Nature Based Metropolitan Solutions

Week 1: Introduction
General introduction to the course, the problem area and nature-based solutions. Challenge your ‘relational thinking’ and learn about the potential of nature-based metropolitan solutions.

Week 2, 3 and 4: Three elements of NBS

1. Service design Any innovation such as a NBS is subject to governance. Learn how policies in your region limit or can facilitate and maintain NBS by investigating synergies between stakeholders.
2. Spatial design NBS have a spatial dimension. Master the spatial application by exploring the multi-scalarity and site specificity of NBS through an analysis of your surroundings and local environment.
3. Business model Eventually NBS include a business model to harvest its benefits. You will study environmental economics and develop the tools to assess and evaluate the range of benefits provided by ecosystem services to society and the environment.

Week 5: Implementation
This is where service design, spatial design and the business model meet and become operational in time. Discover the synchronization of the three elements, their temporal dimension and their multifunctionality in short-term, mid-term and long-term scenarios.

Week 6: Upscaling
The upscaling of strategies to the regional level as well as city-to-city knowledge transfer is key for understanding and mainstreaming NBS. A final practical assignment aims at developing a critical approach towards the issues, theories and contexts using the lessons learned in the course.