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Naturethon 2025

The second edition of Naturance’s citizen engagement initiative features three hands-on training events in October and November 2025. 

Naturethon Newsletter #2.1
Naturethon Newsletter #2.2
Naturethon Newsletter #2.3

Welcome back, NBS enthusiasts!

After the success of the first editionthe NATURANCE project has launched the second edition of the Naturethon: “Citizens Growing Nature-Based Futures” .  Get inspired by high-profile talks, engage in the discussion with experts, and acquire skills to promote a tangible change in your territory. With the knowledge and insights gained from the training sessions, participants will be guided by facilitators in the design, implementation, and deployment of NbS in your local area, helping shape the vision of a greener, more resilient, and more inclusive future.

At the end of the initiative (December 8 – deadline extended), groups will share their ideas with the Naturethon team: choose your preferred format—text, drawing, video, or any creative medium. The Naturethon team will review all the ideas, giving back operative feedbacks to shape feasible and meaningful actions. Representatives of the three proposals that stand out for innovation, feasibility, and social and environmental impact will be hosted by the project at the upcoming Finance Innovation Festival in Brussels (February 3-5, 2026). 

There, they will have the opportunity to present the key highlights of their submission to an audience of international professionals. This will provide valuable feedback and suggestions for further improvement.

Where to start?

Join a group

Not part of a group? No worries! You can always join others, and individual
participation is also welcome.

Register your group

Become a champion and register your group with our project. This will ensure you’re on our radar for updates, resources, and support.

Submit your idea

Got your ideas clear and ready to share your project? Just go ahead and send it in through this form!

How to start?

No special skills are needed—just a willingness to roll up your sleeves and get involved! Are you ready? 

Seeds of Change

On October 9, 2025, the second edition of the Naturethon initiative kicked off. Luciana Favaro, Climate Pact Ambassador and president of EuCliPa.IT, highlighted the importance of citizen engagement in climate adaptation measures within a European framework, sharing insights and best practices from initiatives such as the PAESC Summer School with high school teachers.

Andrea Staccione, from CMCC, then offered a deep dive into Nature-based Solutions, explaining what they are, their benefits, and how they are applied in practice. The day concluded with a collaborative work session, where participants actively engaged in developing their own ideas and solutions. 

Innovative Tools for Success Stories

On October 28, 2025, NbS experts Marcelo Gerlach from ICLEI Europe showcased the Youth Inclusion Toolkit for Local Authorities, developed through a co-creative process within the NBS EduWorld project. The toolkit offers 12 flexible tools to engage young people in local decision-making — from hackathons and role-playing games to youth councils, participatory mapping, innovative citizen science methods, and activities in “third spaces” such as parks and libraries.
 
Following this, Nicolas Keller, Sustainability Educator at Växtverket, and Ludwig Wahlund Sonesson, Project Manager at the City of Malmö, illustrated how the City of Malmö, Sweden, orchestrated a network of local associations to engage diverse citizen groups in the development of urban NbS, with a focus on community and sustainability.

Financing local NbS for lasting resilience

The third 2025 webinar, held on November 26, offered Naturethon participants an overview of alternative financing systems and best practices for bottom-up NbS implementation, drawing on insights from the Land4Climate and Naturance projects.

Lenka Slavikova (UJEP) presented the NbS Alternative Financing Guide, an interactive resource developed within Land4Climate to help public authorities, NGOs, land managers, and private actors diversify their funding beyond traditional public sources.

Next, Jaroslav Mysiak (CMCC), coordinator of NATURANCE, outlined project results aimed at bridging the gap between finance and nature under changing climate conditions, highlighting financial tools that support a local, collaborative, ecosystem-based approach to strengthen community resilience.