Here is a message on behalve of http://connectingnature.eu
It is my pleasure to invite you, on behalf the People-Environment Research Group and the Connecting Nature project consortium, to participate in the Horizon 2020 European Dialogue on “Transforming cities, enhancing wellbeing: innovating with nature-based solutions”, to be held in the City of A Coruña (Spain), next May 16-18, 2018. This is a joint initiative of two large-scale European projects Connecting Nature and the support platform Think Nature, and is co-organized by the University of A Coruna (Spain), in collaboration with the Municipality of A Coruna and the Dutch Research Institute for Transitions.
We are preparing an exciting three-days event with a combination of inspirational talks, discussions, sharing of experiences and showcasing activities with content organized around three themes:
1) Sustainable Urbanisation in Cities and Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems;
2) Robust assessment of NbS impacts: creating the evidence base to inform urban policy-making; and
3) Enhancing innovation potential through new governance and funding models for NbS. For more information about the event and registration, click here.
The interactive sessions will provide a platform for cities, SMEs, civil society organisations and the research community to share insights on the challenges and opportunities in using nature-based solutions to tackle environmental, social and health problems European cities face. Several European innovation projects, such as Connecting Nature, Think Nature, Urban GreenUP, GROW GREEN and UNALAB, will showcase their demonstration actions of large-scale design, implementation and evaluation of nature-based solutions. This event will be a unique opportunity for cities to share their experience, learn from each other and discuss the ongoing challenges.
Discussions will be synthesized in a series of principles that will inform a “Roadmap for Action on a reference framework for nature-based solutions implementation in cities”, a document that will inform best practice in the co-design and implementation of nature-based solutions in Europe and beyond.
Although registration has only been open for a few days, places are filling up fast, so if you intend to participate, please go ahead and register as soon as possible. We would very much like you to join us as one of the cities that provide input and experience-based reflection on the topics addressed and we invite you to contribute in three possible ways:
- Poster presentation: we encourage you to present one or several nature-based solutions your city has designed and/or implemented in a poster presentation format (more information about this is attached to this email, as well as a template for poster).
- Join the “Nature–Based Enterprise (NBE) Expo and Speed dating / Pitch Battle”: a selection of pioneer cities, SME's and other stakeholders will showcase their successful experiences and lessons learnt regarding the implementation of NbS.
- Join the sessions as a participant: just come and join the lively interactive sessions and you’re your city a part of this European Dialogue on nature-based solutions!
The event will bring together over 150 delegates, including representatives from the European Commission and other international institutions dealing with the funding, monitoring and evaluation of nature-based solutions, such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the European Investment Bank or the European Environmental Agency. Around 50 European cities, together with public and financial institutions, green businesses, and other leading civil society and media organizations will come together for a lively debate on the diversity of promising urban experiments, in order to exchange their experiences, discuss their challenges and identify synergies for joint pathways to sustainable, resilient and healthy cities in Europe.
We would provide you with more specific details about the agenda and organizing issues upon receiving your response.
Looking forward to hearing from you and hopefully meeting you in the beautiful city of A Coruña!