business opportunities, growth and jobs, and contribute to the development of a green economy, shifting public and private investments from conventional to nature-based or effective combinations of nature/grey solutions to societal challenges.

NBS Task Force

Task Force 4: NbS Communicators

NbS Communicators synergises communication efforts of Horizon-funded nature-based solutions projects’ work, and establishes connections with international actors and the European Union to communicate and disseminate the latest developments in the nature-based solutions field. The Task Force work centres around building avenues for  collaboration in the form of joint messaging, events and communications campaigns to ensure visibility. The Task Force also builds capacity of communicators through knowledge sharing and training.

NBS Task Force

Task Force 5: NbS Education

The Taskforce for NbS Education will cultivate an environmentally conscious and empowered community of educators to develop approaches and material for this developing area. By fostering collaboration, providing resources, and advocating for policy change, the taskforce seeks to transform education into a powerful force for positive environmental action, ensuring a more sustainable and harmonious future.

NBS Task Force

Task Force 6: Co-creation and Governance

Task Force 6 focuses on co-creation for nature-based solutions, which involves engaging citizens and stakeholders in assessing problems and issues, designing nature-based solutions, implementing them and monitoring their impact. The scope of the work of the Task Force extends to urban, peri-urban and rural areas. The Task Force will improve and promote co-creation and co-governance, including these two paradigms in current spatial planning practices for inclusive nature-based regeneration. It aims to co-develop joint guidelines on co-creation of nature-based solutions, promote the concept to the wider audience of stakeholders engaging in NbS, and support the greening of urban and peri-urban areas. TF6 has provided feedback to the Urban Green Plans, as included in the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, and corresponding guidance developed by DG Environment of the European Commission.

There is a growing portfolio of EU Horizon Europe projects that focus on Nature-Based Solutions (NbS). These projects work together on a number of shared topics, including sustainable urban development, social cohesion, public health, water and climate resilience, disaster risk reduction and more. Collaboration between projects is managed through NbS Task Forces. NetworkNature supports and helps to facilitate the various NbS Task Force groups, which can be accessed below.

Find out more about the task forces. 

NbS Task Forces Welcome Package

Summary information about NetworkNature, its pathways for impact and role in supporting the NbS Task Forces can be found in the Welcome Package document - available below. The Welcome Package includes an overview of each Task Force's objectives and key activities, as well as responses to frequently asked questions.

Key outputs from the Task Forces

Each Task Force collaborates on shared outputs or resources. Here is a collection of some of the Key collaborative outputs from the Task Forces.  

 

Task Force 2: Integrated Assessment Framework

 Evaluating the impact of nature-based solutions
This Handbook aims to provide decision-makers with a comprehensive NBS impact assessment framework, and a robust set of indicators and methodologies to assess impacts of nature-based solutions across 12 societal challenge areas.
 

Task Force 3: Finance and Business Models (for NbS) in a Nature-Positive Economy

 The vital role of nature-based solutions in a nature positive economy
This report is a first step in addressing knowledge gaps in the potential economic benefits of Nature-Based Solutions and the challenges facing NatureBased Enterprises

Task Force 4: NbS Communicators

 Introducing Nature-based Solutions – YouTube
A series of short videos providing a general introduction to nature-based solutions 
 

Task Force 6: Co-creation and Governance

Guidelines for co-creation and co-governance of nature-based solutions
This report analyses co-creation and co-governance approaches for Nature Based Solutions

 

NN Labs

NN Labs are four – step open calls that aim to promote and facilitate the development of new activities, initiatives, tools, standards, guidelines, publications, materials, etc in relation to NbS within the NbS Task Forces. These concrete outputs count on the support of the NetworkNature TFs Operational Fund for their implementation. Find out more.

Through NN labs, the following 8 ideas are currently under development. 
 

