ASSIGNMENT 1

Due Monday 12th 2pm EST - 8pm CET

Please add below

●​ Your name
●​ 3 reflections/comments/ideas about points of interest from the past week.

Christoph Schneider

• For me, this was the first time I learned about the economic efficiency of Nature-based
Solutions (NbS). Their performance is impressive, even though not all benefits are fully
accounted for. Given that their advantages outweigh those of alternative options, the remaining
question is why NbS are not more widely implemented. One explanation that was already
mentioned is the lack of private funding. However, I wonder whether this is the only hindrance. I
would assume that current practices in project implementation and governance also play a
crucial role. Changing established governance practices, I would argue, requires a shift in the
mindset of stakeholders and decision-makers, which leads me to my second point.

• I participated in a research project that focuses on the implementation of NbS in European

cities. One of the pilot cities is Cologne. As a historically grown city and in light of projected
increases in heavy rainfall events, the sewage system requires refurbishment. This entails high
costs for both the sewage system provider and homeowners, who would also face long-term
inconveniences such as road closures. To address this, the sewage system provider designed a
project aimed at informing homeowners about how NbS could be integrated on their properties,
thereby providing private benefits while potentially avoiding the need for extensive sewage
system refurbishment. A relatively wealthy borough with a high level of homeownership was
selected as the pilot area. However, the kickoff event had very low attendance, and even the
few participants were reluctant to invest financially, despite subsidies offered at the federal,
state, and municipal levels. I believe this illustrates one of the core challenges of private
funding. Within the prevailing mindset, urban areas are perceived as separate from nature and
primarily human-made. However, future challenges require a paradigm shift toward reintegrating
nature into urban environments.

• Lastly, I would like to express my anticipation and excitement regarding the upcoming lectures
and discussions with my fellow students. Honestly, I did not expect such a diversity of academic
backgrounds and fields of study. In my current position as a student assistant, I work within an
interdisciplinary consortium, which is both inspiring and highly challenging, as Mrs. Vicarelli
briefly mentioned. While discussion rounds do not achieve the same depth of interaction as
project-based collaboration, they nonetheless reveal differing perspectives and approaches
shaped by distinct scientific backgrounds. In this sense, these discussions capture the inspiring
aspects of interdisciplinarity while largely avoiding its time- and resource-intensive demands.
Hazen Emerson

-​ I was really struck by the diversity of the participants in and contributors to this
years’ winter school, and the wide variety of backgrounds that people are bringing
to this experience. As someone who majored in sociocultural anthropology in
undergrad, and am now studying urban planning, I have had limited exposure to
fields like economics and geography, so I think it will be great for me to get to know
and hear from other participants who have different focus areas from my own. As
has already been mentioned in the introductory meeting, sustainable solutions have
to be context specific and they don’t work if different fields are siloed, so this
diverse collaboration feels really important!

-​ I found learning about the distinction between use versus non-use economic value
in the context of sustainability efforts to be very useful. It is important for me in the
future, hopefully as an urban planner, to consider not only benefits of initiatives that
are easy to measure monetarily, but also those that are trickier to measure.
Especially when it comes to planning for making cities more sustainable, arguments
for why this planning is important can not just center around immediate payout, but
also long-term benefits that reach out to future generations. I hope we discuss in
more detail the ways that policy makers and planners can promote and push for
nature based solutions, both when it comes to the language we use and the data we
should collect.

-​ As the program continues over the next two weeks, I am interested in talking more
about different types of nature-based solutions to addressing climate change, as I
hope to use what I learn to help inform my involvement in sustainability efforts in
and around Boston going forward. I am particularly interested in learning about the
pros and cons of nature-based solutions that involve protecting coastal
communities from flooding, as well as the economic considerations involved in NbS
to help ensure they don’t lead to increased costs for residents in an area in the
future (i.e. how can we avoid rising costs for renters living near a new protected
open space?).

Andrew Laquerre
-​ I’m looking forward to establishing relationships with others in my field and exploring how
their interests, research, and work relates to mine. Peers from around the world and
 locally will provide interesting and thoughtful conversations that help create tangible
ideas with globally informed values.
-​ I was particularly interested in the final conversation between classmates and the
professor that took place. Discussion of funding mechanisms and strategies always
inters

Josi Bregulla

-​ I was thinking about how often coral reefs (in my study programme) are used as
examples in discussions on insurance and financial instruments for nature, while other
ecosystems, such as forests, are mentioned much less. Forests provide a wide range of
services that are equally relevant for risk reduction and resilience, yet they seem to be
less present in investment-oriented approaches when it comes to the presentation of it in
class. This made me reflect on whether this difference is linked to how visible or easily
quantifiable these ecosystem services are. So basically, I am wondering whether this is
because their benefits are harder to isolate, quantify, or communicate, or because they
do not fit as neatly into existing financial instruments.

-​ I was also thinking about the relationship between nature and the economy. While it is
commonly acknowledged that economic systems depend on functioning ecosystems,
this dependency does not (always) seem to be a central focus for investors. Ecosystem
valuation is often presented as a way to address this gap, but I was reflecting on how far
valuation alone can actually influence investment decisions, particularly from the private
sector. While valuation is often framed as a way to make nature visible to investors, I am
not fully convinced that assigning monetary values alone is enough to trigger substantial
private investment in Nature-based Solutions or Ecosystem Services/Nature’s
Contribution to Peoples.

-​ Finally, I was thinking about how economic benefits are often communicated in
assessments of Nature-based Solutions. The focus tends to be on overall or cumulative
benefits, while the distribution of these benefits receives less attention. In some cases,
economic gains may be concentrated among a small number of actors, which may
shape how attractive such solutions appear to different investors. This raises broader
reflections on whether increasing private investment in Nature-based Solutions requires
not only valuation, but also clearer narratives around incentives, beneficiaries, and
long-term returns, e.g. especially in the context of the people that live or work in the area
where a NbS are implemented.
Edinam Glymin

●​ The first session of this winter school gave me more reason to want to be a part of this
unique program. The diversity in skills, backgrounds and academic/work experiences of
participants is a very large pool to learn from and contribute to. I look forward to having
intriguing discussions about sustainable solutions and hearing different perspectives to
how these solutions support global development

●​ Learning about the interference of science and technology policy to influence risk/hazard
mitigation and nature based solutions caught my attention in the last session. This is an
area of interest for me because I ask questions about how science can influence
decisions that are related to policy and human outcomes. In today’s world of growing
technology and AI tools, the need to address these in nature based solutions is highly
important.

●​ Then another highlight is, who funds these nature based solutions. Realizing the
statistics of heavy cost on the public sector also justifies that the private sector, though
working to support sustainability, needs to do better. I agree with the importance of
examining the forms of financing, in terms of who pays for public goods? I think we are
gradually embracing the concept of not only developing skills in our areas of expertise
for example sustainability, nature based solutions or climate change, but also welcoming
the economics, financing and management around these as well.

Ashish Suman

1.​ I was curious to learn about the Winter School in the field of Nature based Solutions
(NbS) as nowadays for reputed environmental organizations, NbS is the buzz word.
While attending the first session, I felt I am going to have structured learning about NbS
which was earlier more a kind of fluid understanding. I am very enthusiastic to interact
 with the experts of this field having diverse backgrounds and from the project financing
and implementation agencies.
2.​ While discussion I felt there is a limited reach of science communication in agenda
setting and consensus making. My experience over the time in the Indian scenario in its
capital city, NbS has become the central agenda for environmental conferences and talks.
Currently, NbS implementation lies mainly for small projects, and big projects still follow
the same engineered solutions lacking holistic cost benefit analysis understating the
environmental costs in absence of payment for ecosystem services. Thus, NbS may be
currently considered the niche solutions and engineered solutions dominate the
infrastructure front. The reason behind it, I feel, is the scientific knowledge production
and its dissemination remains in a closed loop of academics and policy implementing
agencies. A larger part of the society remains isolated from this new development despite
the fact that they are the conservators of indigenous knowledge, many times considered
masterpieces of NbS examples. I think NbS related research publications should be
disseminated through popular media in addition to research communication for agenda
setting and consensus building. Also, it will strengthen the idea of NbS based on its
merits rather than existing manic thought of reductionist complex engineering solutions
being superior to simple problem solving NbS.
3.​ During discussion, an Idea came into my mind, despite having a positive cost benefit
ratio in favor of NbS project, isn’t it a high investment proposition and if it is the case,
then funding plays a big role. Without Private players how much a Government can
spend for these projects when they have many other urgent and important decisions to
make in the case of developing and underdeveloped countries and here comes the concept
of Environmentalism for poor. Whether here also the Environmental Kuznet curve kind
of concept will apply and NbS will be a distant fruit for developing and underdeveloped
countries?

