Training programs for contractors
Including NBS in education relevant for becoming a contractor, or promoting in-service training on NBS for these professionals, can promote appropriate use and quality of NBS in construction projects.
Specific Advice
Developing and implementing training programs on NBS for contractors will enable them to consider issues and themes regarding NBS when planning and carrying out projects. Training programs on nature restoration, construction of raingardens, green roofs and so on, can be included as part of formalized education, by ensuring NBS related topics in educational learning objectives or as focused in-service training courses for contractors specifically centred on NBS.
This way contractors who have already finished their formal education will also be able to get educated about NBS. This will contribute to the improved quality of NBS in construction projects and processes. It can potentially also create a ripple effect, by educating workers and other actors in processes concerning for example land use and biodiversity.
Implementing these educational courses, either in formal education or in-service training, can be supported and enhanced by certifying the students in the type of NBS by the end of the course, and setting demands for these certifications to be able to carry out projects. Landscapers and contractors that have been educated on NBS topics can also be supported and encouraged to share their knowledge on NBS to other actors in the projects/value chains.
Working with NBS in the field requires skills and knowledge (photo: Antti Karppinen / Metsähallitus).
Good to Know
If only implementing policies on NBS learning objectives in formalized education, it will require a long time span before these newly educated contractors have made an impact on the market. Training experienced contractors in new methods is therefore also needed.
Providing common training courses for the involved actors on nature impacts before starting a construction project can improve collaboration and effectiveness and reduce disagreements during the construction period.
It can be a positive experience for contractors to get new challenges and be more directly involved in finding good and practical for designing and implementing NBS.
Development of certification programmes or training materials can be included in funding programmes and project calls.
Contractors and machine operators’ lack of knowledge about ecological principles and natural processes can affect the quality of the NBS.
Spending time and resources on trainings can pay off by avoiding expensive and time-consuming changes or even redoing the work.
Context
By facilitating and implementing educational or training processes on NBS for contractors, it is possible to promote the incorporation of considerations for environment, biodiversity, climate and even work environment, when initiating construction or restoration projects that could potentially have a negative environmental impact on one or more areas. This will have an even greater impact, if the training programs also include education in facilitating further dissemination of knowledge on the importance of NBS to other actors in the value chain and projects, so that for example the workers also understand the issues and the means and tools to implement NBS in practice.
There is currently a shortage of contractors with specialized training in NBS. NBS projects can be complex, and for example constructing a rain garden requires insights into hydrology and ecology that are quite different than the insights for installing a drainpipe. Contractors without the knowledge or skills concerning NBS, will risk not implementing it correctly, or not at all, and this can be a barrier for projects, where NBS would otherwise be relevant and important. Therefore, it is critical to ensure that this group of professionals have been properly educated and trained in these competences. Establishing certification schemes and requiring such certifications can make it more attractive for contractors to specialize in various nature-based solutions, thus increasing their competitive advantage as NBS become more mainstream.
Examples and Cases
#NORWAY - In-service education and certification on NBS for actors in restoration projects
In Norway, researchers have been working on a way to ensure that actors in construction projects have the appropriate knowledge on nature and biodiversity, in order to limit nature-intrusion and reduce climate emissions.Since 2020 a ‘green training-course’ has been developed by Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA). The green training course links top-down formally described demands of the project with bottom-up more hands-on solutions. These ‘green courses’ includes training the developer, the construction management and even the machine operators in different areas of nature preservation and restoration before they begin working on the project, so that all stakeholders involved in the project can work together to find solutions, that best take in considerations for the nature.
The green training course has been a key component in the restoration of Hjerkinn – a 165 km2 former military training area in alpine central Norway that was transformed into a National Park between 1999-2020. Completion of the training was mandatory for all the workers involved in the project. According to NINA’s evaluation, projects where the contractors completed the green training course have less negative impact on nature and there are less disagreements during the construction period.The courses are also positively received by the contractors. This involvement of green training courses can be replicated also in smaller, less complex construction projects involving impact on nature.
