What exactly are “Nature-Based solutions” and how did they so recently become in vogue as strategies to address climate and ecological breakdown?

Could Nature-Based solutions be the way forward? If so, how can they help our cities, agriculture, water systems and natural areas become climate-proof?

How can they address the economic and political drivers of ecological loss and damage?

What are the dangers, challenges and opportunities of Nature-Based solutions?

IMDO puts research in the spotlight and invites academics and policymakers to jointly look ahead.

Programme

14h00: Welcome
14h10: Key note speaker: “Nature based solutions: towards a Forest City” Cecil Konijnendijk (honorary professor, University of British Colombia)
15h00: Research presentations and Q&A on ‘financing, protecting and valuing nature’

– Nature Smart Cities: A business model for greener cities (Wito Van Oijstaeijen)
– Innofins: financing blue green measures (dr. Sylvie Van Damme)
– ePEStemology: Assessing the power asymmetries and value frameworks underpinning payments for ecosystem services (PES) (prof. dr. Gert Van Hecken)

15h40: Pitches poster presentations
16h00: High level panel on governance and implementation of nature based solutions with:

– Bernard De Potter (Administrator-General Flanders Environment Agency – VMM)
– Cathy Berx (Governor Province of Antwerp)
– Ignace Schops (Chair BBL Flemish umbrella organization for environmental NGO’s and director National Park Hoge Kempen)
– Tom Coppens (Professor urban development and vice-dean faculty of design sciences, UAntwerp)

16h45: Formal closure
17h00: Reception

Practical

Location: City Campus, Klooster van de Grauwzusters, Lange Sint-Annastraat 7, 2000 Antwerp

Time: Tuesday May 16th 2023, 14h-18h

In cooperation with INNOFINS and supported by FWO

Register here