Patrick Hainbuch

●​ Coming from a physical geography background, this session was actually my first real
exposure to how finance and economic considerations are linked to nature-based
solutions. While it did not surprise me that NbS are generally much cheaper than
engineering-focused approaches, the matter of who pays for them was very
thought-provoking. I was reminded of my semester abroad in Australia, where the town
of Noosa spends around 10 million AUD each year on mechanical beach nourishment to
combat coastal erosion. A nature-based alternative such as an artificial reef could
potentially reduce erosion, but it would interfere with the surfing conditions the town is
famous for. And of course, most private entities in the area are not interested in a
solution that leads to a reduction in tourism and income.
 ●​ Another point that got me thinking was the value of nature. First, it made me reflect on
my own values of nature, but also how we can put "direct" value on non-use values to
increase awareness and conservation efforts. An example that came to my mind was a
form of eco-tourism, more specifically a combination of eco- and cultural tourism I
experienced on K'Gari. K’Gari was once one of the biggest logging sites in the state, but
is now a protected area that generates millions of dollars in tourism revenue. Learning
about the way of life of the Butchulla People as the traditional custodians of the island
helped me understand nature not just as “nature”, but as something deeply connected to
culture, identity, and long-term stewardship. I was also for the first time introduced to
patch-mosaic burning, a traditional, slow-burning approach to decrease wildfire risk.
While this example is clearly very site-specific and not transferable everywhere, it shows
how such experiences can raise awareness for conservation and traditional
DRR-approaches while also having economical value for the region/area.

●​ I am very excited to learn more about the different segments of the topic, not only from
the lectures but also from the experiences and opinions of my fellow winter school
participants. After having had the opportunity to read all the bios, I am thrilled how much
cultural and professional diversity is present in this course and I am very looking forward
to the next sessions!

Monalisa Maremba

I was excited with the introduction of knowledge partners that are part of the facilitators for this
winter school and the diversity from participants coming from all over the world. It is amazing
how the planning and effort to bring together people from distinct time zones even and getting
their individual commitment. A main takeaway from this is the openness for exchange and
giving back from both researchers and scholars.

The presentation by Marta and the examples she gave especially on the extensive systematic
review on Nature Based Solutions and the example maps that she showed in her presentation
showing that there is a growing interest in this topic and how academic research has positively
progressed and finally having scholars and even private sector and technical partners are even
involved in this.

Finally, l really appreciated the discussion and was reflecting on the transdisciplinary nature of
nature based solutions and ensuring researchers and practitioners continuously question their
own biases and the "invisible" power their institutional roles carry towards epistemological
inclusivity.
Morgan Jones

●​ It was really interesting to learn about the economics of climate changes, and how to
realistically create solutions that can be implemented for climate change. I also loved the
introduction of Nature Based Solutions (NBS) to me. It was very new to me as an official
technical concept, but it felt familiar and useful. I also really liked how climate mitigation
and climate adaptation were differentiated. I really liked this because they are concepts
that need to be differentiated, because I think they are commonly mixed up.

●​ This is my first introduction to this type of economics, as economics is not my strong suit,
so the in-depth detailing of the economic parts of NBS was very new and I enjoyed this
part. I also liked talking with others who have more of a background in economics, and
the questions they were asking. It was so informative to me, as I don’t really have a
background in this, and made it much easier to understand.

●​ I also loved the collaboration and community that is being built with the breakout rooms,
and getting to know everyone, their background and where they come from. I really liked
this because I could relate to others in the group, and it helped bridge the gap in the
community that is being built that occurs when there is a digital community being built.

Esteban Alonzo

●​ I feel fortunate to be in the Winter School, which offers knowledge exchange at no cost. I
have been reading Kate Raworth's Doughnut Economics. Chapter 3 of the book
discusses incentives and the legacy of the “Rational Man.” Raworth traces how this
concept developed from John Stuart Mill and was later reinforced by Milton Friedman’s
neoliberal framing, becoming normalized in standard economics curricula. As Sigmund
Freud’s nephew Edward Bernays wrote in Propaganda (1928), “We are governed, our
minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have
never heard of.” Raworth argues that this framing has distorted perceptions of humans
and proposes moving beyond the rational man towards the concept of socially adaptable
humans. Examples in her book include fines increasing lateness at day-care centers and
payments shifting conservation motives to financial ones in Chiapas MX. These
examples and additional studies have shown how monetary incentives can subtly
reshape behavior and values. This class supports her stance by not charging or paying
participants, it encourages intrinsic motivation, shared responsibility, and genuine
dialogue, illustrating how non-monetized spaces can produce meaningful collective
outcomes. ​

●​ Natural-Based Solutions (NbS) has been a focus since my undergraduate studies, with
its cultivation sustained throughout my graduate program. The lesson on Cost-Based
Analysis and private interest stood out to me due to the recent capstone studio project
on Managed Retreated for Older Adults in Subsidized Housing. During that class, we
examined hard engineering solutions such as seawalls, which have shown limited
 effectiveness against coastal storm surge, as seen along the Winthrop, MA coast. In a
group assigned to study Chelsea, MA, we found that most flood-vulnerable areas were
industrial, presenting a clear opportunity for managed retreat and NbS, such as green
buffers or restored coastal landscapes. However, the Chelsea Creek 2021 Proposed
Municipal Harbor Plan and Designated Port Area (DPA) Master Plan continued to
prioritize seawalls along the industrial waterfront, including at the Gulf Oil Terminal,
despite documented contamination that remains under ongoing regulatory management.
This reliance on hard infrastructure overlooks viable long-term options to reduce
pollution exposure, climate risk, and environmental injustice.

●​ I was excited to meet students from a wide range of disciplines. The diversity of
perspectives among both the cohort and presenters will foster strong discussion
throughout the course. Each participant brings specialized knowledge that intersects with
others, creating an environment where everyone can contribute meaningfully. I expect to
leave this program with insights that are strengthened by the diversity of this group.

Paula Böhler

●​ In the first session, I learned that NBS are an important approach to addressing environmental and
societal challenges simultaneously. They show that nature should not only be protected, but also
actively integrated into solutions, for example in climate mitigation and adaptation. Nonetheless,
it came to my mind that I do not see NBS as a universal solution to environmental problems.
When presented as such, I fear they can distract from the need for deeper structural changes in
economic systems, consumption patterns and governance.

●​ I found the discussion about economic values and the financing of NBS particularly interesting.
The economy should not focus only on direct values, meaning goods and services that are treated
as commodities and have a clear market price. Many benefits provided by nature, such as clean
air, biodiversity and climate regulation, are often overlooked because they are not directly priced.
This reminded me of an article I recently read about Payments for Environmental Services (PES)
in Costa Rica that aim to address this problem by translating non-market environmental benefits
into direct financial incentives. Under PES schemes, landowners are compensated for conserving
forests or managing land sustainably, making environmental protection economically attractive.
Established as a national program, it is not financed through the general state budget but through
earmarked sources such as a national fuel tax and payments from beneficiaries, including water
and energy companies, carbon markets and international donors. ​
A sustainable economy needs to include, and even prioritize, indirect and non-monetary values. If
nature is only considered valuable when it generates immediate profit, this can lead to long-term
environmental and social damage. Even though the debate argues for including indirect and
non-monetary values, nature is still often framed in economic terms, which risks commodifying
ecosystems and valuing them mainly for their benefits to humans rather than for their intrinsic
value.
 ●​ Moreover, I look forward to engaging with many hands-on examples of NBS that highlight the
multifaceted nature of their implementation, such as bringing diverse stakeholders to the same
table (as already discussed), the implementation process itself, the effectiveness of these measures
and their long-term consequences. I believe that our truly interdisciplinary environment can make
an important contribution to exploring and developing these different solution pathways.

Alana Griggs

●​ It was interesting to learn more about financing Nature-based Solutions, and I'm excited
to learn more about this moving forward in the Winter School. I come from a background
in Mechanical Engineering, and use Life Cycle Assessment methodologies for my
research, but personally haven't done much work involving Life Cycle Cost Analysis. I
think understanding financing is a valuable piece that I have been missing in my studies
thus far, and am looking forward to learning about this and applying it to my own
research. I think the financing is a key step in turning science into action, and getting key
stakeholders on-board.
●​ From my PhD research, I was aware of the fact we touched upon that many NBS
provide a suite of co-benefits, but benefits are understudied and often underestimated.
In my research we are focused on evaluating ecosystem services of Food Forest NBS,
but are limited to only study a few to start, due to the resources and expertise on our
team. Evaluating ecosystem services requires a highly interdisciplinary team. For
example, a trained biologist would be measuring the biodiversity of the NBS, a soil
scientist would measure the soil formation, a hydrologist might measure water quality
improvement and flood prevention, and a sociologist may measure the cultural values
provided. It would take many different people with niche training to measure all the
possible ES. Some models exist, but they come with uncertainty. Also, as we learned in
class, some are harder to measure than others and it's harder to put a value on some,
especially those under the bequest value and existence value categories.
●​ The biggest challenges facing our world today require highly interdisciplinary teams, so
it's great to see such diverse backgrounds amongst our Winter School cohort. I am
looking forward to listening to everyone's unique perspectives on the different lecture
topics, and sharing my own point of view during discussion break-out sessions. Similarly,
I am very excited to learn from the different speakers. It was exciting to see the 2024
NBS evidence publication for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy,
and learn how people involved in this Winter School contributed to it. I am very grateful
to be here and appreciate that this program is free of charge for the students. I think it's
a great idea to have the LinkedIn group to stay in touch with like-minded individuals who
are working to create a better world, and keep in touch and share opportunities.

