TRANS-Lighthouses
More than green - Lighthouses of transformative nature-based solutions for inclusive communities

Period
May 1, 2023 to October 31, 2026
Duration
42 months
Abstract

The TRANS-lighthouses project aims to understand the strengths and limitations in the design and implementation of nature-based solutions. Based on material and immaterial evidence, it proposes to contribute to rethinking and reframing the main elements that compose the complexity of creating socially and ecologically just solutions. As a project funded by the European Union, lasting from May 2023 to October 2026 and with a budget of almost 6 million euros, TRANS-lighthouses strengthens socio-politics as part of the public agenda for nature-based solutions towards systemic change.

TRANS-lighthouses also integrates a network of “lighthouses” in urban, rural, coastal and forest areas. The “lighthouses” are a metaphor for a set of local governance arrangements and instruments, within multi-stakeholder networks and concerted groups. They are aimed at improving the contributions of nature-based solutions and achieving, in an integrated way, ecological, social and economic objectives. To this end, new governance models will be tested, as well as approaches and tools for co-creation in small scale but big picture projects that can be upscaled over time.

Accordingly, each lighthouse is composed of living knowledge labs, assessment cases, pilot cases and international associated partners. In these spaces, the interaction of different knowledges, experiences and roles will support the assessment of ongoing solutions and the testing of new ones. In this way, it is intended to prioritise the perspectives of citizens, in dialogue with other interested actors for their co-creation.

The consortium of TRANS-lighthouses project comprises research and innovation performing organisations, policy-making institutions and civil society organisations, with 19 European partners from 10 countries. In terms of international cooperation, TRANS-lighthouses also integrates 9 associated  partners from 7 countries in the Americas, Africa and Asia.
 

Outcomes

The project's ambition is to become a European reference in terms of socio-political challenges, in order to locally support nature-based projects and solutions. The assessment of the benefits and effects of solutions already developed aims to recognize practices and disseminate more economically and socially fair guidelines for their implementation.

Therefore, the acronym of the project TRANS-lighthouses stands for:

  • Transformative, aiming to contribute to the full potential of nature-based solutions with communities;
  • Reflexive, being grounded in assessment and critical analysis;
  • Activist, towards socioeconomic and political changes;
  • Networked, acting together across borders, disciplines and sectors;
  • Solutions, for multidimensional and nature-based governance;
  • -lighthouses, leading research in action.
     
Partners

ROSKILDE UNIVERSITET

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN

THE CYPRUS INSTITUTE

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS

NANTES UNIVERSITE

UNIVERSITE GUSTAVE EIFFEL

UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA LA SAPIENZA

UNIVERSIDAD DE EXTREMADURA

UNIVERSIDADE DOS ACORES

ATHINA-EREVNITIKO KENTRO KAINOTOMIAS STIS TECHNOLOGIES TIS PLIROFORIAS, TON EPIKOINONION KAI TIS GNOSIS

ASOCIACION PARA EL IMPULSO DE LAS ECONOMIAS BIOREGIONALES

MUNICIPIO DE BARCELOS

VILLE DE BRUXELLES

INTERNATIONELLT CENTRUM FOR LOKAL DEMOKRATI ICLD

ASSOCIAZIONE VIRACAO & JANGADA APS

KAIROS - COOPERATIVA DE INCUBACAO DE INICIATIVAS DE ECONOMIA SOLIDARIA CRL

MUNICIPIO DE ESTARREJA

 

Associated:

UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

Instituto de Investigaciones G. Germani Facultad de Ciencias Sociales Universidad de Buenos Aires

Periférico trabalhos emergentes

Supervisão para Assuntos de Governo Aberto (SAGA)

Tata Institute of Social Sciences

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM

POLYCOM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa