NatureScape Mid-Term Project Meeting in Lublin

On 9–10 September 2026, the Mid-Term Project Meeting of the international NatureScape project was held in Lublin. The project is implemented under the Biodiversa+ 2023–2024 BiodivNBS programme, funded by the National Science Centre (NCN) and co-funded by the European Union, with the University of Life Sciences in Lublin (ULSL) as one of the project partners. The Polish research team is led by Dr hab. Barbara Sowińska-Świerkosz, Associate Professor at ULSL, from the Department of Hydrobiology and Ecosystem Protection.

The NatureScape project – “Fostering Urban Transformation for Environmental Quality and Social Well-being through Nature-Based Solutions” is implemented by an international consortium of seven institutions. The project is coordinated by Stiftelsen NILU – The Climate and Environmental Research Institute (NILU) in Kjeller, Norway. The consortium also includes Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences (OST) in St. Gallen, University College Dublin (UCD), Lisbon Energy and Environment Agency (Lisboa E-Nova), Baltic Studies Centre (BSC) in Riga, and Politecnico di Milano (Polimi).

The meeting brought together 15 representatives of all project partners. The main objectives of the two-day meeting were to present the research carried out during the first half of the project, discuss upcoming activities, and exchange experiences related to stakeholder engagement in the seven partner cities.

A particular focus of the meeting was placed on activities carried out within the individual Urban Transformation Labs (T-Labs), which constitute an important component of the NatureScape project. The T-Labs are being implemented in seven European cities: Oslo, St. Gallen, Dublin, Lublin, Lisbon, Milan and Riga.

The Polish T-Lab is led by the University of Life Sciences in Lublin in cooperation with the City of Lublin and UrbanLab Lublin. In Lublin, the research focuses primarily on rain gardens, with particular attention to assessing their effectiveness and exploring aspects related to their long-term management.

The first day of the meeting was held in the Collegiate Hall of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. During the sessions, the partners presented research progress and stakeholder engagement activities carried out within all T-Labs. The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss challenges related to the implementation, functioning and long-term maintenance of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) in different socio-ecological contexts.

The second day of the meeting was hosted by UrbanLab Lublin, highlighting the importance of cooperation between the academic community, local government and local stakeholders in the process of urban transformation.

An integral part of the meeting was a field session, during which participants visited selected rain gardens implemented in Lublin. The participants also had an opportunity to explore citizen science activities. In John Paul II Park, they tested an application designed to engage residents in mapping accessibility issues in urban green spaces. The programme also included a guided tour of Lublin, allowing international project partners to gain a better understanding of the spatial, natural and cultural context of the city in which one of the seven NatureScape T-Labs is being implemented.

Project website:
NatureScape project website

More information about activities carried out within the Polish T-Lab is available on the website of the City of Lublin:
Lublin engages in pro-environmental activities – information about the Polish NatureScape T-Lab

This meeting was financed by the project “Fostering Urban Transformation for Environmental Quality and Social Well-being through Nature-Based Solutions”  No. UMO-2024/06/Y/ST10/00129, funded by the National Science Center and co-funded by the European Commission under the Biodiversa+ partnership (GA No. 101052342)