Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TRANS-Lighthouses (More than green - Lighthouses of transformative nature-based solutions for inclusive communities)
Période du rapport: 2023-05-01 au 2024-10-31
TRANS-lighthouses aims to gather evidence on material and immaterial results of NBS in order to rethink and reframe the main elements that compose the complexity of creating social and ecologically just NBS. More than a driving process, the collaborative work on planning and making NBS functional might stimulate a more concerted response towards environmental and climate crises, increasing the commitment of different stakeholders and upscaling their own spheres of action. Adopts a non-linear perspective and opens up space for the adoption of a fluid and organic position that is able to integrate the diversity of subjects, institutions, knowledge(s), practices and values. The socio-politics dimension will be part of the public agenda for NBS towards SYSTEMIC CHANGE. This ambition will be achieved by assessing the benefits and limitations of NBS co-creation that have already been implemented and designed, tested and disseminated economically and socially fairer guidelines for NBS implementation. For this purpose, the project will conduct a thorough assessment, grounded on a transdisciplinary approach and critical analysis.
During the first 18 months, the project TRANS-lighthouses developed five conceptual frameworks. These include work on living knowledge co-production and place-based research, which led to the Conceptual Framework report, the Reference Framework Towards Reciprocal Human-Nature Relationships, and the Reference Framework for Learning to Unlearn. Regarding innovative governance for NBS co-creation, the project produced the Governance Archetypes Framework for NBS. Efforts on community-based communication and citizen science resulted in the Living Framework on Social Mobilisation and Citizen Engagement and the Reflexive Monitoring and Citizen Science Framework. For a more in-depth explanation of these frameworks, see the following section.
The project simultaneously established the Living Knowledge Labs, which aims to bring these conceptual tools into practice and support the co-creation of NBS. Several activities were carried out to establish and formalise these labs, ensuring consistency and collaboration across the pilot sites. A Pilots Forum was also established, with high participation of the pilot coordinators, to strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The lighthouse's typology (urban, rural, coastal and forestry), provides a basis for exploring the diverse contexts, characteristics, and needs of the pilot and assessment sites in relation to co-creating nature-based solutions. It has supported meaningful discussions and critical reflections on participatory culture, governance dynamics, and key societal and environmental challenges in each location.
This typology also helps structure data collection based on broader environmental specificities and enables comparative analysis, not only between pilots of the same typology, but also across different typologies. This analytical approach highlights potential similarities and differences both within and between the different typologies, and in extension explores what these variations mean for the co-creation of nature-based solutions.
Networking and collaboration activities have also been undertaken since the beginning of the project. This includes exchanges with associated partners, promoting knowledge sharing and North–South dialogue, as well as collaboration with sibling projects COEVOLVERS and NATURESCAPES. These interactions have addressed shared challenges, supported scientific discussions, and taken place through joint participation in conferences and workshops. The project is also involved in various NBS Task Forces coordinated by Network Nature, focusing on crucial dimensions of the project such as transformative economies and inclusivity.
In sum, 32 tasks were initiated, 7 tasks have been fully completed, 20 deliverables and 2 milestones have been achieved.
The project simultaneously established the Living Knowledge Labs, which aims to bring these conceptual tools into practice and support the co-creation of NBS. Several activities were carried out to establish and formalise these labs, ensuring consistency and collaboration across the pilot sites. A Pilots Forum was also established, with high participation of the pilot coordinators, to strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The lighthouse's typology (urban, rural, coastal and forestry), provides a basis for exploring the diverse contexts, characteristics, and needs of the pilot and assessment sites in relation to co-creating nature-based solutions. It has supported meaningful discussions and critical reflections on participatory culture, governance dynamics, and key societal and environmental challenges in each location.
This typology also helps structure data collection based on broader environmental specificities and enables comparative analysis, not only between pilots of the same typology, but also across different typologies. This analytical approach highlights potential similarities and differences both within and between the different typologies, and in extension explores what these variations mean for the co-creation of nature-based solutions.
