From 2 to 6 November 2026, CARDIMED participated in the 1st International Nature-based Solutions Congress in Paris, France, contributing to discussions on urban nature restoration, climate resilience and the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Through the co-organisation of two sessions, the project joined researchers, policymakers and practitioners to explore how NbS can be effectively implemented and monitored in European cities and regions.
Organised by SOLU-BIOD and NetworkNature, the Congress brought together more than 500 participants and combined a Scientific Conference with NetworkNature Week. CARDIMED contributed to both programmes, sharing experiences and strengthening cooperation with other European initiatives working on climate adaptation and nature restoration.
From ambition to action: enabling nature restoration in cities
On 4 November, CARDIMED contributed to the session “Ambition to Action! – Enabling Nature Restoration in Cities”, organised at the Climate Academy as part of the NetworkNature Cities Festival, alongside AdaptationHubs, Commit2Green, REGILIENCE+ and Urban Nature Plans+.
Representatives from NTUA, SEMIDE and Région Sud facilitated Table 3, “From Targets to Action: Implementation & Monitoring”, jointly organised by CARDIMED and Urban Nature Plans+.
The discussion focused on translating the objectives of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) into practical action at local and regional levels. Participants explored the challenges of setting realistic restoration targets, implementing measures and establishing effective monitoring approaches to assess progress and long-term impacts.
Reconnecting cities with nature through the NBS4EU Cluster
During the Scientific Conference, CARDIMED joined forces with its sister projects NATALIE, ARCADIA and DesirMED, under the NBS4EU Cluster, to co-organise the symposium “Reconnecting cities and peri-urban areas with nature: the role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS)”. This joint initiative highlighted the Cluster’s commitment to strengthening collaboration, exchanging knowledge and advancing the implementation of Nature-based Solutions across Europe.
The symposium was jointly organised by SEMIDE and NTUA (CARDIMED), OIEAU (NATALIE), ART-ER (ARCADIA) and CMCC (DesirMED). Following the review of more than 50 submissions, nine contributions were selected for presentation, bringing together different perspectives on urban and peri-urban nature restoration.
CARDIMED was represented through contributions from Fabio Masi (IRIDRA) and Lola Czuckermand (Aix-Marseille University), sharing insights relevant to the implementation and assessment of NbS.
The discussions highlighted several important considerations for advancing urban nature restoration:
- Meeting restoration targets does not automatically guarantee improvements in habitat quality or ecosystem services. Effective monitoring must assess ecological outcomes alongside implementation progress.
- Social inclusion, public perception and accessibility are essential dimensions of successful NbS, complementing ecological indicators.
- Protecting existing urban green spaces is as important as creating new ones, particularly where these spaces already provide valuable environmental and social benefits.
- Municipalities need adequate resources and capacities to engage stakeholders, coordinate implementation and monitor results over time.
Strengthening European collaboration for climate resilience
CARDIMED’s participation in the Congress provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge with other European projects and initiatives, while contributing experiences from its work on Nature-based Solutions across the Mediterranean region.
In particular, the joint symposium demonstrated the value of cooperation within the NBS4EU Cluster, bringing together complementary approaches and experiences from CARDIMED, NATALIE, ARCADIA and DesirMED.
These exchanges contribute to CARDIMED’s broader objective of supporting the implementation, transfer and replication of effective Nature-based Solutions, helping cities and regions strengthen their resilience to climate change.