Richard Gyamfi
 ●​ So far, the program has helped me understand sustainability from an integrated perspective, thus a
combination of geographical and economic perspectives. Learning about Nature-Based Solutions
showed me that protecting and restoring natural ecosystems is not only environmentally sound
but also effective and cost-efficient. From a geographical point of view, ecosystems such as
wetlands, forests, and coastal zones play an important role in regulating floods, climate, and water
systems. From an economic perspective, these same ecosystems provide valuable services that are
often ignored in traditional development planning. This has changed how I see development,
moving it away from purely engineered solutions toward approaches that work with natural
processes and are more environmentally friendly, enhancing the survival of other living
organisms and communities.
●​ The concepts of use and non-use economic values further deepened this understanding. I learned
that ecosystems have value not only when they are directly used, but also through indirect
benefits and through their continued existence for future generations. However, many indigenous
populations often overlook the benefits of such ecosystem services. I remember a project I
conducted during my undergrad studies on the ecosystem services of Lake Bosomtwe in Ghana.
My research revealed that while people perceived the Lake to offer direct benefits such as those
related to provisioning and cultural services, the more subtle aspects, like existence, bequest, and
altruistic values, tend to be neglected. It was found that this lack of awareness contributed to the
progressive degradation of the lake, impacting water quality, the well-being of living organisms,
and even leading to its shrinkage. It is therefore clear that these non-market values are particularly
crucial for sustainability, as they influence long-term environmental protection. Therefore, I
believe that people are more likely to protect and preserve what they recognize as valuable. It is
essential to prioritize awareness campaigns focusing on non-use economic values globally to
safeguard ecosystems. However, my question is on how we can use economic valuation methods
to fully capture the indirect and non-use values of ecosystems.
●​ By integrating geographical knowledge of ecosystems with economic evaluation tools, I expect to
better understand trade-offs, policy impacts, and the long-term implications of development
choices. Key questions that I hope to explore further include how economic analysis can support
ecosystem conservation without oversimplifying environmental values. Overall, I intend to
leverage this opportunity to learn from diverse backgrounds provided by the numerous fields of
interest of my fellow participants. I see this program as well-positioned to strengthen my
academic and practical capacity to contribute to sustainable development research and policy.

Sandra Sameh
●​ I was quite intrigued by the global publication analysis concerning NBS, but I was not
particularly surprised to observe the limited or low level of NBS research within the
MENA region. I believe this might be due to a lack of awareness regarding NBS
 terminology, which could in turn be a consequence of the absence of a unified definition,
or I would argue lack of transparency and data that enable scientific research in these
countries.

●​ I have previously been introduced to the use and non-use values of environmental
economics, but I must admit it was my first time noticing the stakeholder analysis gap in
the methodology. This led me to wonder who and how these values could be calculated,
and if this differs on a personal basis, is there really a way to calculate the value without
bias?

●​ Regarding the financing aspect of our discussion, I believe that integrating public-private
partnerships presents an intriguing approach for Natural Based Solutions. However, this
always leads me to wonder about the actual source of funding. If it is publicly funded,
would it be through taxation? Alternatively, if it is privately funded, would the consumers
of these private businesses bear the cost? These considerations occasionally lead me to
reflect on the fairness and equity involved in the provision and financing of projects.

‎ unday Agene
S
‎
‎> One main lesson from the class is that Nature based solutions are often cheaper and more
effective than traditional engineering solutions. However, they take longer time for
implementation and are not widely used. This is not because there is a lack of evidence, but
because of the way decisions are usually made. Planning institutions and decision makers often
prefer familiar and proven solutions. Many people still see cities as separate from nature. For
NBS to be used more often, there needs to be a paradigm shift in thinking, as well as changes
in planning practices.
‎
‎> Another key takeaway is about how we value nature. Learning about use and non-use values
helped show that nature provides many benefits that do not have a clear market price, such as
flood protection, clean air and benefits for future generations. While putting an economic value
on these benefits can help convince policymakers and investors, money alone is not enough.
Some benefits are hard to measure and it takes longer for others to see. Focusing only on
money can also ignore social, cultural and moral reasons for protecting nature. This means
economic valuation should be used alongside clearer explanations of who benefits, who pays,
and why NBS matters for society as a whole.
‎
‎> Finally, the class showed how important interdisciplinary works are for sustainability. Nature
based solutions involve ecology, economics, planning, engineering and social issues at the
same time. No single discipline can fully understand or solve these problems alone. Learning
with people from different academic backgrounds helped show how valuable different
perspectives are. The class also highlighted the importance of motivation beyond money, such
as shared learning, responsibility and cooperation. My main takeaway is that NBS are not just
another alternative solution, but solutions that depend on people, sustainable planning,
institutions and collaboration between both public and private individuals.
‎

Muhammad Asim Shoaib

1.​ For any adaptation intervention there is a need of political will (at governance level) and
acceptance among the communities; overall the idea is termed as behavioral adaptation.
Beyond academics when it comes down to real life implementation, how do we convince
communities about such interventions. For example, in densely populated cities across
the world or specifically (Lahore, Dhaka, Delhi) a south asian context or Nairobi (where i
have my personal experience)? How do we advocate for the NBS interventions keeping
in view the risk communities face today while they have to wait for the positive outcomes
of the NBS for about 10 years or so? Also going back to the political will (where the
government's terms are for 4 / 5 years), how do we convince politicians in those cases?
2.​ I am particularly interested in People + Nature, and hope to get some insights from this
winter school on how to take them both hands in hands. Because whenever we talk
about development interventions we speak of cultural sensitivity (so my focus would be
on how to effectively implement NBS without deteriorating local customs) - which I
consider a real transformative adaptation.
3.​ Thinking…

Stanley Claude
●​ A key takeaway for me was how strongly the connection between sustaining natural
systems and sustaining economic systems was emphasized. This framing helped clarify
why nature-based solutions can’t rely on individual action alone, but instead need to be
supported through broader decision-making structures that recognize ecological and
community value.
●​ Nature-based solutions are an interesting holistic approach, particularly because of how
difficult they can be to communicate to policymakers or across different fields. While
concepts like ecosystem services and non-market values are intuitive in theory, the
language around NbS can feel abstract or esoteric, which may limit uptake if it is not
translated into clearer decision-making terms.
●​ The discussion around value also interested me, especially the idea that just because
something does not have a clear market price does not mean it lacks value. Sustaining
natural systems ultimately supports economic systems, and decision-making that
accounts for ecological value even when it isn’t monetized seems essential for long-term
sustainability.

Yongdong Chen
 ●​ The intro further expands my perspective on what constitutes a "solution." The
effectiveness of NbS highlighted that protecting ecosystems is often more cost-effective
than pure engineering. Furthermore, when thinking about cost, it’s import take “Use
Value” and “Non-use Value” into to consideration in the big picture.
●​ The intro reminds me of the discussion of the cleanliness of the power grids that charge
EVs. Usually, people think that adopting EV is more sustainable than using traditional
fuel vehicles. However, in the regions where electricity generation is heavily reliant on
coal or oil, the emissions of the EV system could exceed traditional fuel vehicles. In that
case, promoting EV is not an NbS without upgrading the power grid with more
sustainable energy sources.
●​ I am interested in applying the "Total Economic Value" (TEV) framework to food
resource management. Often, the cost of food waste is viewed through "Direct Use
Value" (the price/savage of the food). Now I think it’s also import to consider the
"Bequest Value" or "Indirect Use Value" (the soil health and water security saved by
reducing waste) could influence consumer behavior and policy design. If we stop treating
food as a simple commodity and start valuing it as a product of complex ecosystem
services, we might find stronger economic justifications for investing in food waste
reduction policies that align with NbS principles.

