How nature-based solutions (NbS) can be scaled up in a fair and just way?
FairNature is an international research project that explores how nature-based solutions (NbS) can be scaled up in ways that are not only effective in tackling environmental and social challenges but also fair and just. Nature-based solutions are approaches that simultaneously address issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and human well-being by aligning human activities with natural systems. While they have often shown promising results, their wider implementation can raise questions of justice, as the distribution of benefits and burdens can be uneven among different communities and stakeholders. FairNature focuses on understanding and overcoming these challenges to ensure that scaling up NbS contributes to transformative societal change – advancing climate action and improving biodiversity alongside human well-being.
The FairNature consortium unites eight European universities and research institutes, working closely with a diverse range of stakeholders across six action cases in Belgium, Denmark, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Spain. Alongside ESSRG, project partners include: the Instituut Natuur- en Bosonderzoek (INBO – Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Belgium), HOGENT (Belgium), University of Copenhagen (Denmark), Université Grenoble Alpes (France), Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM-VU, the Netherlands), Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB, Spain), and the Ecologic Institute (Germany). The main outcome of the project will be the ‘FairNature Guide’, a practical framework to support practitioners and policymakers in achieving just scaling of NbS for transformative change.
Most of our tasks are focusing on the Hungarian action case which explores how community gardens can serve as nature-based solutions in Józsefváros, the 8th district of Budapest – one of the city’s most densely populated and highly urbanised neighbourhoods, where access to green space is limited. Through this work we are planning to address issues of environmental justice by co-creating inclusive, accessible green spaces that promote a just scaling of NbS in deprived urban areas.
Beyond ecological benefits, the case study focuses on strengthening nature connectedness and community cohesion. Arts-based methods will be applied to foster dialogue, creativity, and collective ownership of the gardens. Collaboration with the local municipality and existing gardening communities is central to the approach, ensuring both institutional support and grassroots engagement. Through this case, the project seeks to demonstrate how community gardens can bridge social and ecological divides, contributing to healthier, more resilient urban environments.
More on the project can be found on the website: https://fairnatureproject.com/
FairNature is funded under the Biodiversa+ programme, the European Biodiversity Partnership, with support from national funders across Europe and the European Union.