Crafting narratives for a resilient and coherent Trans-European Nature Network

© NaturaConnect

A team of researchers developed the above first set of European positive narratives for nature conservation through consultation with experts in the field. The team analyzed differences and similarities across the three NFF perspectives, focusing on six topics: Nature Protection and Restoration; Forest Ecosystems; Freshwater Ecosystems; Urban Systems; Agriculture, and Energy.

The results consist of three narratives that emphasize the intrinsic value of nature (Nature for Nature), the maximization of instrumental values and services (Nature for Society), and the relational values between nature and people (Nature as Culture). While contrasting perspectives and priorities were highlighted, the study also presents solutions that can be beneficial for both biodiversity conservation and the instrumental and cultural benefits that nature offers to people (NCP – Nature’s Contributions to People). Across the narratives, special attention was paid to the topic of Nature Protection and Restoration. As emerged in Nature for Nature, which focuses on strict nature conservation, “how much land is set aside exclusively for nature conservation was the key aspect for differentiating the three NFF perspectives,” explains Alessandra D’Alessio from Sapienza, one of the lead authors of the manuscript.

Additionally, “depending on the desired Nature Future, the efforts to restore ecosystems may be aimed to nature protection, increased supply of utilitarian NCP, or preservation of nature cultural values,” clarifies Claudia Fornarini from Sapienza, the other lead author of the research.

The development of these narratives represents a step towards revising the widely used set of Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) scenarios, with nature playing a central role alongside current socioeconomic considerations.

“By exploring the relationships between land use and nature conservation, our scenarios provide explicit support to decision makers in achieving the global biodiversity strategy and the EU conservation goals for 2030,” remarks Carlo Rondinini, senior author of the study and Professor of Zoology at Sapienza University.

Piero Visconti, Research Group Leader of the IIASA Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Group and a coauthor of the study, notes "these narratives are meant to be used by scientists and practitioners to align sector specific or location-specific land-use and biodiversity scenarios, visioning studies and sectorial strategies, to systematically designed EU-wide narrative of positive change.”

This alignment will allow for a broader exploration of transformative changes in the use, conservation, and restoration of natural resources, and will help illustrate how diverse opportunity spaces can shape sustainable futures. By presenting these narratives, the authors aim to open discussions on anticipatory governance and encourage a more inclusive and pluralistic approach to fully realize the goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

Adapted from a press release by Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
 

Reference:

D’Alessio, A., Fornarini, C., Fernandez, N., Namasivayam, A.S., Visconti, P., Dertien, J., Hällfors, M., Jung, M., Moreira, F., O’Connor, L., Osti, M., Quintero-Uribe, L.C., Marei Viti, M., Lauta, A., Pereira, H.M., Verburg, P.H., Rondinini, C. (2025). Narratives for Positive Nature Futures in Europe. Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-025-02123-3