Salma Khan
●​ I applied for the Winter School as recently as in 2025, I wrote an article on the Coal
based project approved under the Mega CPEC Project initiated in 2015. My work on
CPEC and Pakistan’s energy sector focuses mainly on the coal-based projects and how
the large-scale infrastructure and foreign investment reshape development trajectories,
power relations, and access to essential services like electricity. The winter school is
professionally interesting to me because it connects directly to the core tension in my
research: the trade-off between development through energy expansion and long-term
environmental and social sustainability.
●​ My work on CPEC focuses specifically on coal-based energy projects in Pakistan, which
were introduced as a rapid solution to chronic electricity shortages. While these projects
helped address short-term energy deficits, they also locked the country into a
carbon-intensive development path with long-term environmental, fiscal, and health
consequences. Some communities benefit from improved electricity supply, while others
bear the costs in the form of pollution, land displacement, and environmental
degradation. Understanding these uneven outcomes requires exactly the kind of
interdisciplinary perspective that the winter school promotes.
●​ Therefore, I am interested in how countries like Pakistan can transition away from
coal-based development without reproducing new forms of inequality or energy
insecurity. I hope to deepen my understanding to analyze energy transitions in a way that
is both empirically grounded and normatively informed. It would help me situate my
research on CPEC coal projects within broader debates about sustainable development,
climate responsibility, and the future of energy in the Global South.
I am looking forward to learning about different sustainability solutions and understanding
diverse approaches to preserving ecosystem sustainability. (I missed the first session due to travel
therefore I am submitting the response as to why Winter School is Professionally important to
me)

Nandita Mathews
●​ I feel excited to be part of this academically rich and diverse circle of participants in this
winter school. The first session was quite insightful and reminded me of the benefits NbS
bring to the environment once again. I would also love to hear from our diligent speakers
some on-site experiences/ stories they might have come across regarding NbS/
Financing NbS or similar. I think it would be an enriching experience to listen to their
experience to see the hurdles as well as successes when we implement NbS in the field.

●​ Although NbS is an important approach we put forward for mitigation and adaptation, I
do not see it as a ‘solution’.I think it would also be nice if we look into how to make sure
that the Nbs are actually ‘working’ in favour of the nature and the human system, and not
just a greenwashing fix. The different ways of quantifying the benefits also pose the
question to me on the different perspectives on ecosystem valuation. How can we
ensure the effective implementation of NbS and quantify it successfully, also integrate
stakeholders into the equation/how to attract more funding to that / all are questions I
would like to explore.
●​ Also the financing aspect is dear to me as I wrote a paper with a colleague last year on
‘Insuring Nature’, analysing 4 case studies from all over the world. And it came to a
conclusion that, with the increased disaster risk amplified by climate change in the past
decades, there is a growing trend in the number of schemes that integrate nature-based
solutions with the insurance market. The risk financing, resilience bonds, and nature
insurance can all help lessen the impact of risk by offering disaster resistance
mechanisms, and financial security, this provides a progressive way forward to recreate
human relationships with nature. We advocated for more public-private partnerships as
well as grey-green infrastructure for the better valuation of the benefits of ecosystems.
But again, mostly in these insurance schemes sell the example of coral reefs more than
any other ecosystems. The Belize blue bond is the prime example in most cases. While
that being a great example I was also wondering how can we spread more successful
stories of other ecosystems (forests in Costa Rica etc ). Also I am interested in learning
more about the cons of NbS, and where it cannot be applied, the limitations as well as
challenges and how can we overcome/mitigate these [Link] forward to the
next session!

Maria Rivadeneira Moncada

●​ I found the diversity of this winter school extraordinary. I didn't expect to be around so
many people from different countries, with such diverse backgrounds and training, and
 from such interesting programs. I am very excited about the opportunity to learn so much
from my fellows and the speakers throughout the program.
●​ One of the aspects that struck me the most about the first lecture was understanding
how nature-based interventions can contribute to both climate change mitigation and
adaptation. In my field, which focuses on disaster resilience, we tend to prioritize
adaptation to reduce the vulnerability of the most exposed populations. That's why I
found it particularly powerful to see examples such as the protection of mangroves and
their ability to reduce the vulnerability of communities most exposed to disasters.
●​ Lastly, the lecture left me eager to continue exploring best practices and successful
cases of nature-based interventions for ecosystem conservation. I come from a
megadiverse country that is highly dependent on fossil fuel exports, which is a major
driver of deforestation. In this context, solutions such as reforestation are often not
economically attractive, and ecosystems take a back seat. This lecture left me eager to
explore how to move towards greener economies that prioritize ecosystem protection
without jeopardizing the economic security of deeply impoverished countries like mine.

Jacob Fitzharris

●​ Firstly, I thought the introductory discussion about defining economics was very
interesting. As someone who has not taken an economics class, I tend to associate the
word with money/currency rather than goods and resources. I am excited to dive deeper
into this understanding throughout this course series and continue my own learning in
the area as well.
●​ Regarding nature-based solutions, I agree with the conclusion that there could (and
should) be more work done with NbS cobenefits. As someone from a forestry
background and who studied REDD+ programs in graduate school, I have learned about
the importance of cobenefits in policy (in addition to the fact that much more work needs
to be done understanding such impacts). I am curious, though, about the specific areas
on which NbS cobenefits research can focus. Also, I enjoyed the timeline of NbS
research; as a visual learner, these diagrams are very helpful. The timeline also supports
a theme apparent in human society in general: humans are unlikely to take meaningful
action until something major, like a disaster, occurs (the first research didn’t occur until
after the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2005). I believe figuring out how to grapple with this
general theme could be part of the answer towards fixing many global issues.
●​ I was excited to meet other students in the course - there seems to be a wide range of
knowledge and expertise in this group (and I only spoke to about 10 students)! This will
surely lead to diverse and important discussions. Also, it gives me hope to see so many
other people who are passionate about their work in this area.
Gantamir Lkhagva

-​ Through the Sustainable Solution Lab at UMASS BOSTON, I’ve been connected to
several applied projects alongside my master’s studies in Urban Planning at UMB and
am grateful for the opportunity to examine sustainable solutions from multiple
perspectives, particularly climate change adaptation. Based on my interest, I wrote a
research paper last semester comparing climate adaptation approaches and
implementation in planning across two cities in the U.S. Therefore, I am glad to be part
of this winter school program.
-​ The data and research contexts of the lecture were especially clear and compelling. It
reinforced my belief that a stronger evaluation of Nature Based Solution across
environmental, social, and economic dimensions can increase their credibility, visibility,
and access to funding. Sounds, benefit measurement is limited, making it difficult to fully
capture true value. I am particularly interested in learning more about how use values
versus non-use values can be identified and quantified. At the same time, advances in
data visualization, modeling, and time-based analysis now allow to measure impacts
more extensively/effectively and even predict future benefits.
-​ I’m sure there are many visible versus invisible, and measurable versus non-measurable
values associated with climate adaptation and sustainable solution implementation. In
class, Professor Marta mentioned a project in Seoul, which I believe was the
Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project. This project faced significant community
resistance and political disagreement before construction began, but long-term economic
benefits were projected to outweigh the costs. These benefits were largely due to
increased land and property values along the corridor, commercial revitalization, and
reduced infrastructure maintenance burdens. The project was primarily funded by the
City of Seoul through the municipal capital budget and by reallocating funds that would
have otherwise gone to highway repair. There was no major private financing during
construction, and while private-sector gains occurred later through adjacent
development, this was not a public–private partnership project. This is one of my favorite
examples because it shows how Nature-Based Solutions gain approval when they are
evaluated and communicated as infrastructure investment, risk management, and
economic development tools supported by modeling and cost comparisons rather than
environmental arguments alone.

Elizabeth Aliu

1. One of the ideas that stayed with me this week was the framework of Total Economic Value
for forests, especially the distinction between use values and non-use values. In a forest, timber,
fuelwood, food, and tourism are obvious use values, while biodiversity preservation, existence
value, and bequest value belong to non-use values. What struck me is how closely this mirrors
what I keep seeing in Nigerian corporate finance, particularly in how women leaders talk about
their work.
In Nigerian banking, fintech, and cooperative finance, value is often spoken of in terms of profit,
growth, and shareholder return the “use values.” But behind that is a whole layer of non-use
value that never appears on balance sheets: trust, reputation, institutional continuity, social
legitimacy, and the moral economy of being seen as a responsible corporate citizen. These are
not easily monetized, but they are deeply real. Just like a forest’s existence has value even if no
tree is cut, many Nigerian women executives are sustaining financial ecosystems through
relational labor like mentoring, stabilizing teams, maintaining community trust that is
economically invisible yet foundational. TEV gives me language to frame this relational
interdependence not as soft or secondary, but as part of the real economy.

