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Nature-based Solutions: the Italian network for more resilient cities and territories is strengthened in Bari

NbS Week 2026 of the NbS Italy Hub concludes: research, institutions and local authorities discuss nature-based solutions for tackling climate change impacts and designing more resilient landscapes and cities.

The NbS Week 2026 of the NbS Italy Hub, the national network dedicated to promoting Nature-based Solutions (NbS), has concluded. The event brought together researchers, institutions and local administrations to discuss nature-based solutions aimed at addressing the effects of climate change and designing more resilient cities and territories.

Held in Bari, the NbS Week 2026 of the NbS Italy Hub took place from 6 to 10 July. The Hub’s Annual Meeting, held from 6 to 8 July, brought together researchers, institutional representatives, public administrators, professionals and organisations involved in the development of nature-based solutions to address some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. From 8 to 10 July, the Bootcamp provided a space for discussion and collaboration focused on defining transition pathways towards more resilient and inclusive communities.

Hosted by the University of Bari Aldo Moro and organised in collaboration with the Institute for Terrestrial Ecosystem Research of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRET, coordinator of the Hub), the event represented an important opportunity to discuss strategies aimed at increasing the resilience of cities and territories to climate change impacts, fostering dialogue between scientific research, governance and territorial planning.

The theme chosen for the 2026 edition of the Annual Meeting, “Designing with water: Nature-based Solutions for resilient landscapes and cities”, placed the role of water at the centre of the discussion as a key element in the design of more sustainable urban and territorial systems. On 7 July, experts from universities, research institutions, international organisations, Italian local, regional and national authorities, and European institutions presented updated perspectives on the state of the art of NbS in Italy and Europe.

The main topics addressed included flood risk management and stormwater management, coastal resilience, the role of green infrastructure and urban parks in regulating the water cycle, and the strengthening of regulatory and governance frameworks, with particular attention to the new European standard EN 18140 on NbS and European policies for nature restoration. During the parallel afternoon sessions, participants shared project experiences, case studies and best practices from different Italian contexts, highlighting how NbS represent concrete tools to reduce hydrogeological risks, counter coastal erosion, improve urban quality of life and enhance ecosystem capacity to adapt to climate change.

On 8 July, participants had the opportunity to directly observe examples of NbS implementation in Apulia through a field tour focused on the restoration of coastal dune systems in Marina di Castellaneta (TA) and sustainable stormwater management in peri-urban areas of Martina Franca (TA). The visits demonstrated how collaboration between research, local administrations and territorial planning can translate scientific knowledge into concrete actions capable of generating environmental, social and economic benefits.

“During the event – stated Chiara Baldacchini, University of Tuscia and vice-coordinator of the Hub – the need emerged for a more consistent regulatory framework at regional and local levels regarding the use of nature-based solutions in planning and design processes. At the same time, the lack of adequately trained personnel within local authorities was highlighted. In the coming years, the NbS Italy Hub will work on both fronts, with the specific aim of supporting the implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation. In particular, efforts will be made to involve small municipalities in the Hub’s activities, as they cover most of the national territory and will be at the centre of the event already being planned for next year.”

“The NetworkNature Bootcamp – explained Gregorio Sgrigna from CNR-IRET – transformed these reflections into an operational experience of co-design, creating a space for dialogue among research, the public sector, businesses and civil society to imagine and develop concrete transition pathways towards more resilient and inclusive territories. The participation of international speakers and partners provided an innovative and comprehensive perspective on the topics discussed, encouraging an engaged and participatory debate.”

“NbS Week 2026 – stated Giovanni Sanesi from the University of Bari Aldo Moro – represented an important opportunity to highlight how it is possible to effectively and sustainably address the increasingly dramatic impacts of climate change.”

The NbS Week has therefore strengthened the role of the NbS Italy Hub as a national reference point for the promotion and dissemination of NbS, fostering new collaborations among universities, research institutions, public authorities and local stakeholders, and promoting a shared vision of the strategies needed to accelerate their large-scale adoption.

The materials presented during NbS Week, together with photographs and documentation of the activities, are available on the NbS Italy Hub website, with the aim of enhancing the knowledge shared during the initiative and making it accessible to the scientific community, public decision-makers and professionals in the sector.