Relational Biodiversity Economics Approach for Assessing, Weaving and Scaling Socio-Economic Models for Biodiversity Restoration, and Community Resilience To Climate Change and Wellbeing

RELATE4NATURE aims to drive systemic and sustained transformations in socio-economic systems, ecological governance, and human-nature relations to secure a biodiversity-positive, climate resilient, and socially just future. We respond to the global challenge of a lack of socio-economic models for recognising and embedding relational values (e.g., wellbeing, social cohesion, justice) alongside instrumental and intrinsic values in public and private decision-making. We provide synthesised and prioritised tools, methods and pathways to public and private decision-makers for assessing and scaling alternative socio-economic models. Each model will prioritise the weaving of relational, instrumental and intrinsic values of nature. RELATE4NATURE co-develops, co-pilots and co-evaluates innovative combinations of established and alternative models tailored to the impact areas of agriculture and rewilding, green energy and biodiversity, nature-positive urban and regional planning, and ecological guardianship. Within each area, we identify individual, legislative and governance barriers and enablers to scaling alternative socio-economic models and a plural valuation analytical framework for measuring their success. AI-Guided Tools (e.g., AI-guided spatial decision-support tool, immersive environments, serious games) support the co-creation of pathways for embedding promising governance, finance and legal strategies into biodiversity and climate decision-making. Through the RELATE4NATURE Multi-Actor Approach, Local Pilot Alliances act as a platform and testbeds for alternative socio-economic models, valuation methods, and policy and governance innovations, while facilitating cross-case learning. Through the International Knowledge Exchange Network (IKEN), we will scale up alternative socio-economic models across Europe, New Zealand, Ecuador and internationally, while securing a longer-term and wider legacy through input from the IUCN Academy and PANORAMA Solutions platforms.