CITYNATURE Citizen-powered innovation for inclusive nature protection and restoration

1. Project Rationale and Problem Statement

Despite growing awareness of biodiversity loss, citizen engagement in nature protection and restoration remains fragmented, unevenly supported, and weakly connected to formal decision-making and restoration frameworks. While citizens are increasingly willing to act, their contributions are often underutilized due to:

• Lack of structured pathways for citizen participation

• Limited trust and coordination between citizens, scientists, and authorities

• Insufficient feedback mechanisms showing impact of citizen actions

• Low inclusiveness (youth, rural populations, vulnerable groups underrepresented)

CITINATURE addresses this gap by unlocking the full potential of citizen action as a driver for measurable biodiversity protection and restoration, bridging grassroots action with science, policy, and implementation.

2. Overall Objective

To co-create, test, and scale inclusive, science-based, and policy-relevant citizen action models that significantly contribute to nature protection and ecosystem restoration across diverse European contexts.

3. Specific Objectives

1. Map and analyse existing citizen-led biodiversity initiatives and barriers to impact.

2. Co-design participatory action frameworks linking citizens, scientists, and public authorities.

3. Empower citizens through training, digital tools, and local living labs.

4. Generate high-quality biodiversity data through citizen science aligned with EU standards.

5. Demonstrate tangible restoration outcomes in selected pilot regions.

6. Translate citizen actions into policy-relevant recommendations at local, national, and EU levels.

4. Key Innovations

• Integration of citizen science + restoration action + governance into a single framework.

• Use of digital platforms and AI-supported validation to enhance data quality.

• Living Lab methodology enabling long-term citizen engagement.

• Strong focus on social inclusion, ensuring participation of underrepresented groups.

• Direct alignment with EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and Nature Restoration Law.

5. Methodological Approach

WP1 – Baseline Assessment & Co-creation

• Mapping citizen initiatives and institutional frameworks.

• Stakeholder engagement workshops.

• Development of a Citizen Action Framework.

WP2 – Capacity Building & Engagement

• Citizen training modules (online + local).

• Toolkits for community-led restoration.

• Awareness campaigns.

WP3 – Digital & Citizen Science Tools

• Co-development or adaptation of open digital platforms.

• Data quality assurance and interoperability with EU databases.

• Ethical and privacy-by-design approach.

WP4 – Pilot Actions & Demonstration

• 6–8 pilot regions representing diverse ecosystems.

• Hands-on restoration activities (habitats, pollinators, wetlands, urban nature).

• Monitoring and impact assessment.

WP5 – Impact, Policy Uptake & Scaling

• Policy briefs and guidelines.

• Replication roadmap.

• Engagement with policymakers and EU networks.

6. Expected Outcomes (aligned with the Call)

• Increased quantity and quality of citizen-led biodiversity actions.

• Improved trust and collaboration between citizens and institutions.

• Measurable restoration impacts at local and regional levels.

• Stronger policy integration of citizen-generated data and actions.

• Scalable models for citizen engagement across Europe.

7. Expected Impacts

• Contribution to halting biodiversity loss and restoring degraded ecosystems.

• Empowered citizens as long-term stewards of nature.

• Strengthened democratic participation in environmental governance.

• Enhanced societal ownership of EU biodiversity objectives.