Database of EU research and innovation projects on nature-based solutions
Introduction to the database
As a partner in NetworkNature, Biodiversa+ has expanded the R&I and implementation projects database.
About this database
In 2021, NetworkNature and Biodiversa+ created the NbS projects database to offer insights into where major funding for NbS is allocated at the European level. This tool serves as a vital resource for policymakers, funders, and programmers, facilitating a better understanding of funding trends and enabling a more coordinated approach to NbS R&I investment.
Latest insights
The 2024 update expands the database significantly by:
Adding the latest NbS-focused projects funded by already explored programmers like LIFE, Horizon 2020, Interreg and Biodiversa+.
Incorporating NbS-related projects funded by additional programmes or initiatives, including Horizon Europe, Water4All, the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP), Driving Urban Transition (DUT) and EJP Soil.
To identify NbS-focused projects, an exhaustive process was undertaken, involving strategic keywords selections and detailed abstracts reviews.
To facilitate analysis and database navigation, each selected project was then categorised by:
NbS type
Ecosystems
Approaches
Societal challenges
Across 471 projects spanning from 2011 to 2024, this update highlights several trends:
Biodiversa+ projects encompass 10% of all NbS-focused collected projects.
Ecosystem coverage: Overall, urban ecosystems dominate; however, recent projects show a shift towards multi-environment solutions. Other commonly studied environments include coastal, shelf, and open ocean areas and croplands - which are the two predominantly ecosystems targeted by Biodiversa+ relevant projects.
Adopted approaches: A substantial proportion of projects adopts ecosystem-based approaches. Among these, ecosystem-based agricultural approaches are prominent. Conversely, ecosystem protection approaches are relatively less adopted in the context of NbS, and these projects mainly target marine environments. Biodiversa+ relevant projects mainly adopt ecological restoration and ecosystem-based agricultural management approaches.
Societal challenges: A significant proportion of projects tackles climate resilience, the second most addressed challenge after food security in Biodiversa+ projects
The Vistula river basin covers eastern Poland and accounts for almost 60% (about 183 000 km2) of the countrys surface area. It covers the territory of 11 voivodeships (administrative divisions similar to provinces). This project concerns the basins Pilica river catchment, an…
The general objective of the LIFE Ad'Apto project is to demonstrate that ecosystems and natural coastal habitats should be included in flexible coastal management plans in order to improve climate change adaptation in coastal areas. More specifically, the project aims to:…
Guadeloupe is regularly exposed to extreme weather events. These are expected to get stronger and more frequent with climate change. The Caribbean is home to coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass meadows land and marine ecosystems, which provide essential defense infighting…
The general objective of the LIFE ADAPTA BLUES project is to demonstrate the potential of conserving and restoring European estuaries following an ecosystem-based approach to climate change adaptation, decreasing risks to coastal areas while contributing to climate change…
The link between the provision of key ecosystem services (e.g. soil retention, temperature regulation, pollination) and socio-ecosystems (e.g. mountain Mediterranean scrub, coastal dune forests) in three Mediterranean Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) is well established on the…
The main objective of the LIFE AgroForAdapt project is to promote agroforestry systems for climate change adaptation of the agrarian and forestry sectors in the Mediterranean. The aim is to implement agroforestry systems in areas where they are still generally unknown, such as…
Most of us live in cities, even though cities are not the healthiest places due to poor air quality, noisy surroundings and lack of recreational spaces. Many cities have few green areas and consist of too much ‘concrete jungle’ which makes for a harsh environment for all living…
The Belini IP will be implemented within the Scheldt International River Basin District (IRBD). The population density of this IRBD is among the highest in Europe (over 350 inhabitants/km²), causing significant pressures on the water system (urban wastewater, hydro-morphological…
The POSEIDONE project is aimed at the functional area of the northern Adriatic Sea, from the city of Chioggia (Italy) to the Slovenian coast. The general goal of the project is the promotion of local development by favoring the protection of nature and biodiversity, the…
PrAEctiCe will provide a novel agro-ecology indicator set for East Africa, aimed at helping smallholder farmers in their agro-ecological transition. The project goes beyond the existing indicator frameworks by putting the “concept into action” with a decision support tool for…
The LIFE Biodiv’ paysanne project aims to preserve biodiversity and associated ecosystem services in the Occitanie region by: (i) reducing the threats caused by land use changes on natural and semi-natural habitats and on farmland, over a large network of 277 sites covering 25…
The main objective of the BIORGEST project is to improve the biodiversity of Mediterranean forests. This will be achieved by integrating specific measures and innovative practices into forest planning and management instruments, and through new financing and compensation…
LIFE BioScape has three overall project objectives:
* To restore and maintain three unique ecosystems and their services and to ensure their future preservation, by dealing with three of the largest threats for ESS: eutrophication of the aquatic environment,…
Pressures on natural landscapes due to soybean and cattle ranching have been increasing in Brazil over the last decades. This is largely driven by exports, including to the European Union, making these commodities some of the most important threats to biodiversity and non-timber…
