Terraenvision Valencia 2024
Together in search of nature-based solutions to stay within the limits of our planet
Between July 8 and 11, policymakers, NGOs, companies and consultants from 27 countries gathered in Valencia. Together they set up debates, had discussions, joined workshops and exchanged knowledge in search of solutions for the major challenges of our time. Climate change, pressure on food systems, water shortages, wildfires and loss of biodiversity were on the agenda. Solutions based on the natural system were at the root of their exchange.
Success starts with guts
Valencia, the green capital of Europe 2024, was a great and suitable setting for this meeting. The coastal city has had major problems with flooding, has seen a huge population growth and in recent years temperatures regularly hit 400C. The city has adequately intervened to protect itself against the violence of the sea and the Turia River. For example, after a deadly flood in 1957, it was decided to change the course of river. Not longer was the river flowing through the city, but it was transformed into a canal around the city. The old bedding was turned into an elongated city park with sports facilities and walking paths. It is a large biodiverse green ribbon through the city to the coast. The outdated industrial port area has been converted into a spectacular meeting place where beautifully designed buildings house museums. Giuseppe Grezzi, deputy mayor and councilor for sustainable mobility and public space and Natxo Lacomba, Head of the Parks and Gardens Service of Valencia, enthusiastically explained how they have also recently been working on making the city livable under the motto: Valencia, city for the people! For example, a large part of the city has been made car-free, creating space for pedestrians and cyclists and greatly improving air quality. This required administrative guts, but also commitment and cooperation from all kinds of parties. The collaboration top down and bottom up and the ability to look at possibilities from both mobility, health, wellbeing and planetary health has made this possible. This way of looking differently, thinking differently and doing differently was also to be seen in many examples that came forward during the conference.
What, how and with whom
The conference focused on 5 themes: Nature based solutions (NBS) for agriculture and nature; NBS to prevent natural disasters such as flooding, flooding and drought; NBS for urban and industrial areas, measuring processes and the impact of NBS and transfer knowledge to society.
Not only solutions themselves, but also what is needed to deal with the major challenges, to restore degraded areas and how to come to an approach, were the subject of the conference. Not sector wise, but transversally and from different disciplines. A beautiful picture of the state of the transition emerged. It was also nice to see that parties found each other and could learn from each other.
Re-civilization starts with nature.
Fernando Valladares of CSIC[1] kicked off by showing the necessity to redefine our civilization. Forest fires, land degradation and unfair distribution of our resources lead to even more tension in society. After all, the limits of the planet are also the limits of human existence. The forecast is that 35% more water will be needed by 2050 and major water shortages are already expected for the EU by 2070. This requires good management of our water resources and natural resources such as soil. Environmental legislation appears to be insufficient. This legislation is considered more as a recommendation than as binding. The alternatives are doing nothing, autocracy or transition. The first two options are not really recommended. A transition requires a clear narrative. The starting point for this can be the One Health program[2] of the World Health Organization. In this program, healthy ecosystems and human health go hand in hand.
Partnerships for climate challenge
Robert Zougmoré of West Africa CGIAR[3] and Dinesh Dhanush of Clim-eat[4] highlighted the connection between climate change, agriculture and food security. They also underlined the necessity to use NBS to improve both the human and biological situation by minimizing the effects of climate change and to scale up pilots. This requires not only more awareness of NBS, but also formation of (strategic) partnerships, a vision, multiple scale levels, cooperation agreements, and trust. They indicate that it is important to seek connections with linking programs such as the One Health program, with policy, projects and partnerships. And, not to forget, invest in a good data structure. So do not go for competition, but for cooperation, do not go for logo placement, but go for impact and do not remain stuck within your sector, but build partnerships. This with facts, involvement and showing perspectives.
To measure is to know
Gemma Garica-Blanco from Tecnalia research & innovation shared how her company is making strategic plans to implement NBS and make them ready to support the climate transition in society. The role of climate and nature-positive NBS was highlighted by examples of projects integrating climate change into urban planning, including anchoring mechanisms in regions such as the Basque Country, Navarra, Andalusia and Valencia.
In addition, Stéphane Ourevitch, Supervisor of the EU Space Support Office (EUSSO), invited us to use Copernicus data, and explained the applications for which this vast amount of data can be used. Copernicus, the Earth Observation component of the EU Space Program, is a crucial source for improving the design, monitoring and evaluation of NBS, with its extensive free and open data. Copernicus Sentinel data consists of six services, the data from which can be used to support NBS implementation in many different areas.
