The Beskydy Workshop 2024, held from September 24–26 at Hotel Horal in Velké Karlovice, focused on the theme of “Nature-Based Governance: Coevolutionary and Transformative Perspectives on the Biodiversity and Climate Crises.” This scientific gathering brought together researchers and practitioners to explore nature-based governance (NBG) from a coevolutionary and co-creative perspective by responding to people’s and non-human views and for more effective transformation pathways towards inclusive and resilient communities. The event featured several thematic sessions and a special exhibition showcasing nature-based solutions (NBS) practices.
Keynote Presentation: “Nature-Based Governance for a Transforming World?”
The workshop’s keynote address was delivered by Professor Julia Leventon, Head of the Department of Human Dimensions of Global Change at the Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences. Her presentation, “Nature-Based Governance for a Transforming World?” provided a critical perspective on the evolving role of NBG in the context of transformative societal change. Leventon highlighted the scope of transformation required for sustainable futures, emphasizing the complex interplay between biodiversity, climate change, and social injustice. She argued that effective NBG must address not only environmental issues but also the indirect drivers of change, such as economic, political, and social factors, while critically examining the intent behind these systems. Drawing on insights from the ongoing PLUS Change project, Leventon discussed how planning and decision-making for sustainable land use present challenges related to justice, path dependencies, and governance capacities across different levels. She also introduced promising strategies for overcoming these challenges, including transformative learning and co-creation, which aim to integrate sustainability into decision-making cultures.
Thematic Sessions: Addressing Key Aspects of Nature-Based Governance
The workshop featured five thematic sessions that addressed different aspects of NBG. In the first session, “From Adaptation to Transformation,” Elif Tugba Simsek from Czech Globe presented a talk titled “Systems Thinking Approach: An Integrative and Comparative Tool in Diverse Case Studies,” based on research conducted with her colleagues Blanka Loučková, Julia Leventon, Simeon Vaňo, and Patricia Ofori-Amanfo. The presentation explored the application of systems thinking (ST) and leverage points (LPs) as frameworks for sustainability research. Using examples from the PLANET4B project, Simsek demonstrated how these approaches can guide transformative change across various contexts and perspectives.
The following thematic sessions were: “Architecture and Agency of NBG,” “Transformative Learning and Behavior and Policy Change,” “Co-creation of NBG,” and “Multispecies Justice.” In the thematic session “Co-creation of NBG,” Simsek also presented data from her doctoral research. In the presentation titled “Adaptive and Transformative Mechanisms for Nature-Based Governance: A Study of New-Wave Cooperatives in Hungary,” she examined two new cooperative models, Gólya and Cargonomia, that embody solidarity economy principles. The presentation explored how these cooperatives’ internal and external collaborative governance models contribute to NBG strategies, emphasizing the significance of collective action in implementing adaptive and transformative solutions.
In addition to the thematic sessions, the workshop also featured a special session titled “NBS Exchange Practice,” which showcased an open exhibition of nature-based solutions.
The Beskydy Workshop 2024 provided a platform for critical dialogue on the transformative potential of nature-based governance in the face of the biodiversity and climate crises. It underscored the need for multi-level governance approaches requiring a comprehensive understanding of the complex interrelations between ecological, social, and economic systems.
SustainableCZ 
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