Connecting Nature
Connecting Nature
Project overview
This collaboration resulted in the co-produced Connecting Nature Framework, a Framework to support cities globally in scaling nature-based solution implementation.
- Nature-based solutions represent mechanisms to restore nature back to our landscapes that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits to communities.
- In urban areas, nature-based solutions can represent solutions to many of the problems of urbanization (e.g. flooding, heat stress, poor air quality, poor health & wellbeing).
- Whilst nature-based solutions are gaining traction in policy and practice, numerous barriers still stand in the way preventing them from being mainstreamed globally.
- The Connecting Nature Project worked with cities across Europe, and globally to unlock barriers to the mainstreaming of nature-based solutions.

In the SRI we worked directly with 'Front-Runner Cities' Glasgow (UK), Genk (Belgium), and Poznań (Poland) to explore the opportunities and challenges involved in implementing city-wide nature-based solution exemplars. The Framework is now being rolled out through a series of UrbanByNature Hubs across the globe (Brazil, China, South Korea, Caucasus, Spain, Scotland) providing opportunities for cities to engage with the Framework and share their experiences.
Project leads
- Stuart Connop
- Caroline Nash
- Pauline Georgiou
- Paula Vandergert
- Sam Jelliman
- Joseph Sanchez
- Project lead: Siobhan McQuaid (Trinity College Dublin)