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!
_________________________________
TF 4 Digest: March 2026
Project Updates
Have you noticed anything not quite right on the NetworkNature platform? Let us know here. We are always improving the platform and want your input!
NetworkNature invites you to Join the NbS Business Forum: A Growing Community Driving a Nature‑Positive Economy
TRANS-lighthouses announces multiple interactive tools for collective nature-based learning
Capture Climate Adaptation! DesirMED launches a photo contest on Transformative Climate Adaptation in the Mediterranean region. Photo submission deadline: 20th April. Win a trip to the 1st DesirMED Festival!
The AIM-NBS project supports NetworkNature EU NbS Task Force 2, a HorizonEurope clustering activity. Insights collected through this survey will help shape best practices for future impact evaluation efforts and inform policy recommendations across EU NbS projects. Fill in the form by 4 March.
Upcoming Events
March
European Ocean Days
Date: March 2-6 2026; Location: Brussels, Belgium
The European Ocean Days is a week-long event with a series of dynamic and interconnected sessions focused on key ocean-related themes, all designed to encourage participants to engage across topics and contribute to a shared vision for the prosperity, competitiveness, security and sustainability of our ocean.Train-the-Trainer Workshop to become a multiplier for the VielFalterGarten project
Date: 12 March (German language), 7:30pm - 9pm & 15 March (English language), 5pm - 6:30pm
The training is an important part of the VielFalterGarten project, which promotes greater biodiversity and natural habitats in urban areas. The aim of the project is to impart knowledge, connect people, and initiate concrete measures to protect butterflies and their habitats. As a citizen* science project, all citizens* (people who live in the world!) can participate and thus contribute to the protection of butterflies. Please register via our website.Nature‑based solutions that restore biodiversity and enhance well‑being in European cities
Date: March 16-17 2026; Location: Online
This session explores how the EU Nature Restoration Regulation can spark a new wave of nature-based innovation. Expect inspiring examples of urban restoration, greener mobility, circular water systems, and biodiversity-positive design. Digital tools such as AI, remote sensing and IoT show how NbS can scale and deliver real impact for climate adaptation and well-being. Register here!European NbS Learning Series: Nature-based Solutions implementation and the IUCN Global Standard
Date: March 17 2026; Location: Online (11:00-13:00 CET via zoom)
This online learning event introduces Nature-based Solutions (NbS) implementation and the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, a science-based framework that supports the design, implementation and evaluation of high-quality NbS. The session will also include insights from NBS4Drought and other projects applying the Standard, as well as an overview of ICLEI’s capacity-building work under NetworkNature and UrbanByNature. Register here!International Civil Society Forum on Nature Finance
Date: March 18-19 2026; Location: Belfast, United Kingdom
Hosted by the BIOFIN-EU project, and supported by UKRI NERC, this event aims to highlight and discuss the concerns of civil society with the current mechanisms, strategies and implications for financing nature restoration. The first day will focus on civil society contributions, while the second on policy perspectives. Register here to join the conversation!Urban Future 2026
Date: March 24-27; Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia
NetworkNature is joining a number of Horizon Europe projects at this year’s Urban Future conference! Join us for a session on Arts and Communication, and a session on Finance and Resilience. More details to come soon!Making Nature-based Solutions work: Enabling conditions from practice (Event organised by MIP4Adapt) | Futurium
Date: 26 March; Location: online; 10:00-11:30
This online event brings together regional and local authorities, policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to explore what enables successful implementation of Nature based Solutions (NBS) across Europe.URBACT City Festival
Date: 31 March-1 April; Location: Nicosia, Cyprus
This festival is a flagship European event celebrating cities and the practices that shape urban communities. It brings together around 500 city representatives and urban professionals to exchange knowledge, explore emerging urban trends, and learn from 273 local actions developed within 30 URBACT Action Planning Networks.
April
EcoDaLLi Legacy Event: From Living Labs to Policy and Practice
Date: 28 April; Location: Ruse, Bulgaria
The EcoDaLLi public event will present the Danube and Black Sea Lighthouse of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” to a local audience, highlighting its achievements and, in particular, the results of the EcoDaLLi project. The event will showcase concrete actions and solutions developed by projects funded under the EU Mission Ocean and Waters, demonstrating their impact on regional ecosystems and communities. Register here!