Fostering NN Hubs and TF Collaboration

 NbS 101 for Hungarian journalists
how to recognize NbS and tell their stories
 
From Planning to Action 
A Summer School on Urban NbS for Professionals
 

Advancing NbS Knowledge

 AIM-NbS  
Advancing Impact Measurement of Nature-based Solutions
 
Co-creating NbS in the context of informal settlements: 
joint lessons with a case in the Global South
 

Advancing NbS tools and data

 An open-source citizen app 
to map freshwater barriers and biodiversity features
 
DSS
The Co-creation – Co-governance Online Decision Support System 
 

Exchange, capacity building and awareness

 Integrating Insurance 
and NbS for Resilience shared dissemination & exploitation activities
 
The NbS Fresco: 
an Educational and Awareness-Raising Tool
 

NetworkNature Digest December 2024

In this Digest highlights key achievements from the Nature-Based Solutions Task Forces, including insights from the recent United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16), updates on new Horizon Europe nature-based solutions projects, a new policy report, and much more.

Read the December 2024 Digest 

Read the March 2024 Digest In the first Digest from the NetworkNature+ project we share an update from the Task Forces

Read the July 2023 Digest featuring a celebration of all of the taskforces’s achievements over the previous three years! 

Read the December 2022 Digest featuring: nature-based solutions updates from the Business and Nature Summit, Global Forum on Technology, Sustainability and Humanity, COP27 and COP15; an Introduction to the WaterLANDS Project; the MERLIN Innovation Awards; Task Force updates, a member profile and much more.

Read the July 2022 Digest featuring: an update from the European Commission; an invitation to the annual NetworkNature event; a task force member profile; individual task force updates; news about collaborative initiatives and more.

Read the December 2021 Digest featuring:  key outcomes and activities of the task forces, profiled members and featured upcoming opportunities.

Taskforce Meeting September 2024 

The NetworkNature Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Task Forces Cluster Meeting took place on September 24th, 2024, in Brussels, Belgium. It brought together more than 100 participants, including members of all NbS Task Forces, representatives of NbS Hubs and the European Commission. The meeting focused on collaboration between the NbS Hubs and NbS TFs, on standardization and on advancing the NN Labs process.

 

Download our meeting report for a summary of the event. 

Taskforce Meeting March 2024 - The NetworkNature Tasks Forces (TFs) Cluster Meeting took place virtually on March the 20th, 2024 and gathered more than 142 participants, from Task Forces members and prospective members, NetworkNature, the European Commission as well as new NbS projects representatives. The focus of the meeting was on standardisation. Download our meeting report.

 

Taskforce Meeting June 2023 - On 7 June 2023 the Taskforce Cluster Meeting brought together more than 85 participants, representing all Taskforces, several EU NbS projects, and stakeholders from NetworkNature and the European Commission (European Research Executive Agency and DG Research & Innovation). Download our meeting report

 

Taskforce Meeting March 2023 - The Horizon 2020 Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) Taskforce Meeting brought together more than 80 participants to network, collaborate and share knowledge. The meeting included interactive group discussions, a panel discussion and a forward-looking session, outlining the objectives and additions of NetworkNature+. Download our meeting report for a summary of the event. 

 

Taskforce Meeting January 2022 - The Horizon 2020 Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) Taskforce Meeting brought together 120 participants to network, collaborate and share knowledge. Download our meeting report for a summary of the event. 

 

Taskforce Meeting September 2022 - On 28 September 2022 in Brussels, the Horizon 2020 Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) Taskforce Meeting brought together 75  participants to network, collaborate and share knowledge.  Download our meeting report for a summary of the event. 

 

Taskforce meeting  May 2021 - The 2nd NetworkNature Taskforces Cluster meeting was held virtually on 31st May 2021. It brought together Taskforce members, NetworkNature, and the European Commission (REA and DG R&I) for an interactive dialogue to take stock of achievements to date and to strengthen synergies and exchange to further increase the impact that the EU nature-based solutions projects create. Download our meeting report for a summary of the event.

 

Taskforce meeting  October 2020 - The first the NetworkNature Taskforce Cluster meeting was held virtually on 27th October 2020. It was organised by NetworkNature, European Commission EASME (now REA) and European Commission DG Research and Innovation. Taskforces discussed their strategic plans and upcoming activities and explored new ideas for future cooperation. New Horizon 2020 nature-based solutions projects introduced themselves. Panellists from different walks shared their perspective on how the Taskforces contribute to generating opportunities for implementing nature-based solutions across Europe.  Download our meeting report for a summary of the event