This guide offers a holistic overview of three interrelated approaches — “nature’s benefits,” “ecosystem services,” and “nature-based solutions” — and shows how they can be integrated into education, natural resource management, urban and spatial planning, environmental protection, and civic engagement. The course structure presented in the guide is divided into three modules focused on learning basic concepts, applying them through individual projects, and developing an Action Plan using tools such as SWOT analysis and SMART goals.
The manual promotes the formation of a new paradigm in natural resource management based on scientifically sound approaches and interdisciplinary collaboration. It also contains recommendations for communicating more effectively with various stakeholders (from local residents to politicians and businesses). The guide is a flexible set of relevant teaching materials that will help course organisers create their own adapted course on the benefits of nature, ecosystem services, and nature-based solutions.
