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 synergising and enhancing communication approaches and messages across Nature-based Solutions (NbS) projects. If you are not a task force 4 member, but would like to submit to this informal digest, please reach out to hello@networknature.eu. We will get back to you as soon as possible with instructions!
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TF 4 Digest: July 2025
Project Updates
- Horizon Europe project Urban Nature Plans plus (UNP+) has finalised a new policy brief: “Urban Nature Restoration: National-level imperatives under the Nature Restoration Regulation”. The policy brief will be soon available here! Informed by discussions with city staff and policy makers, supported by desk research and policy analysis, and grounded in the practical experiences of cities participating in the project, this brief highlights the key challenges in implementing Article 8 - Restoration of Urban Ecosystems of the Nature Restoration Regulation, and outlines action areas for National Governments to support Local and Regional Governments (LRGs) more effectively. It is intended to provide practical considerations and recommendations to national authorities as they engage with LRGs in developing and implementing their National Restoration Plans, with particular attention to Article 8.
- NICE NbS has just made its NICER software publicly available for further testing and review following a BETA testing round with select users. NICER is a new open-source modelling tool to support planning of Nature-based Solutions for urban water. It helps estimate pollution from land use and assess NBS performance at multiple scales using Excel or QGIS. No coding or GIS expertise is required. Advanced users can run NICER via R-Studio or API. Register and access four modules in Canvas. Don’t forget to provide feedback once you have tested the software! For access to Canvas, contact neil.sang@slu.se.
Upcoming Events
July 2025
Date: 2 July 2025; Location: Online
Join us to explore how road and public transport systems can be adapted to better withstand climate impacts. Learn essential strategies for identifying vulnerabilities, planning effective responses, and improving transport resilience overall. Register here.
Date: 3 July 2025; 3-4:30pm CEST; Location: Online
The webinar will explore how to make nature-based solution education globally inclusive by addressing systemic barriers, valuing local knowledge and creating learning environments that empower underrepresented communities.
Date: 3-4 July 2025; 3 -1:30 pm CEST; Location: European Committee of the Regions, Bruxelles, Belgium
Under the theme Beyond words – a story of trust, communicators, leaders and changemakers will explore the topic of trust in public communication, unfolding like a story in which participants explore solutions to the many challenges across three thematic strands:trust in institutions, trust in technology, trust in communities. Register here.
- NbS Italy Hub Annual Meeting 2025
Date: 9 July 2025; Location: Rome, Italy
This annual gathering will bring together Italian and European stakeholders to exchange knowledge and experiences on mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions. The programme will focus on governance, financing, policy integration, and implementation, with contributions from public authorities, researchers, and practitioners. - NbS Summer School – From Planning to Action
Date: 10–11 July 2025; Location: Politecnico di Milano, Educafè, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milan, Italy
This two-day summer school offers urban planners and public officials practical tools to integrate Nature-based Solutions into ecosystem services assessments and local economic development strategies. Organised by Politecnico di Milano, CNR-IRET, CNRS/LIVE-ENGEES, and ALTAMIRA with the support of NetworkNature, and in collaboration with NbS Italy Hub and the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC). Open to professionals, municipal staff, decision-makers, designers, investors, and young researchers. Download the flyer here. - Aesop Annual Congress
Date: 7-11 July 2025; Location: Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul
This event will explore how planning can address both environmental crises and socio-spatial inequalities in cities and regions. With a focus on spatial justice, ethics, and care, the Congress will foster discussions on how planning can act as a powerful agent of change, reshaping our approach to urban and regional development in times of planetary crisis. Register here. - Adapting Energy Infrastructure by MIP4Adapt
Date: 10 July 2025; Location: Online
Join us for this event where we’ll explore strategies to safeguard energy systems against climate change. Attendees will gain valuable insights from real-world examples, innovative technologies, and policy approaches that ensure a resilient and reliable energy infrastructure. Register here.
September 2025
Date: 16 September 2025; Location: Brussels, Belgium
The 2025 edition of the NetworkNature Annual Event, titled “Choose Nature,” will focus on bridging biodiversity and the economy in a time of pressing global challenges, with Nature-based Solutions at the core. The event will bring together voices from across the public and private sectors to share insights, explore initiatives, and present case studies that connect nature with innovation, finance, and business. Register here!
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NetworkNature Task Force Meeting (invite only)
Date: September 17 2025; Location: Brussels, Belgium - FEAST Summer School
Date: 1-4 September 2025; Location: Ludwigsburg, Germany
Join a dynamic four-day retreat designed for future educators and early-career teachers passionate about reshaping how we teach food, health, and sustainability. This Summer School offers an immersive, hands-on programme exploring food literacy, policy, insecurity, and behaviour change, empowering you to bring food systems education into any classroom.
Register here; spots are limited!
