NBS HUB Portugal is a national platform dedicated to advancing Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) as a transformative pathway for sustainable, inclusive, and regenerative territorial development. Established within the framework of the European NetworkNature initiative, the HUB connects researchers, public authorities, municipalities, companies, civil society organisations, and citizens who share a common commitment: placing nature at the centre of innovation, governance, and societal wellbeing.

We believe that our biophilic relationship with nature — and nature’s relationship with us — must guide how we design ecosystems of cooperation between institutions, communities, academia, and businesses. Human health, resilience, and prosperity depend on integrated and integrative approaches that recognise ecosystems not merely as resources, but as living systems that sustain life, culture, and economic vitality.

Europe has been at the forefront of developing and implementing Nature-Based Solutions. These solutions protect, regenerate, and sustainably manage ecosystems while contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation, water and food security, biodiversity enhancement, and the creation of healthier and more liveable urban and rural environments. However, achieving meaningful impact requires more than technical innovation — it requires a cognitive and behavioural shift in how we think, govern, and act.

NBS HUB Portugal fosters this transition by serving as a space of encounter, dialogue, and collaborative fertilisation. It promotes the exchange of knowledge, the sharing of best practices, and the development of applied solutions tailored to local and regional contexts. The HUB supports participatory governance models grounded in ethical principles of diversity, inclusion, equity, and human rights, while strengthening access to European and international funding opportunities.

Founded by Portuguese partners of the H2020 URBiNAT project — including GUDA, the Centre for Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra, CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources of the University of Porto, and the University of Coimbra — the HUB brings together leading expertise in participatory design, social innovation, biodiversity research, and sustainable territorial development. Additional partners contribute to expanding the ecosystem and reinforcing national and regional collaboration.

As part of a wider European network of Nature-Based Solutions promoters and developers, NBS HUB Portugal strengthens cooperation at local, regional, and international levels. Our ambition is to build a vibrant community of practice capable of accelerating the implementation of NBS across Portugal — not only to respond to climate and environmental challenges, but to shape a more resilient, inclusive, and regenerative future.