Taking a Leading Role on Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a leading role and it is a hub of three newly started EU-funded projects on nature-based solutions. The capacity and potential of SLU in the field is enormous, says Professor Kes McCormick in a conversation with Harald Klein at the SLU Think Tank Movium.

Hi Kes McCormick! You are relatively new at the Department of People and Society at SLU. What is your background?

With a background in political science and environmental science, and 25 years of academic and management experience, I engage in a combination of research, education and collaboration activities on sustainability, business, innovation and governance. I started at SLU as a Professor in Business Development and Sustainable Innovation in April 2023. I have worked at Lund University for some 20 years at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), and I am still connected to this institute, which is great to have that extended network between SLU and Lund University.

You are part of the Business Management subject group. What is your role?

I am coordinating the subject group on Business Management. We are a diverse and lively team of over 30 people working on business models, value chains and innovation systems in the context of sustainable development. The subject group develops knowledge and increases awareness of economically, socially and ecologically sustainable operations and systems in the green sector. We engage with entrepreneurship, leadership and governance across agriculture, forestry and horticulture as well as urban and rural landscapes.

You are part of three newly started EU-funded projects on nature-based solutions, called Naturescapes, ARCADIA and UGPplus. What is the role of SLU in the projects?

Yes, it is exciting with three new European financed projects on nature-based solutions that all started recently. SLU has a leading role in all three projects. In Naturescapes, we are deeply engaged in the communications and training elements, including building a Massive Open Online Course. In ARCADIA, we are responsible for leading the research around governance and financing of nature-based solutions. And in UGPplus, we are working on designing and implementing a capacity building program on urban greening practices.

• Naturescapes — Nature-based solutions for climate resilient, nature positive and socially just communities in diverse landscapes: The focus of the project is on naturescapes as an assemblage of nature-based solutions within a landscape whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and societal factors. Project coordinator: Harriet Bulkeley, Utrecht University, Netherlands.
• ARCADIA — Transformative climate resilience by nature-based solutions in the continental bio-geographical region: The aim of the project is to galvanise transformative adaptation using nature-based solutions across European regions and provide support in designing robust regional blue-green infrastructure networks. Project coordinator: Arianna Cecchi, ART-ER, Italy.
• UGPplus — Enhanced Urban Greening Plans for Biodiversity Mainstreaming in Society: The project is all about Urban Greening Plans as a forward-looking, systemic, integrated, and inclusive planning framework capable of realising lasting impacts in bending the curve on biodiversity loss. Project coordinator: Alessandro Deserti, Politecnico di Milano, Italy.

What role do you think SLU is able to play in the development of knowledge around nature-based solutions?

SLU is positioned to take a leading role on nature-based solutions in Sweden, and in European projects and activities. SLU has a long history of working on agriculture, forestry, water and landscapes as well as the interconnections between urban and rural contexts. The potential for SLU to provide both detailed knowledge and expertise on nature-based solutions in practice as well as governance and management insights and approaches for nature-based solutions is enormous.