New article in Discover Water

Focusing on the EU Horizon 2020 project NEXOGENESIS, researchers found that despite explicit goals to incorporate ecosystems into an expanded “WEFE Nexus,” most case studies lacked a clear definition of what ecosystems actually entail. Instead, the concept was often treated as assumed background knowledge, leading to varied interpretations across project sites in Europe and South Africa.

This ambiguity, combined with overlaps between sectors and limited data availability, made it difficult to translate ecosystem considerations into concrete methods, measurements, and decision-making tools.

The findings suggest that even well-funded, high-level projects can struggle to meaningfully operationalise ecosystems within integrated frameworks. Without clearer definitions and better data, ecosystem components risk remaining abstract rather than actionable.

Drawing on these insights, the study offers practical guidance for future projects aiming to strengthen ecosystem integration in Nexus approaches. The authors emphasize that clearer conceptualisation and implementation strategies will be essential to fully harness the role of ecosystems in supporting sustainable water, energy, and food systems.

The paper is a result of an interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers within UUniCORN.