Climate robust vision
Heleen van den Hombergh of IUCN NL is involved in the National Growth Fund project NL2120. This project is based on a vision drawn up by various experts from WUR. How can a livable and prosperous Netherlands take shape, while taking into account climate change, urbanization, biodiversity, a rising sea level, extreme weather and increasing food production. NBS are at the basis of this. The project not only includes a knowledge program for NBS, but also area-based pilots with various landscape types, where partnerships are used to learn together, and transitions are shaped. This links up with European programs and projects such as Resiriver[5], in which NBS are used to make river systems climate-adaptive, and Rewet[6], aimed at rewetting peatlands to stop peat oxidation and stimulate nature development.
Celia Gouveia from the University of Lisbon shows the effects of climate change on vegetation and the occurrence of forest fires on the Iberian Peninsula. She investigates the role of vegetation and changes in vegetation in the occurrence of forest fires and shows how remote sensing helps to visualize this vegetation (change). The insights can help to promote recovery and reduce vulnerability to fire. A subject that is also becoming increasingly important in the more northern European countries where there is an increase in droughty and hot summers.
Government and company policy
NBS are not just a matter for researchers and land managers. To stimulate the transition, NBS should be given a place in government policy and within business organizations. Wouter Vanneuville of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and Pablo Modernel of Friesland Campina explain this in detail. Wouter shows that implementing NBS in policy is a challenge. NBS are not always the cheapest option. Sometimes there are also trade-offs, for example the requirement of additional space or the fact that the benefits only become visible and profitable in the long term. Therefore, a clear narrative supporting the importance of such solutions, is essential. To make NBS part of policy, knowledge and behavioral change are needed. But that is not all. Also (harmonization in) assessment criteria and, for example, the establishment of minimum safety targets is essential. Many pilots are taking place. It is necessary to bring these pilots to the fore more widely, to scale them up and to deepen and analyze them (scale out, scale up, scale deep). Pablo shows how his organization supports farmers in a pragmatic way, with sustainable dairy production. Here too, the start is a vision: good nutrition, good income for the farmer, good for future generations. Farmers are stimulated to make their practices more sustainable. This is facilitated by measuring product quality and environmental quality, a better price for better quality, a dashboard with examples of measures and data and learning networks of farmers. Consumers receive information via nature organizations and a biodiversity platform to help them make a sustainable choice. It is up to the government to scale up this process and up to the landowners and cooperatives to further implement it. Strengthening and sustainably managing the natural system, in particular soil vitality, is a must. This is a joint responsibility, for companies, farmers, governments and consumers. Campina feels this responsibility and seeks cooperation.
Take home messages
NBS are not technical solutions. However, they do require a great deal of knowledge about and insight into the functioning of natural systems. NBS also require a new perspective on our environment and the courage to work together with other parties. The keynotes emphasized the need to develop visions, form partnerships and step out of your silo. At the same time, the sessions themselves presented many examples of NBS and research results that support the effectiveness of such practices. Examples of soil improvement based on natural processes such as the application of biochar or the application of thin layers of clay to enrich poor soils and permanently increase the organic matter content. Climate adaptation measures in urban areas and their significance for human health. Measures to retain water in natural areas by introducing large wood, causing streams to catch sediment and thereby overflow their banks and wet a larger area. A dashboard for the management of landfills with a role for natural degradation. Very varied, but all with the natural system as a starting point. In the workshop organized by CO2SAND, participants were able to step into the shoes of various stakeholders (a policymaker, NGO, water authority, company, farmer, etc.) and discuss with each other whether they were ready to work together on NBS or whether they did not have sufficient support within their organization, were not sufficiently aware of the risks, had sufficient knowledge and recognized the value of the solution. A good test of how far you are in the transition and to increase mutual understanding among stakeholders. In short, a comprehensive conference with many discussions and inspiration to take home.
Would you like to join this community, be inspired and expand your network? Terraenvision 2025, 8-11 July in Granada.
[1] CSIC | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
[3] Robert B. Zougmoré | CCAFS: CGIAR research program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
[5] Home | ResiRiver (nweurope.eu)
[6] Wetlands restoration to tackle climate change | REWET (rewet-he.eu)