May
Advancing Climate Adaptation through Nature-based Solutions
Date: 3-8 May 2026; Location: Vienna, Austria
We are pleased to invite you to participate in the interdisciplinary session “Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation” at the EGU 2026 conference, taking place in Vienna from 3 to 8 May 2026.World Urban Forum
Date: May 18-20 2026: Location: Baku, Azerbaijan
The theme of WUF13 “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities” will shine a global spotlight on the urgent need to address the global housing crisis and position housing as a driver of inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban development. Register here!Carbon-Smart Urban Green 2026: Co-Carbon Festival
Date: May 20 2026; Location: Helsinki, Finland
The Carbon-Smart Urban Green Festival launches in May with a series of free exhibitions, interactive geocaching activities, and a seminar presenting the latest results of the CO-CARBON project. Hosted at Think Corner, University of Helsinki, and in libraries across Helsinki and Hyvinkää, the festival highlights how urban green spaces contribute to climate-smart cities. The season culminates in the seminar “Where is urban green in climate action?” on May 20, exploring the role of urban nature in advancing cities’ climate goals.NBS Day – More than JUST Nature-based solutions
Date: May 26-29 2026; Location: Reggio Calabria, Italy
NBS Day is a full-day event dedicated to Nature-based Solutions (NBS), bringing together researchers and professionals to discuss innovative approaches to implementing, governing, and mainstreaming NBS.EU Cities Mission Conference 2026: Delivering Europe’s Urban Climate Transition
Date: May 27-29 2026; Torino, Italy
We kindly invite you to save the date and join us for a 2.5 day Cities Mission Conference focused on transitioning from planning to implementation, as Mission Cities enter the critical last four-year sprint to 2030. Mobilising climate finance, deepening strategic partnerships, elevating the role of national networks in the next phase of the Mission are topics that will be central to the discussions - alongside other essentials of climate action.
Please note that this event is invitation-only and places are limited. Cities should express their interest before Monday 16 February to receive an invitation to attend in Torino.
June
European Urban Resilience Form (EURESFO)
Date: June 17-19 2026; Guimarães, Portugal
The 13th European Urban Resilience Forum will be held on 17-19 June 2026 in Guimarães, Portugal. City representatives, experts, and stakeholders from local and regional institutions will convene in the city denominated as European Green Capital for 2026 with the shared goal of advancing strategies, initiatives, and actions on climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, and the strengthening of urban resilience. The focus of the 2026 edition will be on exploring integrated approaches to climate resilience that move beyond adaptation.
September:
CARDIMED Conference 2026
Date: September 21-22 2026; Utrecht, Netherlands
Organised by CARDIMED project in collaboration with Utrecht University and its Pathways to Sustainability programme, the conference will bring together researchers, practitioners, planners, policy makers and artists to explore how urban rivers can be renatured and regenerated to foster climate resilience, biodiversity recovery and social connection. The programme will combine plenary sessions with interactive seed sessions, designed to stimulate emerging ideas and collaborations.
Calls for Proposals (Events)
Soils for Europe Conference
Date: Sept. 7-11 2026; Location: Coimbra, Portugal
Call for session proposals open. Submissions due March 31 2026.CARDIMED Conference 2026
Date: September 21-22 2026; Utrecht, Netherlands
A Call for Seed Sessions is currently open, inviting proposals aligned with three thematic areas: Nature-based Solutions for urban river regeneration; planning, governance and management of renaturing processes; and spatial transformation, politics of space and Rights of Nature. The deadline for submission is 28 March 2026.19th International Conference on Wetland Systems
It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 19th IWA International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control to be held between 13-17 September 2026 in the beautiful city of Chania on the island of Crete in Greece. Submit an abstract now.NbS International Congress
From November 3 to 6, 2026, at Sorbonne University in Paris, France, the Congress (co-hosted by NetworkNature and supported by UNP+) will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, urban leaders, businesses, investors, and civil society actors from around the world. We invite proposals for 2-hour sessions that address the multifaceted challenges of Nature-based Solutions across all ecosystems, sectors, and geographical scales. Submit your proposal by March 30 2026.1st International Conference on Land Degradation and Restoration
Abstract submission and registration open for the event taking place in Valencia, July 20-26 2026. Abstracts due May 31 2026.Call for papers: Beyond Land Use: Designing a Soil-Based Approach in Urban Planning
Event will take place in Paris, 3-4 December 2026. The call for paper is open until April 20 2026.
Calls for Abstracts (Publications)
Nothing to report
Other Opportunities
- Ready to scale nature-based solutions in your city? The Urban ReLeaf Accelerator Programme is now open
Cities and regions can join a growing European community focused on integrating data, digital tools and nature-based solutions into urban planning. Participants will enter the programme as accelerators, gaining access to four online information sessions in spring 2026.