NATURESCAPES
The NATURESCAPES project aims to understand the trade-offs and synergies that are emerging as nature-based solutions are implemented across landscapes and the implications for biodiversity, climate and social justice.
Can nature-based solutions simultaneously address socio-economic challenges, enhance biodiversity, and combat climate change, or do these efforts result in trade-offs across different communities and regions? This question drives a transdisciplinary research initiative involving universities, consultants, and NGOs. The project seeks to explore how innovative NATURESCAPES can create transformative change and lead to a more sustainable future.
The research examines diverse social, cultural, economic, and geographical contexts across 30 Functional Urban Areas (FUAs), with particular focus on 12 case studies from the European Union, Latin America, and the United States. FUAs include not just urban centers but also surrounding rural and coastal areas, providing an opportunity to study the complex interactions between natural assets and nature-based solutions across varied landscapes.
The study investigates how these natural assets and solutions contribute to climate resilience, biodiversity, and community well-being. It also examines how the benefits are distributed socially and spatially, as well as the governance conditions that influence the effectiveness of these solutions.
Through this research, new insights will be gained into the potential for nature-based solutions to deliver widespread benefits while addressing possible trade-offs between regions and communities. These findings aim to support more equitable and effective approaches to sustainability challenges.
NATURESCAPES is funded by the European Commission and runs from 2023 to 2027.