2. When we discussed Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), we focused a lot on regulating and

provisioning services like carbon capture, flood control, food, and raw materials. But for me, the
most important part was cultural services: the non-material benefits people receive from
ecosystems like spirituality, recreation, identity, memory, beauty, and belonging.

As a Yoruba woman, this spoke deeply to me. Forests in our cosmology are not just land; they
are places of memory, ancestors, sacredness, and storytelling. Translating this into my work on
Nigerian women in corporate finance, I see a similar pattern. Women’s leadership is not only
about transactions, capital flows, and quarterly returns. It is also about meaning, the pride of
being the first woman on a board, the symbolic power of a woman CEO, the way younger
women imagine themselves differently because someone who looks like them is in power.
These are cultural services of leadership. They don’t show up in GDP, but they shape aspiration,
dignity, and collective possibility. Just like ecosystems, corporate institutions also produce
cultural value, and women are often its primary stewards.

3. The final piece that really made me pause was the range of economic valuation methods
used in environmental economics like contingent valuation, revealed preferences, cost-benefit
analysis, and multi-criteria approaches. What these methods are really doing is trying to
measure things that don’t behave like simple commodities: clean air, beauty, security, future
possibility.

That struggle feels very familiar to my own research. How do you “value” women’s relational
leadership? How do you measure trust, moral authority, or the stabilizing role of a woman
executive in a fragile corporate environment? These environmental methodologies remind me
that not everything that matters is directly priced, but that does not make it any less real or less
powerful. They push me to think more carefully about how I frame evidence, not just through
what is counted, but through what is narrated, preserved, and socially recognized. In that way,
sustainability science and African feminist leadership studies are quietly walking the same road:
both are trying to make the invisible visible, so that what sustains life, whether forests or
women’s labor is finally taken seriously.

Whether we are talking about forests or finance, survival is never individual. Everything is
woven together; one person does not carry a tree alone. This week simply gave me new
academic language.
Van Pho

●​ Although I had encountered the concept of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in several

workshops organized by IUCN and WWF, this is the first time I have the opportunity to
understand it in a more systematic and in-depth way. From an interdisciplinary research
perspective, NbS can be applied across multiple fields, including biodiversity
conservation, disaster risk reduction, community livelihood support, and economic
stability. The presentation offers a comprehensive overview of NbS, supported by data
and case studies, which provides researchers with a solid empirical and conceptual
foundation for further analysis.
●​ What I find particularly interesting is the cost-effectiveness of NbS as ecosystem-based
interventions for mitigating natural hazards. The comparison between nature-based
interventions and conventional engineering solutions is especially informative, as it
clarifies their relative advantages and limitations. This aligns with my previous
understanding of NbS, while NbS play a valuable complementary role in climate
mitigation and adaptation, they cannot substitute for deep decarbonization of industrial
sectors.
●​ I agree with Marta on two points. First, it is difficult to precisely quantify NbS outcomes,
as changes in natural systems cannot be measured in a fixed or linear manner. Nature is
constantly influenced by multiple external factors, making it scientifically challenging, and
often location-dependent, to attribute a specific magnitude of change to a single
intervention. Air quality improvements, for example, vary substantially across contexts
and over time. Second, funding for NbS should increasingly rely on public–private
partnerships. As shown in the presentation, most NbS initiatives are being financed by
the public sector. In my view, greater private-sector involvement should enhance the
public responsibility. Recently, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which applies
to large companies from late 2025 and to smaller firms from June 2026, requires strict
due diligence to ensure that commodities such as soy, beef, and timber are
deforestation-free. This effectively transfers part of the financial and monitoring -
responsibility for ecosystem protection to companies operating along these supply
chains.

Sandra Schwartz

●​ For me, some of the opening remarks were very interesting. What really stuck to my
mind was the statement about individual responsibility. A single person might not make a
significant difference regarding the climate crisis, but each individual influences their
environment, e.g. through conversation about a topic or practices that inspire others to
do the same. In this winter school, there are already a lot of participants that receive
important education on sustainability and if everyone brings a bit of this information to
their environment, there will be created a lot of awareness.
●​ Regarding nature-based solutions, co-benefits are a topic that really sparked my
interest. Marta Vicarelli mentioned it only shorty, when describing difficulties regarding a
cost-benefit analysis of nature-based solutions, since it is really difficult to assess the
 magnitude of co-benefits – especially rather long-term ones – and translate them to
economic value. I am eager to learn what co-benefits there are regarding each type of
nature-based solution and their impact on the ecosystem and society.
●​ A fact that was eye-opening for me was that values are easy to translate into
monetary terms when there is market (like direct use values). In my undergrad I had
business administration as a minor and environmental management was part of
curriculum as well, so it is not the first time that I’m hearing about cost-benefit analysis
and the translation of value into monetary terms and its struggles. However, I have not
made the connection with the market before, which really helps me to understand.

Özlem AKSOY

1. NBS, Ecosystem-Based Approaches, and Climate Action

According to may gains from the first lecture; central idea correctly positions NBS as a subset of
the broader Ecosystem-Based Approach (EbA), particularly for climate action. In the
Mediterranean context, endorsed by the Barcelona Convention's Climate Change Adaptation
Strategy, this synergy is critical. For instance, restoring Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows
serves as a powerful NBS that exemplifies EbA: it enhances biodiversity (GES under the EU
MSFD), sequesters carbon (mitigation), and stabilizes coastlines against erosion (adaptation).
This multifunctionality is key. Unlike single-purpose grey infrastructure, a healthy dune or
wetland system provides a cascade of co-benefits—water filtration, habitat provision, and
recreational space—while building systemic resilience. Therefore, promoting NBS is
fundamentally about advocating for integrated, systemic management that addresses
biodiversity loss and climate change as interconnected crises, a principle now embedded in the
"Mediterranean Green Deal" from COP 23.
2. The Cost-Effectiveness and Multi-Benefit Valuation of NBS
Proving the cost-effectiveness of NBS is indeed crucial for convincing policymakers and
financial institutions. The argument extends beyond direct construction cost comparisons to a
full life-cycle and multi-capital assessment. Grey infrastructure often has high maintenance
costs and declines in value, whereas NBS like oyster reef restoration or watershed reforestation
typically appreciate in value as ecosystems mature and services increase. Evaluations now
capture this by quantifying "avoided costs" (e.g., storm damage averted, reduced water
treatment expenses) and "co-benefit dividends" in public health, tourism, and cultural values.
For my draft Marine Policy article, framing NBS through the lens of "triple dividend"—resilience
today, mitigation for tomorrow, and multiple socio-ecological co-benefits—provides a compelling
economic narrative. This aligns with the green transition and blue economy priorities of the
Barcelona Convention, making a case for redirecting subsidies from harmful activities to
restorative investments.
3. Long-Term Socio-Economic Development and Equity in NBS
The long-term socio-economic benefits of NBS are foundational to sustainable and
equitable development, especially in vulnerable coastal communities. Well-designed
NBS projects can stimulate green and blue job creation in restoration, monitoring, and
eco-tourism, fostering a just transition for sectors like fisheries. Critically, their success
hinges on inclusive governance—engaging local communities, indigenous knowledge
holders, and small businesses in planning and implementation. This social
embeddedness ensures projects are context-appropriate and build local stewardship,
enhancing durability. In vulnerable areas, NBS like mangrove restoration or sustainable
urban drainage directly protect livelihoods and assets, reducing the disproportionate
climate risks borne by marginalized groups. Therefore, NBS are not merely technical
fixes but vehicles for social cohesion and capacity building, turning restoration zones
into hubs for sustainable business development and community resilience, a core tenet
of the UN Sustainable Development Goals integrated into the Mediterranean Strategy.

Saira Bano
 ●​ Firstly, before focusing on the substantive part, I am genuinely grateful to be part of a
group so diverse in culture, discipline, and experience. This diversity feels like a learning
tool itself. I appreciate the organisers, speakers, and participants for creating an
environment that feels inspiring, open, and respectful. It makes me excited not only to
learn but also to contribute.

●​ Secondly, the way I used to think about the word "infrastructure" thus changed. How it
changed? Well, the lens of Nature-based Solutions made me realise that nature, such as
forests, wetlands, coral reefs, mangroves, and the list goes on, is also infrastructure. With
the hat of DRR, I must say nature can often reduce risk more sustainably and at lower
cost than manufactured machines. Instead of replacing nature, real progress is about
working with it and designing systems around it.

●​ Last but not least, I found the discussion on the economic value and financing of
Nature-based Solutions exciting. As some of my colleagues also pointed out in this
document, our traditional economic systems tend to focus only on direct, marketable
goods and services, things that have an immediate price. However, many of nature's
benefits do not appear in the market and are often overlooked. Although discussions often
frame ecosystems in economic terms, it is essential to remember that nature has intrinsic
value beyond its utility to humans.

