ARCADIA Model Region Funen met Skåne Region from Sweden.
16-17.11.2024
On November 16th and 17th, the Skåne Region from Sweden visited Odense in Southern Denmark. Both regions , as Model Regions, are involved in the ARCADIA project with the aims to stimulate smarter, faster, systemic, and nature-based transformations to resilience at the local and regional levels, seeking to build open co-innovation laboratories to design, test, and foster the adoption of the most promising solutions, and to catalyse impact at scale by stimulating policy and business conditions for transformation across sectors and policies.
Participants shared their latest achievements, ideas, and common challenges while visiting several intriguing nature-based solution projects in both rural and urban areas, led by the local water utility company. They also discussed future implementation strategies, the potential scientific collaborations and start discussing the next study visit in Skåne, during 2025.
ARCADIA at Nordic Nature Based Solutions Conference
01.10.2024
Recently, Sara Gentilini, Haley Kujawa and Marie Helledie Olsen from the Department of Biology here at University of Southern Denmark attended the Nordic Nature-based Solutions Conference in Malmö organized by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
The Conference gathered experts, researchers, and policymakers from across the Nordic region to discuss innovative approaches to addressing climate change. The event focused on how nature based solutions can help mitigate and adapt to climate challenges while promoting environmental sustainability. Various projects from the six Nordic countries were presented, showcasing diverse strategies to overcome societal, cultural, and natural barriers through holistic solutions. Participants emphasized collaboration, interdisciplinary efforts, and the integration of local knowledge to advance climate resilience.
The primary characteristics of nature-based solutions adopted in the Nordic region are:
- Integrated Planning: The solutions often integrate urban planning, agriculture, forestry, and coastal management with nature conservation efforts.
- Community Engagement: Many projects include community involvement to ensure that local knowledge is integrated and to build public support.
- Policy Support: Strong environmental policies and regulations, such as the Nordic Council's initiatives, facilitate the implementation of these natural-based solutions.
The Nordic approach to natural-based solutions emphasizes the synergy between human well-being, economic development, and environmental sustainability, making the region a global leader in demonstrating how nature can be leveraged to address pressing societal challenges effectively.
Gary Banta at Climate Neutrality Conference at SDU Sønderborg
17.09.2024
Yesterday, Gary Banta Head of the Department of Biology attended the annual Climate Neutrality Conference in SDU Sønderborg.
Gary presented some work from Department of Biology's researchers work with aquatic nature-based solutions together with ARCADIA and the Aqua-NbS elite center at SDU Climate Cluster. He presented some of the latest outcomes from ARCADIA project from SDU, Odense Kommune and the Wageningen University developed with the scientific support of Sara Egemose, Paula Canal Vergés, Marie Helledie Olsen, Sara Gentilini, Haley Kujawa and Gary Overvad Frederiksberg from here at the Biology Department at SDU. The main message was about the multiple benefits, but also tradeoffs and considerations in the use of aquatic NbS.
Among the highlights was a panel debate with Sebastian H. Mernild and and others about the status of climate and needed societal change.
Fieldtrip to Vollsmose
23.08.2024
On Wednesday, the ARCADIA project group was on a tour of the green Vollsmose, which has been selected to be the area for the region's first Co-innovation laboratory as a part of ARCADIA.
It was an exciting trip that gave both an insight into the plans for the area and ideas for working with nature-based solutions and blue-green infrastructures – and which of course sent people into the water after tests.
