A library turns nature-based solutions into regional reality
Achieving Europe’s climate neutrality and biodiversity goals is not possible with high-level strategies alone. There must also be access to tested, scalable solutions that can be adapted to diverse regional contexts. While nature-based solutions (NbSs) offer a powerful pathway to addressing challenges such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity loss and ecosystem resilience, their application is often hindered by fragmented evidence and difficulties in transferability. Addressing this critical barrier, the EU-funded LandShift(opens in new window) project has launched its Nature-Based Solutions Library(opens in new window), an open-access digital repository showcasing implemented NbS cases across Europe. Developed by Dutch project partner Metabolic Institute, this platform translates analytical research into deployable action, providing regional authorities with the concrete examples needed to inform robust land use strategies.
From concept to concrete implementation
Unlike other databases that often focus on theoretical approaches or early-stage pilots, the library is set apart by its exclusive focus on implemented solutions with proven track records. The platform serves as a practical exploration tool, allowing users to search and filter cases by ecosystem type, specific land use challenge and NbS approach. This structured curation enables planners to easily identify solutions that match their specific planning priorities and territorial needs, whether they are dealing with land degradation, biodiversity loss or urbanisation dynamics. By offering strong European relevance, the library ensures that the showcased solutions align with EU policies and are transferable to various planning contexts. The tool was developed in close collaboration with representatives from LandShift’s five Living Spaces(opens in new window) in France, Greece, Italy, Poland and Ukraine, ensuring it meets the real-world needs of those developing climate-resilient land use solutions. Antoine Coudard, Bioeconomy Lead at Metabolic Institute, emphasises the repository’s usefulness in a recent press release(opens in new window): “The Nature-Based Solutions Library is designed as a practical resource for the five LandShift Living Spaces as they develop their future territorial land-use strategies. It supports the translation of analytical insights into actionable options by providing concrete examples that can be adapted and implemented locally.” This user-centric approach ensures that the platform facilitates evidence-based decision-making and reduces reliance on scattered information sources.
A living tool for sustainable management
The library is designed as an evolving resource, open to regional authorities, land use planners, local stakeholders, researchers, NGOs and community groups. By providing curated, real-world examples, the platform supports more effective discussions and participatory planning processes. Future plans include further integrating the principles of the New European Bauhaus into the library, strengthening the connection between environmental performance, social inclusion and aesthetic quality in land use planning. As Europe strives to meet its target of 310 million tonnes of CO₂ removals through land-based strategies by 2030, the LandShift (Community-Led Creation of Living Spaces in Shifting Landscapes for Climate-Resilient Land Use Management and Supporting the New European Bauhaus) library is as a valuable tool for harnessing the untapped potential of land management. It empowers stakeholders to co-create solutions that balance socio-economic objectives with environmental resilience, turning the vision of a climate-neutral continent into a tangible reality. For more information, please see: LandShift project website(opens in new window)