Networking and collaboration activities have also been undertaken since the beginning of the project. This includes exchanges with associated partners, promoting knowledge sharing and North–South dialogue, as well as collaboration with sibling projects COEVOLVERS and NATURESCAPES. These interactions have addressed shared challenges, supported scientific discussions, and taken place through joint participation in conferences and workshops. The project is also involved in various NBS Task Forces coordinated by Network Nature, focusing on crucial dimensions of the project such as transformative economies and inclusivity.
In sum, 32 tasks were initiated, 7 tasks have been fully completed, 20 deliverables and 2 milestones have been achieved.
The conceptual advancements are the most substantial achievement of the TRANS-lighthouses project. Five frameworks have been established during the first 18 months of the project. The frameworks are tools for understanding and guiding the action research work running in the living knowledge labs, aiming to contribute to the scientific bases for the co-creation of inclusive and transformative NBS, including:
The Conceptual Framework NBS Lighthouses for inclusive communities which provides guidelines for LKLs participatory and co-creation processes across four key dimensions - nature, economy, social dimension and governance - introducing refreshed understandings of NBS related to participatory and co-creation approaches: a reference framework towards Reciprocal Human-Nature Relationships in Nature Based Solutions, creating a preliminary typology of NBS practices - anthropocentric, ecocentric, and relational - observed in the TRANS-lighthouse Living Knowledge(s) Labs towards enhancing the understanding of human-nature relationships with the aim of guiding the work on the nature dimension.
A reference framework for learning to unlearn in (transdisciplinary) “Nature-based Solutions” settings, providing conceptual foundations based on different strands of the unlearning literature and connecting it with theories of change related particularly to the field of sustainability transitions; to organise living theory on unlearning by relying on a set of inspirational research webinars; and to develop an experimental praxis for facilitating unlearning as part as the configuration of Living Knowledge Labs (LKL).
A framework of typologies and models of governance, from the perspective of the intensity of participatory and collaborative arrangements for co-creation of NBS, supported by 5 analytical dimensions - social, relational, material, processual, organizational and political-civic.
A reflexive monitoring process applied to citizen science activities, and living knowledge co-creation, supporting its members - including policymakers, planners, and community members - to collaboratively assess and adapt strategies as challenges arise. This method encourages a reflexive mindset, which fosters self-criticism and adaptive learning, allowing participants to turn barriers into opportunities.
Considerable effort has been devoted to aligning these conceptual developments. The goal is to ensure coherence and continuity across frameworks, in order to support the implementation of the Living Knowledge Labs.
The Conceptual Framework NBS Lighthouses for inclusive communities which provides guidelines for LKLs participatory and co-creation processes across four key dimensions - nature, economy, social dimension and governance - introducing refreshed understandings of NBS related to participatory and co-creation approaches: a reference framework towards Reciprocal Human-Nature Relationships in Nature Based Solutions, creating a preliminary typology of NBS practices - anthropocentric, ecocentric, and relational - observed in the TRANS-lighthouse Living Knowledge(s) Labs towards enhancing the understanding of human-nature relationships with the aim of guiding the work on the nature dimension.
A reference framework for learning to unlearn in (transdisciplinary) “Nature-based Solutions” settings, providing conceptual foundations based on different strands of the unlearning literature and connecting it with theories of change related particularly to the field of sustainability transitions; to organise living theory on unlearning by relying on a set of inspirational research webinars; and to develop an experimental praxis for facilitating unlearning as part as the configuration of Living Knowledge Labs (LKL).
A framework of typologies and models of governance, from the perspective of the intensity of participatory and collaborative arrangements for co-creation of NBS, supported by 5 analytical dimensions - social, relational, material, processual, organizational and political-civic.
A reflexive monitoring process applied to citizen science activities, and living knowledge co-creation, supporting its members - including policymakers, planners, and community members - to collaboratively assess and adapt strategies as challenges arise. This method encourages a reflexive mindset, which fosters self-criticism and adaptive learning, allowing participants to turn barriers into opportunities.
Considerable effort has been devoted to aligning these conceptual developments. The goal is to ensure coherence and continuity across frameworks, in order to support the implementation of the Living Knowledge Labs.