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Integrating Nature-Based Solutions for a Sustainable Future in Southeastern Europe
Serbia is currently ranked the No. 1 most vulnerable European country when it comes to climate change 1
The SONATA Twinning Project, coordinated by the BioSense Institute from the University of Novi Sad,
Serbia, is taking a transformative step toward aligning with European and international environmental goals. By integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) into natural resource management and land use optimization, SONATA addresses key biodiversity and carbon targets, such as protecting 30% of land by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Supported by a consortium of four high-profile EU institutions, the project contributes to critical policy frameworks, including Natura 2000, the Habitats Directive, the European Green Deal, and the EU’s 2020 Biodiversity Strategy, alongside international commitments like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A Holistic Approach to Natural Resource Management
The SONATA project highlights the promise of NbS as a cost-effective and scalable framework to address environmental challenges, prioritize stakeholder engagement and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
To quote dr Leonard Sandin, one of the key members of the SONATA team: Serbia as other countries are facing a combined climate and biodiversity crisis. It is therefore vital that we implement actions to mitigate climate change, protect biodiversity, and increase human well-being. Nature-based solutions (NbS) address these and other societal challenges through actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems. SONATA is therefore a very timely project that will test these actions in Serbia as NbS work with nature for nature and people.
By focusing on Vojvodina’s intensively used agricultural landscape, SONATA aims to develop a sustainable resource management model that can be replicated across Southeastern Europe, while emphasizing the integration of biodiversity into economic planning and decision-making processes.
Key Objectives
- Foster the adoption of NbS in natural resource management and land use optimization, biodiversity preservation and climate change mitigation.
- Strengthen interdisciplinary skills in big data analytics and technology integration.
- Bridge communication gaps between stakeholders in land use sectors like conservation, agriculture, forestry, and water management.
- Enhance environmental planning to meet EU and global biodiversity and carbon neutrality goals.
Why Nature-based Solutions?
Nature-Based Solutions harness the power of ecosystems to deliver environmental, social, and economic benefits. By, e.g., restoring wetlands, reforesting degraded landscapes, and implementing green infrastructure via strategically planned land use optimization, NbS offers a path to mitigate climate change, enhance biodiversity and food production, and improve community resilience.
Looking Ahead: A Collaborative Pathway to Sustainability
To ensure lasting impact, SONATA fosters collaboration among scientists, policymakers, farmers, and conservationists from land use sector, promoting a shared understanding of how NbS address climate and biodiversity challenges. By integrating cutting-edge data analytics and technology, SONATA sets a benchmark for southeastern Europe in adopting science-driven, inclusive, and effective solutions.
To stay tuned on SONATA’s progress and impact, follow us on our official channels:
- Website: www.sonata-nbs.com
- Instagram: @sonata_heproject
- LinkedIn: SONATA Twinning
- X: Sonata_HE2024
- Facebook: Sonata Twinning
About the SONATA Project
SONATA is a three-year Horizon Twinning Green deal project coordinated by the BioSense Institute, University of Novi Sad, Serbia, in collaboration with leading EU institutions – VITO from Belgium, NINA from Norway, UNIOVI and FIHAC from Spain. These institutions will boost BioSense’s S&T capacity and strengthen research management and co-development with land use multi-actors by fostering knowledge exchange and training for researchers and staff.