Mapping

Nature-based Solutions in France

Mapping Nature-based Solutions Research Projects and Stakeholders in France

Although several initiatives have helped identify stakeholders involved in biodiversity research, research and implementation efforts related to Nature-based Solutions (NbS) remain fragmented. As a result, obtaining a comprehensive overview of the projects, organizations, and initiatives underway in France remains challenging.

The French National Research Program on Nature-based Solutions is conducting a nationwide mapping initiative to identify NbS-related projects, stakeholders, and activities, with the aim of creating a single, evolving, and publicly accessible database.

This mapping initiative includes:

  • Local and national research projects on Nature-based Solutions;
  • Nature-based Solutions implementation projects;
  • Academic and non-academic stakeholders involved in these initiatives.

Led by our operational team, this initiative will improve understanding of the French NbS community, identify research and innovation trends, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and help guide the program’s strategic actions. The mapping will also facilitate engagement with the broader French NbS community and support the ongoing refinement of the program’s strategy.

Contribute to the Mapping

Are you leading a research or implementation project related to Nature-based Solutions?

To help enrich this national mapping initiative, we invite you to register your project by completing our online form. Your contribution will enhance the visibility of existing initiatives, encourage collaboration, and improve knowledge of the French Nature-based Solutions community.

I take part!

Our Approach

The mapping process is carried out in three stages:

1. Identify Key French NbS Stakeholders and Collect Projects

Stakeholders working on the program’s priority challenges—including climate change—are specifically identified to compile existing projects and gather relevant information. This work is conducted in collaboration with partner organizations that have extensive knowledge of Nature-based Solutions projects across France.

Partners involved include the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), the French Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Cerema, the French Ministry for Ecological Transition, CDC Biodiversité, IREX, UPGE and the French Coastal Protection Agency (Conservatoire du littoral).

2. Define the Criteria for Identifying Nature-based Solutions

The projects identified are assessed using the IUCN definition of Nature-based Solutions:

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are actions to protect, sustainably manage, or restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human well-being, biodiversity, and environmental benefits.

Four main criteria are considered:

For each criteria, the level of consideration is assessed using an analytical framework (explicit, implicit, assumed, uncertain, or absent). This assessment enables us to screen projects and determine which initiatives can be classified as Nature-based Solutions.

3. Analyse and Classify the Identified Projects

The information collected is integrated into a relational database built on the classifications used by the main existing biodiversity research databases.

Each project is described using harmonized information, including:

* Chaveriat C., Ghitalla F., Pelegrin F., Fadil F. & Le Roux X. (2011) Base de données nationale des acteurs, structures et projets de recherche sur la biodiversité en France.

Eggermont H., Le Roux X., Heughebaert A., Balian E. & BiodivERsA partners (2017) Base de données informatique européenne des programmes, projets et financements de recherche sur la biodiversité.