The main objective of LIFE CLIMATE FOREST is to demonstrate a tree-oriented management approach for improving climate resilience of forest ecosystems on sandy soils, which are characteristic of Dutch forests. This improved resilience will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and…
The LIFE CONNECTS projects overall objective is to improve the conservation status of the target species and the ecological status along around 150km of seven target rivers. The specific objectives are to:
* restore connectivity and habitats to regain migratory…
Food and biomass production systems are among the most prominent drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide. Halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity therefore requires transformative change of food and biomass systems, addressing the nexus of agricultural production,…
The main objective of LIFE COTEAUX GASCONS is to restore the ecological continuity of open agro-pastoral ecosystems in the Gascon hills area. This includes five Natura 2000 sites (in full or in part). The area covered by these ecosystems is estimated at more than 30 000 ha, of…
Aquatic urban ecosystems are extremely relevant connectors between people, animals and plants and provide a valuable resource to liaise health and environmental observations with a potential impact on prediction and prevention. In urbanized areas, aquatic ecosystems constitute…
The challenge. With 65% of agricultural land in Africa degraded, the need to effectively scale up restoration is evident. Natural regeneration (NR) is a promising restoration solution that depends on vegetation regrowing from seed or tree stumps, without the need to plant trees…
There is broad societal consensus that the progressive loss of biodiversity and climate change are among the most pressing problems. Biodiversity-friendly (green) land design can promote biodiversity and counter the particular vulnerability of settlement areas to the…
LIFE DESERT-ADAPT aims to demonstrate the positive effect of an integrated ecosystems approach that combines climate change adaptation and mitigation targets with improved socioeconomic development opportunities in areas subjected to land degradation and desertification. It will…
"RECONNECT focuses on the connections and, in particular, the disconnect of biodiversity conservation from other aspects of contemporary landscapes and societies. Fragmentation, contestation, and disconnection can be institutional, ecological, and social. This manifests in…
REDRESS aims to provide a key contribution to the EU commitments towards restoring degraded ecosystems, especially in the deep sea. REDRESS will provide solutions to prioritize future restoration actions, extend deep-sea restoration to previously neglected habitat types, and…
LIFE DUNASs main objective is to improve the resilience of Porto Santo Islands dune ecosystems to the impacts of climate change. The project aims to achieve this through ecosystem-based approaches, nature-based solutions and long-term sustainable use of pre-dune areas. …
Despite the highly differentiated biogeographical areas in CE, urban areas face similar challenges. Growing urban sprawl turns green into grey areas, leaving the urban areas more prone to the adverse effects of extreme weather events and climate change, intensifying the effects…
The objective of the LIFE FORECCAsT project was to provide forest owners and managers of Parc Naturel Régional du Haut Languedoc with the means to build their own management strategy, taking climate change scenarios into consideration, in order to protect territorial forest…
The enhanced delivery of all four River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) in Latvia is necessary to achieve the EU environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), which requires achievement of good ecological and chemical status or good ecological potential…
The LIFE GRASSSERVICE project restored 122 ha of grasslands and established 14 agreements with grassland owners for their long-term management, to maintain grassland biodiversity and to potentially provide biomass resources for biofuel or other alternative uses. The project…
Central European cities are witnessing increasing market pressure for land use due to urbanisation, especially in peri-urban agricultural areas, resulting in biodiversity loss and endangering land fertility and food systems. Parallelly, there is growing demand from citizens for…
The Green valleys project aims to restore ten habitats of conservation importance, including meadows, fens and alluvial forests in Flanders (Belgium) and alkaline fens in Poland. In particular, the project will address habitat fragmentation, eutrophication and drainage.…
The main objectives of the LIFE IGIC (biodiversity) project are to develop a green infrastructure (GI) network in agro-ecosystems and to demonstrate its potential at regional, national and EU level. On the one hand, this GI will reduce habitat fragmentation by reconnecting…
The Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive determine the future of rivers in Austria. Their implementation has led to 2 separate national programmes of measures. These are laid down in the RBMP (River Basin Management Plan) and the FRMP (Flood Risk Management Plan)…
Biodiversity is still in decline in Natura 2000 network sites in the Netherlands, and Natura 2000 sites are heavily influenced by activity in adjacent areas. Threats related to the management of surrounding areas include atmospheric nitrogen deposition, desiccation and…
REST COAST will demonstrate to what extent upscaled coastal restoration can provide a low-carbon adaptation, reducing risks and providing gains in biodiversity for vulnerable coastal ecosystems, such as wetlands or sea grass beds. By overcoming present technical, economic,…
The French strategy for climate change adaptation (2006) is implemented operationally through national plans, in line with the EU strategy on adaptation to climate change. The national plans target the effective adaptation, by 2050, to a regional climate in continental France…
