COEVOLVERS: Coevolutionary approach to unlock the transformative potential of nature-based solutions for more inclusive and resilient communities

"Nature based solutions" are a new policy concept of the European Commission, where potentials of nature are activated to address climate change and its social consequences: one example are ecologically adapted urban kitchen gardens. The project includes seven "Living Labs" in Finland, Spain, Italy, Slovakia, Scotland, Hungary and Estonia, where new approaches to implement such concepts are developed and tested, following the principles of 'co-creation' and 'co-evolution': Co-creation here means that all affected groups are involved in the development and implementation, and Co-Evolution means that institutions and Technology (for Secondary Schools) of humans are considered in interaction with the ecosystem and its living beings, with the aim of involving them equally in the process of co-creation and finding solutions in the result that benefit all living beings. In the case of urban kitchen gardens, for example, the question is how they not only provide vegetables for people, but also promote local biodiversity. To this end, new forms of mutual understanding between human and non-human living environments must be found, including artistic media as well as 'virtual reality' technologies.

The Erfurt subproject, headed by Prof. Dr. Carsten Herrmann-Pillath, Fellow at the Max-Weber-Kolleg, focuses on theoretical questions, especially on the new concept of 'co-evolutionary technology', and accompanies the "Living Labs" in various functions, such as moderating theoretical reflection on the experiences gained. The aim is to present a handbook for the development of co-evolutionary Nature Based Solutions to the Commission at the end.

The overall project is headed by the Natural Resources Institute Finland and has a total funding volume of 5,254,627 euros.