Nature-positive Futures: Understanding and working with Nature-Based Solutions for Ecosystem Services

Course goals

1. Explain the fundamentals and historical evolution of NBS and ES Connect disciplinary with interdisciplinary knowledge through the four categories of ES and their relevance to NBS in addressing environmental and societal challenges;
2. Connect disciplinary with interdisciplinary knowledge through the four categories of ES and their relevance to NBS in addressing environmental and societal challenges;
3. Evaluate the benefits and challenges associated with NBS in urban and rural settings using the ES framework;
4. Judge trade-offs and synergies between different ES in the planning and management of NBS;
5. Implement practical and organisational skills related to NBS planning and implementation through field excursions and real-world problem analysis exercises related to NBS;
6. Evaluate NBS strategies through effective interdisciplinary team work;
7. Discuss with and explain to various stakeholders the benefits and challenges of NBS.

Content

This course provides a transdisciplinary outlook on the prominent topic of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) through the analytical lens of Ecosystem Services (ES). Information-dense lectures on: the fundaments and history of NBS and ES; NBS function and co-benefit through the lens of ES; trade-offs and synergies between ES from NBS. This course provides an integrative understanding/learning on the different policy perspectives and tools for evaluation and design of NBS.

Lectures provide examples from urban (i.e. urban water management) and rural and coastal NBS, and contains theoretical as well as practical perspectives (invited practitioner lecturers). Group discussions evoke critical thinking and reflexive learning. Understanding will be operationalised through active learning exercises, including a student-led excursion to urban NBS and a field visit to rural NBS. The course links to the prominent concept of “nature-positive” that guides transnational agendas in governments and businesses (e.g. Kunming-Montreal Protocol).