6 October 2026
Written by: Tigran Keryan and Verena Radinger, BOKU
As part of ᴇNᴀBʟS’ Austrian Living Lab, Landscapes4Future, BOKU University is strengthening the integration of biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) into higher education by connecting theoretical knowledge with hands-on learning experiences in real-world settings.
A central element of this approach is the integration of NBS and biodiversity concepts into BOKU courses, where students engage with topics such as ecosystem services, landscape planning, and sustainable land-use approaches. By working with concrete examples and applying interdisciplinary perspectives, students learn to understand landscapes as complex social–ecological systems in which ecological, economic, and societal dimensions are closely interconnected. Read here about how students explored how cities can respond to the challenges of climate change through innovative planning approaches as part of the interdisciplinary course Urban Climate and Environmental Meteorology at BOKU University.
During the summer semester, a multidisciplinary team from BOKU University, involving experts from different departments and institutes in landscape planning, conservation, ecosystem research, biology, and zoology, organised the elective course “Introduction to Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services” for bachelor students in Landscape Planning.
In the first part of the course, students explored the fundamental concepts of biodiversity, ecosystem services and NBS in a lecture format, considering their relevance for sustainable landscape management. In the second part, students applied this knowledge during field excursions, where they investigated real-world landscapes and conducted their own field-based research together with the interdisciplinary teaching team.
As part of this learning journey, students visited the Alte Schanzen area in Vienna’s 22nd district, which represents a valuable case study for exploring different landscape types: the site includes protected areas such as dry grasslands (Trockenrasen), agricultural areas, and recreational spaces, allowing students to observe interactions between biodiversity, land use, and human activities.
During the excursion, students worked in groups to explore different aspects of the landscape, including biodiversity values, recreational and leisure activities, ecosystem services, and challenges related to landscape management. The field experience enabled students to directly observe ecological characteristics and discuss how different land-use practices influence biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and societal benefits. Through observations and group discussions, students reflected on possible approaches for enhancing biodiversity and implementing NBS in local contexts.
The activities at BOKU contribute to the broader goals of the ᴇNᴀBʟS project by promoting transformative learning approaches that connect scientific knowledge, practical experience, and societal perspectives. Such approaches equip future professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to design more sustainable, resilient, and biodiversity-friendly landscapes.
At the end of the course, student groups presented their work through posters and oral presentations, followed by discussions and questions from peers and teachers. Student feedback was collected to improve further the course, which will be offered again in the upcoming summer semester.
Through this Living Lab-based educational approach, BOKU demonstrates how universities can serve as spaces for learning, experimentation, and collaboration to advance Nature-Based Solutions and biodiversity conservation.
