Nature-based Solutions for Water and Land Management

Cranfield University Nature based solutions, water and land management

Target Audience

The course is open to delegates from a variety of backgrounds, including environmental scientists, biologists, civil and environmental engineers, and those interested in using ecological principles to solve environmental challenges in urban and rural settings.

Description

With the ever increasing need to deliver sustainable solutions for water and land management worldwide, being able to assess potential nature based solutions (NbS) in different contexts will become a key skill for all designers, regulators, consultants, academics, and NGOs involved in environmental studies. The course is supported by the International Water Association, the Constructed Wetland Association (CWA)British Water and The Nature Conservancy.

 

Core contents:
  • Principles of ecological engineering,
  • Regulatory, social, environmental and economic drivers,
  • The importance of multipurpose designs,
  • Environmental and economic quantification of NBS benefits,
  • Ecosystem services accounting and life cycle analysis,
  • Treatment wetlands for wastewater treatment,
  • Technologies for urban and rural water management,
  • Sustainable urban drainage systems,
  • Green roofs and walls,
  • Industrial wastewater treatment with NbS,
  • Municipal wastewater treatment with NbS,
  • Natural flood management,
  • Ecosystem restoration,
  • Environmental connectivity and wildlife corridors,
  • Integrating NbS in the circular economy.

Learning Objectives

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  • Describe, contextualise and explain nature based solutions to technical and non-technical audiences,
  • Quantify benefits from an economic, social and environmental standpoint,
  • Recognise best practice and identify current limitations of nature based solutions,
  • Identify trade-offs of key nature based solutions examples.