More information about the project concerning can be found here:
Planter «Grønt kurs» i anleggsbransjen:
https://blogg.forskning.no/plantepressa/planter-gront-kurs-i-anleggsbransjen/1714914[in Norwegian]From military training area to National Park over 20 years: Indicators for outcome evaluation in a large-scale restoration project in alpine Norway:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1617138121001722?via%3Dihub#NORDIC - The EXPERT project for machine operators in ecological restoration projects
The EXPERT project stands for "EXcavator Pro in Ecological Restauration" and is a collaboration between actors in Finland, Norway and Sweden. The project aimed to increase the quality of restoration work in the Barents region by promoting best practices for machine operators working in ecological restoration. Excavators are needed in restoration projects as well as removing barriers in rivers and creating NBS for erosion protection. The project emphasises that when all the involved actors have the same level of knowledge, restoration projects become more cost-effective.
The project arranged workshops and produced teaching materials and films on different restoration topics in Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish langauges. It also led to cooperation and exchange of experiences between the countries that aims to continue after the end of the project.
The project lasted from 2021-2022 and was supported by the EU programme CBC Kolarctic. The project partners were the County Administrative Board of Norrbotten County, Sweden (Länsstyrelsen i Norrbottens län), Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in Lapland (Lapin ELY-keskus), Finland and the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat).
More information about the EXPERT project can be found here:
Excavator Pro in Ecologicial ResToration - EU project website:
EXPERT-prosjektet - NVE project website (in Norwegian):
Expert - ympäristökunnostamisen ammattilainen - Lapin ELY-keskus website (in Finnish):
Learn more
Principles for Delivering Urban Nature-based Solutions:
This 2021 report by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) outlines six principles to guide developers and owners in designing, delivering, and operating urban NBS. It includes methods and case studies to help integrate NBS into urban environments, aiming to enhance climate resilience and environmental net gain.UrbanByNature
is a global capacity-building program by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability that supports cities in integrating NBS into urban planning and development. The program provides a structured approach through a seven-step methodology, helping local governments and communities implement NBS to enhance urban resilience and sustainability. It focuses on fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange to mainstream NBS in urban areas. https://urbanbynature.eu/Construction projects in vulnerable nature
(Byggeprosjekter i sårbar natur). This article from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) discusses the challenges and solutions for conducting construction projects in vulnerable natural areas. The article showcases examples of how NBS can be integrated into construction projects to protect and restore natural habitats while achieving development goals.The Norwegian Green Building Council (Grønn Byggallianse)
is an organisation for businesses in construction and property development that aims to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainable solutions within the sector. This includes educational programmes, guidance and tools, certification schemes and standards that can also promote NBS. https://byggalliansen.no/International Obligations
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, target 16
“Ensure that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reduce the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner, halve global food waste, significantly reduce overconsumption and substantially reduce waste generation, in order for all people to live well in harmony with Mother Earth.”Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, target 21 “
Ensure that the best available data, information and knowledge, are accessible to decision makers, practitioners and the public to guide effective and equitable governance, integrated and participatory management of biodiversity, and to strengthen communication, awareness-raising, education, monitoring, research and knowledge management and, also in this context, traditional knowledge, innovations, practices and technologies of indigenous peoples and local communities should only be accessed with their free, prior and informedconsent2, in accordance with national legislation.”Ramsar Convention
Wetlands conservation and wise use are mainstreamed through communication, capacity development, education, participation and awareness (The CEPA Program).The UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program
By focusing on sites internationally recognized within the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, the MAB Programme strives to promote the exchange and transfer of knowledge on environmental problems.Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
Formal and informal education(o) Implementation of the Framework requires transformative, innovative and transdisciplinary education, formal and informal, at all levels, including science-policy interface studies and lifelong learning processes, recognizing diverse world views, values and knowledge systems of indigenous peoples and local communities;
Sustainable Development Goal 4
“Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.