Written by: Anželika Dautartė, VMU

Read also in:

From scientific knowledge to practical learning: ᴇNᴀBʟS results reach vocational educators in Lithuania

How can Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) become more than theoretical knowledge and translate into practical skills? This is one of ᴇNᴀBʟS’ central aims.

On 22 October 2026, ᴇNᴀBʟS activities and results were presented at the national conference “The Relationship between Humans and Nature”, held at Kaunas Technology Training Centre. The event brought together 50 teachers from 11 vocational education and training institutions across six Lithuanian counties, alongside representatives of Agro Future.

Associate Professor Dr Anželika Dautartė, Head of the Department of Environment and Ecology at the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Ecology, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) Agriculture Academy, delivered a presentation entitled “Nature-Based Solutions for People and the Environment: How Does Nature Help Us Adapt to Climate Change?”. She explored how natural processes can help reduce the risks associated with heatwaves, heavy rainfall, floods and droughts while contributing to biodiversity conservation and human well-being.

Particular attention was given to the educational resources developed by ᴇNᴀBʟS and their potential use in vocational education and training. Participants learned about the Lithuanian Living Lab, where scientific research, experiential learning and collaboration among diverse stakeholders come together to explore nature-based solutions.

A key highlight was the Lithuanian-language “Teacher Training Guide”, which combines the theoretical foundations of ecology and NBS with practical activities addressing environmental risk management, food production, water resource management and urban development. Its value as a teaching resource was illustrated through discussion questions, educational walks, practical experiments, problem-solving tasks and guidance on adapting activities to different groups of learners.

Participants were also introduced to two ᴇNᴀBʟS training modules: NBS Basics Module: an introduction to NBS and NBS in Practice Module: Municipal Development and Planning. These modules support the transition from understanding NBS concepts to applying them in practice, encouraging learners to explore their surroundings, analyse climate change challenges and identify sustainable solutions.

The VMU Arboretum 360° virtual tour also attracted interest. This digital educational resource enables users to explore the Arboretum’s plant diversity remotely and offers opportunities to develop learning activities and practical assignments using a virtual environment.

Sharing ᴇNᴀBʟS results with 50 vocational educators in Lithuania marks an important step towards strengthening links between science and education. The project aims to ensure that knowledge about biodiversity and nature-based solutions reaches teachers, learners and local communities and provides a foundation for practical change.