Kimberly Largie

1.​ I was curious to learn more about coral reef insurance, and I found out that parts of the
Caribbean (namely, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the
Grenadines) are beneficiaries of a regional coral reef insurance from a company called
InsuResilience. There is a grant of 720.395 euros allocated for post-hurricane coral reef
response between the insured period, September 2025 to October 2027. I'm not sure
what threshold has been established for the payout (i.e. the wind speeds necessary to
trigger the payout), but I'll be looking into this some more as it really piqued my interest.
2.​ I've never been exposed to Environmental Economics before, so I appreciate that it is a
component of this programme. I particularly found the overview of the different types of
economic value quite interesting, as I realised that I almost always associate economic
value with money. This broader concept better captures our lived experiences, although
the challenge still exists regarding measuring the non-monetary values, which are just as
 important. The concept also supports more nuanced arguments especially as it relates to
negotiations with potential donors, policymakers, etc. I'd love to gain further information
about this topic.
3.​ Another thing that I remembered while discussing the environmental economics section
was a study conducted by a researcher at the University of Bonn on the non-economic
loss and damage related to climate change impacts in Bangladesh. I found that study
quite interesting because it highlighted so many aspects often not considered in
reporting. For example, he noted that because of the water salinity in a particular region,
it resulted in hair loss, something that I'm sure is often overlooked when assessing the
impact of climate change.

Aboubacar Issaka Ousman Gaoh

●​ Climate change constitutes a critical threat to human and natural systems. As evidence
demonstrates, despite tremendous efforts it continues with an alarming trend, and the
pace of the crisis is faster than the efforts being implemented. There is a wide
agreement that science has depicted all possible aspects related to climate risks, and
technological advancement has allowed them to slow down the impacts and mitigate it.
Given climate change represents a wicked problem, the sustainability of technological
solutions is increasingly questioned, in light of the outcomes and reliability of these
solutions. Nature-based solutions (NbS), as not only alternative, but also complement to
the technological solutions are widely acknowledged to allow curving the current threats.
NbS reminds us that where technology fails, nature and ecology entail the potential to fix
the root of the problem.
●​ Given their potential to fix the global climate change crisis, there is an increasing interest
from scholars, practitioners and decision-makers in the promotion, adoption and
understanding of NbS. However, as highlighted in the Prof. Marta Vicareli presentation,
there is an evident geographical disparity in the research about NbS in both developed
and global south countries, which might translate the under-adoption of the NbS.
●​ With a background in climate change policy, it was interesting to further my
understanding about the value of forest as an ecological solution to the climate crisis.
The question that is still pending in my mind is the quantification of non-use values of the
forest, particularly a robust methodology that would allow to evaluate such aspects. This
would certainly be a great input for widespread adoption of NbS specifically in
developing countries.

Michelle Dedischew
- While I've heard of NBS before, I appreciated the more in depth introduction. The discussion of
if they increase resilience and are cost effective is extremely poignant. One of my term papers
last semester was on the effectiveness of CAPs, so I appreciated this perspective. While it's
well documented that NBS work and are cost effective, it's interesting to consider the political
motivations to use or not use these options. I'd like to learn more about which
people/governments/ orgs are choosing to use these options in response to climate change. Is it
similar to CAPs where generally, politically-left actors are more willing to use this tool? If so, has
this changed over the years (as CAPs have) and what motivates that change (money?)

-Resource Economics similarly is a concept I've interacted with from afar and I am struck by
how interested I am in economics in general, but especially in resource economics. I love the
definition of this being the practice of decision making. This seems to be an incredibly important
piece of the climate conversation and something that everyone participating should have
practice in. I spent quite a bit of time last semester learning how political all climate related
decisions are - which is of course very linked to economics. I am excited to dive further into
these ideas and get more comfortable with them.

- When thinking about CBAs, I appreciated the discussion about the more "invisible" values like
cultural value. This is something, again, I spent a bit of time last semester getting to know in
terms of sustainability and regional planning. It's well known that values like cultural values are
difficult to weigh but carry so much weight. I'd like to learn ways to bring these values more into
decision making spaces. I know this has shifted in past years, but there's still more shifting to be
done and I've seen it be a challenging conversation to navigate.

Ben Coderre

-​ Nature based solutions seem very attractive to me, not just because they are powerful
and cost efficient but also because of their natural qualities. I think so much of the
climate action discussion gets centered around what we have to give up and sacrifice for
the sake of environmental protection, but not enough to consider what we could gain.
People love nature! This could be a win-win.
-​ That being said, I wonder if nature based solutions are more vulnerable to political
meddling or require more continuous support than other kinds of interventions or
economic programs. I could imagine that a contentious carbon tax becomes entrenched
after both sides become enamoured with the revenue it generates. I am not sure if the
real benefits of NBS would be held to the same value of politicians.
-​ I am excited about this program, I am grateful for the diversity of fields in attendance and
look forward to learning from each different perspective. I want to centralize sustainability
in my work as an urban planner and our seminars on risk modeling, climate mitigation,
and climate adaptation will all be crucial to my work

María Belén Moya Mejía

I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to everyone who made this Winter School possible.

The first session began with the expression “walking the walk,” which, as a Spanish speaker, I
hadn't heard before. Now that I understand its meaning, and after seeing the program and the
speakers, I know I'm in the right place. Something that really stuck with me was the importance
of advocating for systemic change, not just through words, but through action.

I've seen how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are often just a new way of referring to Indigenous
Knowledge Systems, without this being truly acknowledged. Yes, as we saw in class, NbS seek
to protect, conserve, restore, and sustainably manage ecosystems. But Indigenous peoples
have historically been the true guardians of these territories and these practices.

Another point that caught my attention was the idea that NbS are “cost-effective.” But who
decides that, and based on what criteria? These values ​and benefits are often understudied and
underestimated. A clear example is what the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, recently said
when asked about the Glaciers Law: “Yes, companies pollute rivers, so what? Why would that
be a bad thing? What value does a river have?” That is a productivist, even extractive and
colonial, perspective.

If we asked the same question in Cuenca, Ecuador, where four rivers run through the city like
veins in the body, the answer would be very different. People sit, run, walk, and live along the
riverbanks. A clean river has value for health, well-being, and even safety. In Quito, for example,
in areas near polluted rivers, the crime rate is much higher than in riverside areas where there is
no pollution. The challenge is to bring these criteria to the realm of evidence, to demonstrate
with data the tranquility and peace that nature offers as a service to cities increasingly filled with
concrete and buildings.

I was also surprised to learn that, because there isn't a market for many of these values, they're
simply not considered. I don't have much experience in economics, but I clearly see the
importance of interdisciplinarity and intergenerational collaboration. A single voice can be
silenced, but when that voice is joined by collective action, then we begin to see the systemic
change we've long dreamed of.

Carmine Moccia

●​ Participating in the first sessions of the Winter School reinforced my impression that
Nature-based Solutions sit at the intersection of environmental effectiveness and
institutional complexity. While their economic efficiency is increasingly supported by
empirical evidence, what struck me most is how weak the transmission mechanism still
is between scientific knowledge and financial decision-making. The challenge does not
seem to be the absence of data, but rather the lack of frameworks capable of translating
 long-term, systemic benefits into signals that are usable within credit assessment,
investment appraisal, and risk management processes.
●​ Another point that stayed with me concerns the role of governance and standards in
shaping the uptake of NbS. From my background in finance and sustainability, I am used
to seeing how regulatory clarity and reporting requirements can accelerate behavioral
change. In the case of NbS, however, governance structures appear fragmented across
policy levels and actors, which weakens accountability and discourages private
involvement. This raises the question of whether the future diffusion of NbS depends
less on technological innovation and more on institutional innovation, particularly in how
responsibilities, risks, and returns are allocated.
●​ Finally, I was positively surprised by the interdisciplinary composition of the group and
how naturally different perspectives converged during discussions. Coming from a
finance-oriented background, engaging with geographers, planners, and social scientists
highlighted blind spots that are often overlooked in economic analyses, especially
distributional effects and social acceptance. These exchanges confirmed my belief that
addressing climate risk and sustainability challenges requires not only integrated
solutions, but also shared languages across disciplines to avoid technically sound yet
socially fragile outcomes.

Hanna Samuel

- From the first session I was amazed by the fact that nature based solutions are not the
concerns of the climate experts or the environmental economist. As every individual is impacted
by climate change, the diverse participant’s academic background curtains the need for
multidisciplinary approach to climate change and to the sustainable implementation of nature
based solutions.

