About
The Nature-based Solutions for Urban Resilience in the Anthropocene (NATURA) program is a global “network of networks” dedicated to advancing the science, practice, and policy of nature-based solutions (NbS) for cities.
Initially funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation’s AccelNet program, NATURA connects researchers, practitioners, and policymakers across Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas to strengthen knowledge exchange and support urban resilience and NbS. Since 2019, NATURA has led multiple programs to advance both the science and practice of NbS globally.
Learn more about the NATURA Global Roadmap for Urban Nature-based Solutions.
Programs
Thematic Working Groups
Ten interdisciplinary groups addressing critical areas such as ecological resilience, urban informality, governance, and design for justice, producing conceptual frameworks, comparative analyses, and shared methods.
Global Convenings and Knowledge Exchange
Annual all-hands meetings (virtual and in-person, 2020–2025), monthly webinars, and conference participation to share research and foster collaboration.
Early-Career Network and Fellowships
Ten interdisciplinary groups addressing critical areas such as ecological resilience, urban informality, governance, and design for justice, producing conceptual frameworks, comparative analyses, and shared methods.
Policy Engagement
Contributions to national and international science-policy processes, including briefings and participation in global forums.
Global Roadmap for Urban NbS
A major synthesis initiative bringing together 80+ researchers across seven regions to assess over 1,000+ publications and 150 case studies, identifying pathways to scale NbS globally.
Why NATURA?
NATURA is distinct in combining global scientific collaboration with a strong focus on implementation and applied impact in the field of NbS.
Unlike networks centered primarily on exchange or advocacy, NATURA brings together researchers, practitioners, and partners across regions to co-develop research, methods, and practical approaches that can be tested, refined, and applied across diverse urban contexts. This interdisciplinary model creates a platform for shared frameworks, comparative learning, and coordinated action rather than isolated efforts–broadening participation and strengthening global knowledge exchange.
This kind of model is especially needed now. More than half of the world’s population lives in cities, and the UN projects this will rise to 68% by 2050, adding another 2.5 billion urban residents, with most growth in Asia and Africa. At the same time, IPBES estimates that around 1 million species are threatened with extinction, while the IPCC finds that climate risks to people and assets in cities have already increased. 
In the context of accelerating risks, an independent, globally distributed model matters because urban climate and biodiversity challenges are interconnected, unevenly experienced, and not confined by national or disciplinary boundaries. NATURA creates this platform for communities, helping ensure that solutions are informed by diverse contexts, shaped by real implementation needs, and capable of producing durable, scalable, and policy-relevant outcomes.