Climate change presents a major threat for the Autonomous Region of the Azores and its development. To face this challenge, in 2014 the regional government commissioned the Azores Regional Programme for Climate Change (PRAC). This followed its approval in 2011 of the Regional…
RESTORE4Cs aims to assess the role of restoration action on wetlands climate change mitigation capacity and a wide range of ecosystem services using an integrative socio-ecological systems approach. Focusing on coastal wetlands across Europe, RESTORE4Cs will deliver standardised…
Restore4Life demonstrates the multiple socio-economic benefits generated by a holistic and transdisciplinary approach for the restoration of freshwater and coastal wetlands in the Danube basin that will contribute to new blue-green infrastructure supporting regional climate…
The losses of marine forests are catastrophic tipping points accelerating the degradation of ecosystem services that are essential for humanity and all species. These services include nursery, shelter and feeding grounds for many species including providers…
RestPoll is a highly transdisciplinary project aiming to provide society with tools to reverse wild pollinator declines and to position Europe as a global leader in pollinator restoration. RestPoll will, together with stakeholders ranging from individual land managers to…
The EUs Water Framework Directive responds to a pressing need to improve water quality across Europe. It commits Member States to meeting the target of "good status" for all waters by 2027. The Pays de la Loire region is characterised by a very dense hydrographic…
The REWET project will facilitate the sustainable restoration and conservation of terrestrial wetlands – freshwater wetlands, peatlands, and floodplains. To do so, REWET draws upon the network of carefully selected seven demonstrators (Open Labs ≥ 2400 ha in total) that cover a…
Within European coastal zones, intertidal areas consisting of soft sediment emerging during each low tide, form complex seascapes covering more than 10 000 km2 along the 35 000 km of the tidal coastline. These habitats provide multiple ecosystem services with great potential to…
The project is taking place in the west and north-west of Ireland, focussing on 24 Natura 2000 sites (SACs) and will target the Annex I Habitats Directive habitat type Blanket bog. The overall status of blanket bog has been assessed as Unfavourable-Bad in both the 2007 and 2013…
Through the Irish Climate Action Plan 2019 (CAP19), the countrys Department of Communication, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) has outlined 183 actions targeted at tackling climate change. The goal is to achieve net zero carbon energy systems for Irish society and in the…
In ten European cities URBACT Local Groups will work out community-based approaches to valorise, measure and account biodiversity and related ecosystem services. The BiodiverCity partners will support and enable communities to plan powerful nature-based solutions, foster pro-…
RURACTIVE aims to foster a just and sustainable transition of rural areas by developing smart, community-led, tailor-made, place-based and inclusive solutions within local Multi-Actor Rural Innovation Ecosystems (RIEs) in 12 pilot area (Dynamos - Ds) in 7 EU, 2 Associated…
NATURELAB will contribute to increased recognition, promotion and use of green and blue spaces as health care providers, by investigating the benefits of nature-based therapies (NBT) to promote well-being and support health prevention & rehabilitation.Around 4000…
The LIFE MarshMeadows aims to establish and demonstrate the intrinsic link between fully-functioning natural ecosystems and economic benefits for local communities. Two major complexes of wetlands will be restored by different means (1 460 hectares in total) in three Natura 2000…
LAND4CLIMATE aims to increase the resilience of landscapes and urban settlements in the continental biogeographical area and beyond by nudging the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS), which are at large-scale still in its infancy. However, there are three reasons for…
Traditional tillage (TT) in woody crops in the Mediterranean environment is a paradigmatic example of the effect of unsustainable management on soil degradation due to erosion and the loss of organic carbon (SOC), nutrients, and biodiversity. The use of cover crops (CC) increases…
The main objective of LIFE MIDMACC is to promote climate change adaptation in marginal mid-mountain areas of Spain, while improving socioeconomic development.The project has the following specific objectives:* develop and implement landscape adaptation in marginal mid-mountain…
The main aim of the project is to contribute to the adaptation to climate change of European mixed sub-humid Mediterranean forests by increasing their resilience, ensuring their conservation and enhancing their productive, environmental and social functions. In particular, the…
* Develop ecosystem-based measures to increase the resilience and stability of forests against fires, and to improve the prevention of wildfires in the project area by creating and/or maintaining strategic areas to help prevent…
LIFE MycoRestore seeks to utilise diverse mycological resources and forest management practices to contribute to the biological resilience of Mediterranean forests. It also aims at generating new income sources and ensuring the stability of forest ecosystem services while…
The LIFE Olivares Vivos project aims to define an innovative model of olive growing with high demonstration value. The model will be agriculturally, economically and socially viable, while contributing to the halt in the loss of biodiversity in the EU by 2020. Specifically the…
The aim is to mitigate the effects of drought, identified as one of the main critical issues facing cross-border territories in the coming years. The project aims to strengthen transboundary water governance and promote actions to counter the negative effects of climate change…