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Nature-Based Solutions and Blue Green Infrastructure
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:02:10
Abstract
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are effective means of addressing global societal challenges such as the need for water and food security, disaster risk reduction, and adaptation to climate change. Students are exposed to a variety of topics around NbS and Blue Green Infrastructure, gaining insight into how societies can incorporate ecosystem-based solutions to become more resilient and sustainable.
Objective
Nature-based solutions leverage water resources management to not only provide basic water servicing needs, but also a range of ecosystem services for the benefits of humans and the environment. At the urban and peri-urban level, multi-functional Blue Green Infrastructure solutions (inspired by nature-based concepts) are being developed that involve a broad range of stakeholders and a complex policy environment. The course will provide students with an overarching picture of how Nature-based solutions and Blue Green infrastructure are being used to make societies and cities greener, more resilient, climate-adaptive, more liveable, sustainable, and especially, how water resources management is being leveraged to accomplish this. Students will gain insight into suitable tools and approaches to navigating interactions between relevant stakeholders, hands-on experience through a scenario-based real-world project, a field visit to an urban case study, as well as insights from leading public and private sector experts in Nature-based Solutions and Blue Green Infrastructure.
Content
The course is designed to expose students to different ways of thinking across multiple disciplines, but with a focus on how, as future professionals, they can facilitate and provide tangible solutions that are multi-functional and accepted by a wide array of decision-makers. Selected topics include: (1) understanding how Nature-based solutions and Blue Green Infrastructure can be used to address global societal challenges, (2) understanding the need for different levels of planning in order to design effective solutions and policies that will ensure sustainable development, (3) identifying and understanding the function of suitable infrastructure to complement existing systems, (4) support tools and quantitative approaches for evidence-based performance evaluation, and (5) planning and decision-making around Nature-based solutions.
Resources
Lecture Notes
There is no textbook. Learning materials consist of lectures, videos, and references provided by the instructors on the course Moodle page.
Literature
Literature consists of research papers and journal articles provided by the instructors on the course Moodle page.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC , NDS
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- end-of-semester examination
- Mode
- oral 30 minutes
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 24
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Nature-Based Solutions and Blue Green Infrastructure |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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MAS in Sustainable Water Resources (The Master of Advanced Studies in Sustainable Water Resources is a 12 month full time postgraduate diploma programme. The focus of the programme is on issues of sustainability and water resources in Latin America, with special attention given to the impacts of development and climate change on water resources. The programme combines multidisciplinary coursework with high level research. Sample research topics include: water quality, water quantity, water for agriculture, water for the environment, adaptation to climate change, and integrated water resource management. Language: English. Credit hours: 66 ECTS. For further information please visit: )
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Core Courses (Foundation courses: 12 credits have to be achieved.)
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