- As a PhD student working on nature based solutions adaptation, I have struggled to find
empirical data and evidence on the cost-effectiveness of the solution. From the session I was so
happy to see works that have been done on this issue, though it’s a new approach to climate
change. This evidence will strengthen my research recommendation to transfer from engineered
adaptation strategies to nature sensitive.
- Finally, I understood that the climate finances are mostly covered by the public even though
the private sectors are the key actors of the emission of negative externalities. A great emphasis
needs to be given on the effectiveness of climate policies and how the economic activities are
done. Because if there is no environment, there will not be any economy.

Nessiara Tavares

• From the slides, it was clear that Nature-based Solutions are considered effective for climate
change adaptation. The findings show that most NbS reported reduced adverse climate
impacts, that there are significant co-benefits, and that NbS are often as effective or even more
effective than alternative interventions for addressing climate impacts.

• The slide on disaster risk stood out to me because it clearly states there is robust evidence
that ecosystems reduce disaster risk. It highlights things like stabilizing steep mountain slopes
and flood mitigation in urban areas. It also points out that ecosystems provide additional
services beyond regulating hazards, such as provisioning services that help strengthen
livelihoods and reduce vulnerability, which are described as important parts of disaster risk
reduction.

• The “Total Economic Value for a Forest” figure helped break down how value is categorized. It
separates use values and non-use values. Use values include direct and indirect use, with
examples like timber, non-timber products, hiking, hunting, soil erosion control, flood protection,
and carbon storage. Non-use values include option, bequest, and existence values, with
examples such as future recreation, potential pharmaceuticals, forests being available for future
generations, and the welfare that comes from simply knowing a forest exists.

Yusuf Oluwasegun Shodiya

- I found the first lecture to be a perfect introduction to the winter school, and the definition of
"economics" was very insightful. As a person whose background is urban planning and spatial
analysis, I would rather have the word "economics" associated with finance rather than relating
it with resources. This new understanding modifies my approach to the term economics.

- My takeaway from the first lecture further strengthens my view of Ecosystem-Based Approach
(EbA) as a larger umbrella for Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) most especially in climate-related
action. Although my view doesn't align with NbS as a "Solution" but rather as an approach to
form adaptation and mitigation processes, most especially in favour of human-nature relations.
In my view the most important thing is people's cultural identity, heritage, nostalgic feelings and
faith attached to ecosystems, but many discussions towards NbS are usually centred around
service rendering and regulation towards food, carbon harvesting, etc. For me, I believe the
sustainable development for NbS is to consider the human-nature relation alongside its
socio-economic benefits.

- Lastly, I am looking forward to understanding and learning different sustainable solutions for
the intervention of ecosystem conservation using NbS best practices. Also the views and
discussions around Total Economic Value (TEV) are interesting, even though the approach still
sit with me as an open commodity with different environmental indices.

Katharina Faik

-​ Nature-based Solutions are an effective tool to tackle several of the most

pressing crisis we have and can even even be considered as development tools.
As I have learned about NbS before, some information was not new to me.
However, I found the graphics and maps impressive, showing the distribution of
the implemented and researched NbS, indicating underlying power structures.
-​ As I have no Economics background, Economics and Finance often feel like
distant, untoucheable topics. However, I am willing to learn more about the
interrelations of the climate crisis and climate finance. Therefore, I was
impressed to see how much of NbS is in fact financed by the private sector,
showing that the private sector must be included in climate adaptation measures.
-​ I am always interested in learing about the conceptualizations of nature.
Monetizing nature has always a bitter taste to me, but in an
economics-determined world it is yet inevitable. Therefore, I am eager to learn
more on how NbS can be implemented, leaving more benefits than doing harm.

Brady Dye

●​ Coming from Houston, Texas (along the Gulf of Mexico), the main natural disasters I
have experienced and worry about are hurricanes and the urban flooding that often
accompanies them. I was very excited to hear that nature-based solutions are particularly
effective at mitigating urban flooding, by creating areas for greater floodwater absorption
than the asphalt and concrete that make up so much of our built environment. I’m curious
whether this effectiveness is mainly for mitigating steady, more predictable flood risk
 from sea level rise, or if stormwater floods can also be mitigated by the same solutions.
Additionally, I’d love to further discuss implementation of nature-based solutions
generally. To stick with my personal example, Houston is a huge city both in terms of
people and urban sprawl, how would we go about citing nature-based solutions for flood
mitigation? Do nature-based solutions have some critical point of implementation, past
which we see major effectiveness, or does every little bit count? And must we rethink and
undergo major redesigns in our urban areas, or can nature-based solutions be incorporated
into existing urban landscapes? Addressing urban flooding is particularly relevant to me,
but I’m interested in exploring these and similar questions regarding all kinds of solutions
across global contexts.

●​ I was struck by the fact that nature-based solutions are overwhelmingly likely to be
funded by the public sector, yet property rights seem to mainly follow a public-private
partnership model. While I agree with our class discussion that increased private
investment is desirable to expand implementation of nature-based solutions, I think
there’s a limit to the level of financial commitment private investors will make in public
goods, given the difficulty in monetizing those goods to produce a return on investment.
Stable ecological conditions are certainly within private capitalists’ interests to maintain,
yet we can say the same thing about roads, bridges, airports, and housing; evidence
suggests that the results of these infrastructure projects are inferior when taken into
private hands, if they get built at all. And even if the private sector would reliably build
nature-based solutions, is it desirable that such vital infrastructure for the survival of our
cities and communities should be owned and managed by a few powerful actors? I would
argue public, democratic financing and ownership is the only way we can implement
nature-based solutions in a manner that is politically sustainable and allows for the
creation of a better world, rather than perpetuating the inequitable status quo.

●​ Coming from a dual physics and political science background, and now pursuing a PhD
in economics, I have some experience bringing interdisciplinary studies to bear in my
own research. I look forward to expanding my horizons in conversation with scholars in
even more varied fields than I’ve been exposed to, and with international backgrounds
that provide a myriad of life experiences and interests that we can collectively use to
examine these issues from a great number of perspectives.

Andrea Boero-Vera

· I was really pleased with the brief introduction to economic value, especially the distinction
between economic and purely monetary value, given that I don’t have previous experience in
environmental economics. This is a key point in discussions about sustainability and the triple
bottom line. It's also vital when creating strategies for nature-based solutions or climate
mitigation and adaptation approaches. One question that stayed with me after the presentation is
how we can better capture and measure different forms of economic value, particularly when
markets do not yet exist for them.

· Another aspect I appreciated was the scientific evidence presented on the effectiveness and
cost-effectiveness of nature-based solutions. At the same time, I noticed that most studies have
been conducted in industrialized countries/regions, primarily the U.S., China, and Europe, and
often focus on coastal areas. This reminded me of the examples Prof. Vicarelli mentioned
regarding the benefits of coral reefs and mangroves, as well as how their presence/conservation
is included in insurance policies. She also highlighted the broader advantages of NBS over
purely engineered solutions, particularly due to their co-benefits, such as carbon sequestration,
heat mitigation, food provision, and cultural value; many of which are still difficult to quantify
and are therefore often disregarded or underestimated.

· Finally, another aspect that caught my attention was the question of who benefits from
nature-based solutions and who pays for them. Although ownership and management are often
shared between public and private actors, funding comes mainly from the public sector. This
made me think about what kinds of policies or financial mechanisms could encourage greater
private-sector participation in financing NBS, especially given the wide range of benefits they
provide to society.

Catherine Kleeman

●​ Something I’m interested in learning more about and finding solutions to is

financing and implementing nature-based solutions. I read through other
students’ responses and there was an interesting point that was made was about
a pilot project in Europe; homeowners were still reluctant to invest in
nature-based solutions even when there were incentives available from both
national and state levels. Most nature-based solutions are funded by the public
sector, but if general populations are still hesitant to implement them with rebates
and subsidies, private sector funding will become absolutely necessary. This is a
difficult challenge as debates over who should pay for public goods have been
around for millennia, especially for public goods that have more non-use values.
Financing and implementing nature-based solutions seems to be a challenging
feat despite the benefits, and I’m looking forward to learning how to overcome
that in the next few sessions.
●​ Another thing that stuck out to me this past week was the fact that the global
economy is inextricably intertwined with nature. Perhaps I am more fascinated by
our ability to forget that fact. As Professor Vicarelli pointed out during her
 presentation, over half the world’s GDP is potentially at risk because of the
dependence of business on nature and its services. As I am working through my
Master’s program in Business Analytics, I find that I bring a different perspective
to my courses than my classmates because of our different undergraduate
backgrounds. I received my Bachelor’s in May in Environmental Science with a
concentration in Sustainability. The majority of my classmates in my Master’s
program now come from a background in the Business School. Obviously they
vary from business administration, to finance, to accounting, to information
systems, to management, etc. What I’ve noticed, however, is nature is not at the
forefront of their minds. I hope to see more intersections between business and
sustainability in academics so our future entrepreneurs remember how much
business relies on nature – before it’s too late.
●​ Overall, I’m really excited to learn from so many different people, backgrounds,
and areas of study over the course of this month – not just from the impressive
list of speakers, but also from my fellow students. This is such a unique
opportunity to gain insight from various different sectors and I’m grateful to be a
part of it. Climate change solutions require expertise from the hard sciences,
health sciences, engineering, economics, politics and policymaking, sociology,
and more. This program will be a great way to experience the intersectionality of
all of our focuses in order to bring sustainability to life.

