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NATURVATION · Project

Proven Business Models and Value Tools for Urban Nature-Based Solutions

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Cities know that green roofs, urban parks, and restored wetlands can fight flooding, clean the air, and boost property values — but nobody could reliably put a price tag on those benefits, so the money never showed up. NATURVATION worked across 6 European cities to figure out how to measure what nature in cities is actually worth in euros, and which business and financing models actually get these projects built. Think of it as building the missing business case that turns "nice idea" into "bankable investment." They also mapped out what stops cities and companies from doing this, and designed practical ways around those barriers.

By the numbers
6
European cities where NBS approaches were tested
14
consortium partners across the project
6
countries represented in the consortium
58
total deliverables produced
3
SMEs involved in the consortium
The business problem

What needed solving

Cities and developers want to invest in nature-based solutions — green roofs, urban wetlands, parks — but cannot reliably quantify the financial returns, making it nearly impossible to secure funding or justify the expense to boards and investors. At the same time, existing governance and business models for delivering these projects are fragmented, causing promising initiatives to stall between planning and implementation.

The solution

What was built

The project produced 58 deliverables including assessment approaches for measuring the multiple impacts and values of nature-based solutions, analysis of governance and business/finance models across 6 European cities, and an exhibition demonstrating NBS innovation potential. Core outputs are decision-support tools, replicable processes, and capacity-building recommendations.

Audience

Who needs this

Urban property developers evaluating green infrastructure ROICity governments and municipalities planning climate adaptationESG and green bond fund managers seeking nature-based investment criteriaUrban planning and engineering consultanciesInsurance companies modeling urban flood and heat risk reduction
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Urban real estate and property development
enterprise
Target: Property developers and real estate investment trusts integrating green infrastructure

If you are a property developer struggling to justify green roofs, rain gardens, or urban green spaces to investors — this project developed assessment approaches that quantify the multiple economic, social, and environmental returns of nature-based solutions, tested across 6 European cities. These tools let you build a credible investment case showing returns beyond just aesthetics, covering flood risk reduction, energy savings, and increased property values.

Municipal infrastructure and urban planning consulting
mid-size
Target: Engineering and planning consultancies advising city governments

If you are an urban planning consultancy advising municipalities on climate adaptation and green infrastructure — NATURVATION mapped governance and participation models across 6 cities in 6 countries and identified what works for getting nature-based solutions from concept to construction. Their 58 deliverables include replicable processes and tools that can accelerate your advisory work and reduce project failure risk.

Green finance and impact investing
enterprise
Target: ESG funds and green bond issuers looking for bankable urban nature projects

If you are an impact investor or green bond issuer looking for credible nature-based urban investments — this project identified the most promising business and finance models for nature-based solutions and the systemic barriers that currently block private capital. Their assessment methods give you a due-diligence toolkit to evaluate NBS projects across climate, biodiversity, and economic regeneration metrics.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to use NATURVATION's assessment tools or business models?

The project was publicly funded research (RIA), and its outputs — assessment approaches, governance models, and business model analyses — are available through the project's 58 published deliverables. Licensing costs would depend on whether the consortium or individual partners have commercialized specific tools. Contact the University of Durham coordination team for specific terms.

Can these tools work at industrial or city-wide scale?

NATURVATION was designed for city-scale application and was tested through urban-regional innovation partnerships in 6 different European cities across 6 countries. The assessment approaches were built to capture impacts at the urban and regional level, not just individual sites.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can I license it?

As a Research and Innovation Action coordinated by the University of Durham with 14 consortium partners, IP ownership follows the EU grant agreement terms. Specific tools and methods may be owned by different partners. Based on available project data, the coordination team at Durham would be the first point of contact for licensing discussions.

How does this help with regulatory compliance on climate adaptation?

EU regulations increasingly require cities and developers to address climate adaptation and biodiversity. NATURVATION's assessment approaches provide evidence-based methods to demonstrate compliance and measure the contribution of nature-based solutions to climate resilience, biodiversity, and environmental quality goals.

How long would it take to implement these tools in my organization?

The project ran from November 2016 to May 2021, producing 58 deliverables including assessment methods, governance recommendations, and business model analyses. Based on available project data, the tools were designed for practical adoption, but implementation timelines would depend on your organization's specific context and the maturity of your existing green infrastructure strategy.

Can this integrate with existing urban planning or ESG reporting systems?

NATURVATION's assessment approaches were designed to capture multiple impacts and values of nature-based solutions — economic, social, and environmental — which maps directly onto ESG reporting categories. The project's transdisciplinary approach combining science, social science, and practical expertise suggests the outputs were built for real-world integration rather than purely academic use.

Consortium

Who built it

The 14-partner consortium spans 6 countries (DE, ES, HU, NL, SE, UK) but is heavily academic — 6 universities and 2 research organizations make up more than half the team. Only 1 industrial partner and 3 SMEs participated, giving a low 7% industry ratio. The 5 "other" partners likely include city authorities and NGOs, which makes sense for urban governance research but signals that commercial translation was not the primary focus. For a business looking to adopt these tools, the University of Durham as coordinator is the key entry point, but expect that outputs may need further packaging for commercial use.

How to reach the team

University of Durham (UK) — reach the project coordination team through the university's geography or environmental sciences department

Order a report on this consortiumSee UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

SciTransfer can help you navigate NATURVATION's 58 deliverables and connect you with the right consortium partner for your specific business need — whether that's NBS valuation tools, governance models, or financing strategies.

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