The final conference of the Biodiversa-funded NICHES project took place online on 24 March 2025. Under the title ‘Bringing forward Nature-based Solutions in Major Cities’, this one-day event reviewed the work of the project and highlighted the progress made in the nature-based transformation of urban water systems.

Over 50 participants and 18 experts discussed how NICHES has contributed to building more resilient and healthier cities by harnessing the power of nature-based solutions (NBS). Together with over 50 project partners, practitioners, scientists and policy makers, 11 presenters and 7 panel panellists discussed how NBS can help address critical urban water challenges such as stormwater runoff, flooding and sewer overflows.

Dr Ulf Stein from Ecologic Institute and Lisette de Senerpont Domis from NIOO-KNAW moderated this insightful event, which brought together renowned experts in the field: Chantal van Ham, Tom Wild, Dagmar Haase, Nikolai Friberg, Isabel Seifert-Dähnn, David Maddox, Rebecca Noebel, Kati Vierikko and Niki Frantzeskaki.

The conference provided a unique platform to facilitate knowledge exchange and strengthen co-operation between stakeholders from different major cities in and outside Europe.

Among the main conclusions: 

• No one solution fits all — Grey and Green infrastructure should be thought together, and solutions must be adjusted to local settings.
• There is more space in cities than we think, where NBS can be implemented  — harbor and river areas, former industrial sites, allotment gardens, etc.
• Stop the degradation of the few natural spots we have in urban settings — Nature protection is the most cost-effective measure of all.
• Use the EU NRR as an opportunity — Overcoming governance fragmentation and competition for space is vital for transitioning to sustainable urban water management.
• Data matters — spatially explicit data, analysis, and community preferences are essential. Social-Ecological-Technical vulnerabilities and risk assessments should form the baseline for evaluating NBS performance.

Many thanks to all participants and contributors for sharing valuable insights!!!

The sessions of the event were recorded and will soon be made publicly available on the project's website.