Research

Step 1 looks at Europe’s history of rivers, lakes, and wetlands to understand who has benefited from nature over time and how. By comparing past and present landscapes, the project can identify which communities gain from healthy ecosystems and which trade-offs come with changes such as dams or water control structures. This knowledge helps ensure that future nature-based solutions engage the right stakeholders at the right time and balance ecological, social, and economic benefits.

Step 2 investigates how do Europeans value NbS. By running large-scale household surveys across several countries, the project explores people’s awareness, attitudes, and preferences, whether for restoring rivers, conserving wetlands, or balancing costs and benefits. These insights help compare values across Europe and give policymakers clearer guidance for designing NbS that reflect what citizens truly care about.

Step 3 explores how different people, as local communities, businesses, policymakers, experts, and the wider public think about the benefits of NbS. By mapping their “mental models”, the project uncovers where perceptions align or differ, and where misunderstandings might stand in the way of collaboration. These insights help build stronger partnerships and more effective NbS that support both biodiversity and human well-being.

Step 4 looks at how both communities and companies value NbS in Portugal. By combining ecological data with economic analysis, the project will assess the costs and benefits of restoring river corridors and building wetlands, showing how these NbS improve biodiversity, water quality, and human well-being. Insights from this work will guide better investment decisions and policies that balance environmental responsibility with societal needs.

Step 5 explores how Danish residents value the Membranen project in Vejle, a major nature-based solution designed to protect the coast from storm surges while enhancing recreation and well-being. By combining national surveys with an artistic performance that invites audiences to reflect on their relationship with water, the project examines people’s preferences, willingness to support NbS, and how creative experiences can shift awareness and behavior. These findings will inform more sustainable coastal planning and citizen engagement in nature-based solutions.

Step 6 focuses on Lake Balaton, Hungary, where a new shoreline protection design encourages natural reedbeds to grow, protecting the waterfront while boosting biodiversity. Through participatory design and data storytelling, local residents, tourists, fishermen, and designers work together to explore the social and ecological benefits of this innovative NbS. The project also brings these insights to the wider public through creative events like local festival, showing how design can connect communities and ecosystems in more sustainable ways.

Step 7 brings together insights from all parts of the project to create clear recommendations for policymakers and communities on how to plan and evaluate NbS. Through workshops, creative performances, and tangible data experiences, stakeholders explore different ways of assessing NbS, from cost-benefit analysis to more flexible approaches that capture long-term and hard-to-measure values like biodiversity and well-being. The results will guide a more inclusive decisions that balance ecological benefits, economic trade-offs, and community priorities.