Emmanuel Lobe Ekamby

●​ First, I appreciate the strong diversity of participants at Winter School 2026,

particularly regarding their research backgrounds and interests. I was equally
impressed by the rich profiles of the speakers from various institutes and
organizations involved in this Winter School. This diversity makes the first
session of the school even more compelling and presents a unique opportunity
that I am eager to seize.
●​ Secondly, I learned that nature-based solutions (NbS) are cost-effective and
should be implemented by policymakers, urban planners, and governments to
effectively address climate change and environmental threats. I was pleased that
Professor Marta Vicarelli discussed important aspects of Environmental
Economics, including the significance of economic values. I particularly
appreciate the distinction she made between use and non-use economic values
in the context of sustainability.
●​ Thirdly, I reflect critically on the valuation of NbS in the African context, especially
in rapidly growing cities that face numerous environmental challenges and are
 vulnerable to risks and disasters. My search for solutions to this issue is ongoing,
but I hope to learn more about making NbS both cost-effective and efficient for a
large proportion of people living in Africa, as well as globally, by the end of this
Winter School.

Marcelina Joao; Introduction to Nature Based Solution

●​ Based on the last section, I found it really interesting how nature-based solutions play a
significant role in the economies of the countries. I am very interested in a resource-based
economy. However, I understand that uncontrolled resource exploitation can pose many
environmental challenges.
●​ It is crucial to understand that a resource-based economy can create ecosystem
imbalances, leading to what we now call environmental problems. People need to realize
that the physical support for the economy is nature, so we should all care about
maintaining its balance. For example, if a resource is constantly exploited, that resource
can eventually be exhausted. Since we need resources to sustain each country’s economy
and increase GDP, I truly appreciate the awareness about using nature-based solutions to
protect both nature and resources.
●​ I also found the discussion on “Cost and Effectiveness” interesting, particularly the
distinction between “Direct Use Value and Non-Existence Value.” I strongly believe that
understanding the two concepts can help professionals differentiate the dynamics of
markets when it comes to the economy. In addition to that, it also helps the core value of
the resources. For Example, people can recognize that the great value of the resources
goes beyond their ability to provide tangible physical benefits, but it also contributes to
the general well-being of the society we all live in. But I still have a lot of questions to
understand about the distinction between “Direct Use Value" and "Non-Existence Value.”

Patricia (Tricia) Henegan

●​ Most of the information was a bit similar to a few of my coursework (risk assessment and
program evaluation via cost effectiveness), but the framework of nature-based solutions
is new to me. The introduction and background section was greatly appreciated,
especially the use of nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
To me, this is the ideal because of the strong arguments for one or the other in resource
allocation.
●​ The clarification of cost-benefit analysis only considering the flat value of the
intervention, and not the number of those benefitting that takes me back to the idea that
 who is affected by these decisions. Removing people from analysis can be a scientific
choice to decrease bias in decision making, but it also then becomes a question of ethics
when one person benefits at the cost of others.
●​ I’ve never taken an economics class, but now I kind of want to because of the discussion
following this presentation. The integration of biodiversity and economics makes me feel
like there might be a practical shift in future decision making that is more balanced than
many of the recent decisions being made in the US.

Edward York

1.​ The first major takeaway I have been reflecting upon from the first class was the more
broad definition of economics, and how there are many different school of thought
regarding how to define economics. From scarce resource allocation to quantifying things
such as “future benefit” in measurable terms, I appreciated the broader explination of
economics beyond simply the study of capital economies.
2.​ The second major takeaway from this week was the gradient between the type of costs
and how easy or difficult value is able to be explained or calculated based on the
whatever type of cost, from indirect to direct, are able to be calculated. I am sure that
there are plenty of papers and sources which explain in detail how to calculate seemingly
incalcuable cost, such as future benefit from a forest by future generations, but I would
really be interested in learning more about how each cost is calculated.
3.​ The third major takeaway was the potential for positive and sustainable change that
nature based solutions can have on the environment holistically, mirrored by the damage
done to the climate already. It is diheartenting to learn about damage to the environment
and what is still being done inspite of viable and avaivlible solutions to sustainability
problems, however learning about nature based solutions give me a little bit of hope that
things might improve, and hope can be a real driver of change.

Depre Carr

1.​ I saw a video recently that documents the efforts of restoring an ecosystem in the
highlands of Spain. The forest was almost entirely oak trees, because the forest had been
clear-cut countless times, and the oaks grew back first, stifling the undergrowth. The
excess of oak trees also dried up the water table that fed the river basin, depriving 6
villages of water. Strategic tree cutting allowed sunlight to reach the forest floor,
promoting undergrowth, and relieving the water use of the oaks. Wildlife returned to the
forest, and the organization working on this ecosystem restoration reintroduced vultures,
which control the spread of disease by cleaning carcasses. Imagine what kind of grey
infrastructure would be necessary to replace these ecosystem benefits. A water pumping
station, water treatment, desalination, and maybe water-inport infrastrucute. The presence
 of the vultures significantly reduces the spread of diseases. How much in medical costs
were avoided? And all of this was accomplished by strategic tree cutting and
reintroducing vultures. Here’s a link to the video:
[Link]
2.​ One of the methods for pricing the indirect economic values of ecosystem services is the
replacement cost method. How expensive is the cheapest grey infrastructure substitute for
the service? I reference this method in my first bullet point. If we applied this method to
the revitalization of the river, relieving the drought of 6 villages, we could price it by
calculating the costs of the cheapest alternative to providing the same water supply. This
is only one of multiple methods, but it’s useful in a case like this one.
3.​ I remember how I felt, a year ago, when listening to Professor Vicarelli explain the
breadth of economic values. After years of feeling like the practice of economic study
was failing to capture so much, I learned that that wasn’t fully true, just mainstream
economics as taught to undergraduates. Learning about the subfields of environmental
economics and ecological economics supercharged my learning journey, and being
reminded of it made me very happy.

Kabiru Lawal
●​ My first impression of the class is about the diversity and profile of the participants. I
saw a strong prospect for networking. This is my first summer school experience, and
I am glad I joined the class. I am interested in interdisciplinary research on energy
transition and climate finance. I look forward to building on the momentum from the
first class. I think the facilitators and course selection are also excellent. There is
something for everyone irrespective of their background.
●​ The class gave me an indication that I might be wrong with my view on economic
valuation. While I find an economic approach to issues very objective, I typically
hold skepticism about its ability to effectively address environmental issues in a just
way. The first class gave me the impression that economic valuation might be
sufficient to efficiently allocate costs in the environment. However, I look forward to
seeing how some aspects of sustainability are amenable to economic valuation and
why decision-makers are less interested in them.
●​ Lastly, I look forward to learning from what is being done on the
economy/environment nexus. While we are always talking about economic efficiency,
I believe the world would still need a higher quantity of energy to drive the type of
growth countries aspire to achieve. I want to see examples of countries that have been
able to disaggregate the growth and energy consumption relationship. How feasible
are the projections, even within the energy efficiency pathway? It would be
interesting to see how economic valuation would impact how countries project future
growth vis-a-vis resource consumption.
Dinda Rolobessy

●​ The program’s varied participant group struck me as particularly strong. The mix of
academic fields, professional backgrounds, and cultures kept the discussions lively and
meaningful. Hearing other people’s approaches to addressing sustainability and policy
challenges made me eager to collaborate with them in the future. I believe this kind of
diversity is a real asset, as addressing complex global problems requires teamwork and
shared thinking across disciplines and regions.
●​ Moreover, as someone who has worked in local government on environmental issues
such as coastal land management, I found the materials discussed in the last meeting very
interesting. The discussion aligned well with my professional experience and prompted
me to reflect on how environmental decision-making is closely tied to politics. As a
public policy student, this reinforced that policy outcomes depend not only on scientific
considerations, but also on political priorities, institutional dynamics, and governance
processes.
●​ Lastly, this meeting provided my first in-depth exposure to Nature-Based Solutions.
While I already had some familiarity with environmental management, learning about
these solutions offered a valuable perspective on how nature can be integrated into
policies addressing environmental and climate challenges. I appreciated this approach
because it connects ecological sustainability with social and governance dimensions. This
experience has motivated me to further explore how NBS can be applied in local and
regional policy contexts.