Newsletter no. 2
NATURE-Based Solutions for Demonstrating Climate-Resilient Critical Infrastructure
A success at the IALCCE-NL-LCM Workshop on resilience
Our NATURE-DEMO partners (TNO, DigInnoCent s.r.o., Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology - IZIIS, Universität Rostock) successfully presented two papers at the IALCCE-NL-LCM Workshop 2024 in IJmuiden, Netherlands.
- Improving climate resilience of vulnerable infrastructure through nature-based solutions – Presented by Igor Gjorgjiev, Marija Vitanova, Mohamed Eldessouki, Panagiotis (Panos) Spyridis, Slavko Milevski.
- Mainstreaming innovation for climate resilience: the case of nature-based solutions addressing urban sustainability challenges – Presented by Hade Dorst.
Our partner, TNO, organized the Special Session E2 on Resilience, featuring a panel discussion moderated by Agnieszka Bigaj-van Vliet. The discussion brought together experts from IALCCE-NL and our session speakers to explore innovative approaches to enhancing infrastructure resilience and integrating innovation into practice and organizations.
We are pleased to have contributed to the important discussions on how nature-based solutions (NbS) can drive climate resilience and urban sustainability.
NATURE-DEMO at Conferences
On September 4-5, 2024, the NATURE-DEMO project was presented at the XXXIII International Conference on Fire Protection 2024 in Ostrava, held under the theme “Fire Protection in New Conditions.” This prestigious conference focuses on current challenges and innovations in the field of fire protection and safety.
The NATURE-DEMO project was introduced during a panel discussion where its main goals and benefits were discussed. Topics covered included the use of NbS to increase resilience to climate change and protect critical infrastructure. This was followed by the theme of identifying and analysing NbS that can protect various types of infrastructure and integrate them into digital decision-support tools.
VSB-TUO (VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava) and TUZVO (Technical University in Zvolen) played a key role in presenting this project. Representatives from these universities showcased the project, including practical applications of NbS to enhance resilience to climate change and protect critical infrastructure.
The discussion highlighted the importance of integrating NbS into policies and practices, contributing to sustainable development and increasing community resilience to climate threats. Conference participants had the opportunity to learn about innovative approaches and discuss possibilities for their implementation in various contexts. The NATURE-DEMO project thus gained significant attention and recognition within the professional community.
On the 14th and 15th of October, 2024, the Technical University in Zvolen, Slovakia, organised a scientific demonstration related to the demonstration of wildfire management activities - Advances in Fire and Safety Engineering 2024.
During this conference the general concept of the NATURE-DEMO project was presented by Andrea Majlingova (TUZVO).
The participants of the conference were stakeholders from academia, SMEs, fire protection and firefighting, civil protection as well as forestry and the project logo was implemented among the partners of the conference.
Coordinated Meeting in Austria
The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna - BOKU, had the pleasure of hosting the 3-day in-person NATURE-DEMO Austrian National Meeting from 21st to 23rd October 2024, with all Austrian partners— BOKU, ANRI, and BML—invited to participate. This visit provided an opportunity for the Project Coordinator to engage directly with partner groups, enabling detailed discussions on Work Packages 1 and 2 (WP1 & WP2), as well as a comprehensive review of the Austrian demonstrators:
DEMO1a - Lattenbach Valley, DEMO1b - Wildalpen-Brunntal, DEMO1c - Gschliefgraben.
Discussions encompassed critical aspects, including details of the affected infrastructures in the demonstrators area (such as electrical power lines, land transport networks, and industrial areas), prior activities related to landslides and hydrological monitoring, NbS systems implemented or under evaluation, and methodologies for risk assessment.
To enhance understanding of local conditions, participants were invited on a day trip to DEMO1b - Wildalpen-Brunntal, enabling a closer examination of site-specific characteristics that will guide the future efforts in the framework of NbS development. The 3-day visit in general served to strengthen coordination efforts and ensure alignment on the project's forthcoming objectives and activities.
NbS Course by United Nations
The course “Nature-based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience” by SDG Academy focuses on utilizing NbS to enhance resilience to disasters and climate change. This course is designed for a broad audience, including students, teachers, policymakers, engineers, and entrepreneurs.
It offers deep insights into how natural systems can help protect communities and support their resilience. The course is divided into seven modules, which are available anytime and can be completed at your own pace. Participants will learn how to apply NbS in various contexts, such as urbanization, coastal development, and the expansion of arid areas. The course also emphasizes the importance of green infrastructure as a traditional engineering solutions.
One of the main goals of the course is to demonstrate how NbS can be integrated into policies and practices to reduce risks associated with natural disasters. Participants will gain practical tools and approaches that they can use in their work and daily lives. The course is free, and upon completion, it is possible to obtain a certificate from UNEP, awarded under the
auspices of the United Nations.
This course is an excellent opportunity for anyone who wants to contribute to combating the climate crisis and increasing the resilience of their communities to natural disasters.
Meeting of NATURE-DEMO Project Partners in Santander, Spain
From November 19 to 21, 2024, a meeting of all partners of the NATURE-DEMO project consortium took place in Santander, Spain. This meeting was crucial for evaluating the progress made so far and planning the next steps in the project, which focuses on NbS for climate-resilient infrastructure.
Most of the partners attended the meeting in person, while some joined online via MS Teams. Over the three days, a number of important topics were discussed, including the technical progress of individual work packages, coordination of future activities, and sharing of the latest findings and experiences.
The meeting agenda included the following points:
- November 19: welcome speech, project overview and presentations of progress in workpackages WP1, WP2 and WP6. Meeting of the consortium with members
of the project´s advisory board and discussing their feedback, and a team building social diner. - November 20: Methodology of WP1 and WP2, discussion and Overview of WP3 demonstrators.
- November 21: Workshop on implementing the project´s methodology, Discussion and Summary of the previous days, nextsteps, and closure of the meeting.
Overall, the meeting was very productive and contributed to strengthening the collaboration between project partners.
Stay tuned!
