United Kingdom

MACC PROJECT: Joined Up Landscapes

Joined Up Landscapes (JUL) examines opportunities to enhance the contribution of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to climate change adaptation in the UK in the medium to long term.
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  • December 3, 2025
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Summary

Joined Up Landscapes (JUL) examines opportunities to enhance the contribution of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to climate change adaptation in the UK in the medium to long term. The project aims to examine the conditions under which NBS can make the greatest contribution to climate adaptation in the UK through multi-functional landscapes, which balance carbon sequestration, flood risk management, and biodiversity net gain with other land uses such as food production.

JUL is a transdisciplinary research project, led by the Centre for Food Policy at City St George’s, University of London, which brings together researchers and practitioners to build new knowledge that shapes land use policy and practice.

Project details

Research questions

  1. How can we effectively manage, govern, and scale NbS in the medium-long term?
  2. How can we effectively integrate NbS within multifunctional landscapes in the UK?
  3. How can we enhance the contributions of NbS to climate change adaptation in the UK under different climate scenarios?

Research areas

  • Landscapes: opportunities to enhance the contribution of NbS to multifunctional landscapes
  • Governance: opportunities to enhance the governance and management of NbS in practice
  • Climate Change Adaptation: the potential of NbS to contribute to climate change adaptation in the UK under different climate change scenarios

Approach

Joined Up Landscapes combines a wide range of academic disciplines with practical action. The project team collaborates with farmers, land managers, non-governmental organisations, and policymakers to ensure that the research can positively impact policy and practice. The project is committed to ensuring that the research contributes to land and food futures that are sustainable, resilient, and equitable.

Structure of Joined Up Landscapes

Work Package 1: Review of nature-based solutions
Work Package 2: Rapid qualitative assessment of nature-based solutions
Work Package 3: Test and trial
Work Package 4: System dynamics modelling
Work Package 5: Reflective capacity building, pedagogy, and knowledge exchange

Contact

This project is co-lead by Dr Christian Reynolds and Dr Christopher Yap and is managed by Dr Elaine Hudson. Find out more on the project website