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More than green – Lighthouses of transformative nature-based solutions for inclusive communities
The TRANS-lighthouses project aims to understand the strengths and limitations in the design and implementation of nature-based solutions. Based on material and immaterial evidence, it proposes to contribute to rethinking and reframing the main elements that compose the complexity of creating socially and ecologically just solutions.
As a project funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme (grant agreement 101084628), lasting from May 2023 to October 2026 and with a budget 5.9 million euros, TRANS-lighthouses strengthens socio-politics as part of the public agenda for nature-based solutions towards systemic change.
TRANS-lighthouses also integrates a network of “lighthouses” in urban, rural, coastal and forest areas. The “lighthouses” are a metaphor for a set of local governance arrangements and instruments, within multi-stakeholder networks and concerted groups.
They are aimed at improving the contributions of nature-based solutions and achieving, in an integrated way, ecological, social and economic objectives. To this end, new governance models will be tested, as well as approaches and tools for co-creation in small scale but big picture projects that can be upscaled over time.
Accordingly, each lighthouse is composed of living knowledge labs, assessment cases, pilot cases and international associated partners. In these spaces, the interaction of different knowledges, experiences and roles will support the assessment of ongoing solutions and the testing of new ones. In this way, it is intended to prioritise the perspectives of citizens, in dialogue with other interested actors for their co-creation.
The project’s ambition is to become a European reference in terms of socio-political challenges, in order to locally support nature-based projects and solutions. The assessment of the benefits and effects of solutions already developed aims to recognize practices and disseminate more economically and socially fair guidelines for their implementation.
Therefore, the acronym of the project TRANS-lighthouses stands for:
contributing to the full potential of NBS with communities
grounded in assessment and critical analysis
Activist
aiming at socioeconomic and political changes
Networked
acting together across borders, disciplines and sectors
Solutions
multidimensional and nature-based governance
lighthouses
leading research in action
Network – diversity & community of practice
Network of NBS’ lighthouses for inclusive communities, in urban, rural, coastal and forested areas, bringing together a diversity of European and international partners.
Interlinking metaphor – enhancing NBS contributions
Metaphor for a set of local arrangements and instruments grounded on a concerted and networked group of multiple actors committed to enhancing NBS contributions towards interlinked ecological, social and economic targets.
Testing small scale, but big-picture projects
Approach for testing new governance models and co-creation approaches and tools on small scale but big-picture projects that can be upscaled over time.
Approach for testing new governance models and co-creation approaches and tools on small scale but big-picture projects that can be upscaled over time.
Dedicated to assessing ongoing NBS and testing new ones, prioritising the perspectives of citizens and stakeholders for valuing and co-creating NBS.
1. GATHERING transdisciplinary perspectives through North-South community of practice
2. EXPANDING NBS definition through a reflexive framework to recognize diverse forms of knowledge
3. UNDERSTANDING the range of potential and limitations in NBS design and implementation
4. POLITICISING governance for just transition
5. EMBEDDING co-creation processes into governance arrangements
6. GUIDING an engaged and transformative communication
Assessment cases | ||
| Location | Connecting lighthouses | Leading partner |
| Brussels / Belgium | > | Brussels |
| Bologna / Italy | > | Sapienza |
| Troodos / Cyprus | >> | CyI |
| Estarreja / Portugal | > | CME |
| Barcelos / Portugal | >> | CMB |
| Lagoa / Portugal | >> | UAc |
| Regenerative farming network/ Denmark | > | RUC |
| Madrid / Spain | >> | UEx |
| Upper Allgäu / Germany | > | TUM |
| Moisdon-la-Rivière / France | > | NU-CNRS |
> Coastal > Urban > Rural > Forestry
Pilot cases | ||
| Location | Connecting lighthouses | Leading partner |
| Brussels / Belgium | > | Brussels |
| Rome / Italy | > | Sapienza |
| Strovolos / Cyprus | >> | CyI |
| Estarreja / Portugal | > | CME |
| Barcelos / Portugal | >> | CMB |
| Azores / Portugal | >>> | UAc |
| Regenerative farming network/ Denmark | > | RUC |
| Cáceres / Spain | >> | EBR |
> Coastal > Urban > Rural > Forestry
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation under Grant Agreement No. 101084628. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
© 2024 TRANS lighthouses.