Date: 8-12 September 2025; Location: Seville, Spain
The EUROSOIL is the official meeting of the European Confederation of Soil Science Societies (ECSSS). This is the preliminary list of general topics for EUROSOIL 2025. Additionally, depending on the submitted contributions, specific sessions will be arranged under each broad topic or theme. The organisers will also consider proposals (sessions or workshops) from other organisations and sectors. Register here.
- NetworkNature Science-Policy Dialogue on Finance for NbS (Registration coming soon)
Date: September 15 2025; Location: Brussels, Belgium
October 2025
Date: 5-9 October 2025; Location: Pisa, Italy
The 13th conference of SUITMA (Soils of Urban, Industrial, Traffic, Mining and Military Areas) will focus on “SUITMA from a One Health Perspective”. The event will address SUITMAs as pollutant sinks and sources, tools for soil quality and biodiversity, contributors to ecosystem services, and future challenges including emerging contaminants and war-related pollution. Register here!
Date: 6 October 2025; Location: RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
Join us at the LAND4CLIMATE Mid-Term Forum to explore how nature-based solutions (NbS) can be scaled across Europe. The event brings together experts, policymakers, and practitioners for a day of keynotes, policy roundtables, and hands-on exchanges. Discover insights from front-running regions and connect with the NBS4EU community. Sister projects will also have opportunities to contribute and showcase their work. More details will follow soon. Register here by 31 August.
Date: 7-8 October 2025; Location: Paris, France
This year’s Forum will offer a space for open dialogue and knowledge sharing on the latest developments, addressing current challenges and exploring practical solutions to transform ambition into action during this pivotal decade. The agenda is currently being prepared, with further details and logistics to be shared in the coming months.
Date: 8-10 October 2025; Location: Berlin, Germany
More info coming soon.
Date: 9-15 October 2025; Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The session "Speedy Learning on NbS Finance: Unlocking Investment in Nature-based Solutions", submitted by NetworkNature, has been accepted for inclusion in the official programme of the IUCN Congress 2025 Forum. It will be featured as an onsite session in the Learning Zone.
Selected from nearly 1,000 proposals, the session will provide fast-paced, practical insights into financing mechanisms and investment pathways for Nature-based Solutions, with a focus on enabling implementation at scale. Register here.
Date: 9-15 October 2025; Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Held every four years, the Forum is the world’s largest gathering of nature conservation experts, leaders, and decision-makers. The Congress is structured around three key components: the Forum, the largest knowledge marketplace for conservation and sustainable development; the Exhibition, hosting pavilions, booths and events; and the Members’ Assembly, where key votes shape global conservation and sustainable development policy. Register here.
Date: 12-14 October 2025; Location: Berlin, Germany & Online
The World Health Summit is a leading global forum for health, held annually in Berlin, uniting key actors to drive solutions for better health worldwide. The theme of the 2025 edition is 'Taking Responsibility for Health in a Fragmenting World.’
Date: 13 October 2025; Location: Brussels, Belgium
The European Week of Regions and Cities is a large annual event where cities and regions come together to highlight their role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and implementing EU Cohesion Policy. It also emphasises the vital contribution of local and regional authorities for effective European governance.
Registrations will open mid-July.
Date: 23-24 October; Location: Helsinki, Finland
This summit will gather forward-thinking leaders from the business and finance sectors to discuss how to embed nature and biodiversity into corporate strategies and operations. Stay tuned for more details and registration information. The launch of the forthcoming EC Expert Publication on Transformative Change towards a Nature-Positive Economy, developed under Task Force 3, is included in the official programme. The session will present practical case studies from across Europe to stimulate discussion and showcase concrete business action aligned with nature-positive approaches.
Date: 29-31 October; Location: Bordeaux, France
The Forum will bring together over 4,000 participants from around the world to explore the future of the social and solidarity economy. It features three days of discussions, a day of local discovery tours, and vibrant spaces across the city. With forums, public events, networking, and festive evenings, the event celebrates innovation, cooperation, and community. Register here.
Calls for Proposals (Events)
- LIFE Programme Proposals
Deadline: circa end of September 2025
Calls for Abstracts (Publications)
- Nature Collection Call
Deadline: 30 November 2025
Other Opportunities
- The European Commission has launched a call for applications to join the Expert Group on the Economic and Societal Impact of Research and Innovation (ESIR). This multidisciplinary group advises the Commission on complex research and innovation policy challenges. Selected experts will be appointed for a two-year mandate. Interested applicants can find full details on the Expert Groups Calls for Application. Applications should be submitted to RTD-ESIR@ec.europa.eu by 15 July 2025.
- We would like to inform you that the Gathering Voices of the Youth: Transformative Storytelling Contest deadline has been officially extended to 30 July 2025, with final results to be announced on 15 August 2025.
- Light Reading: Co-Creating Futures - A Practical Guide to Speculation Workshops Connecting Research, Design, and Society