Participants in the BESIDE Autumn School 2026 explored the role of stakeholder engagement and collaborative decision-making in nature restoration through the serious game Nature’s Edge, developed within the EU-funded A-AAGORA project.
The activity began with an introductory session explaining the game’s objectives, rules and dynamics. Nature’s Edge is available in both digital and physical board game formats, offering different ways to explore stakeholder perspectives and decision-making in nature restoration.
During the Autumn School, participants played the digital version of the game together as a group to become familiar with it. In the final stage, each participant took on the role of a different character representing a particular interest. Through these roles, they experienced how different priorities, competing interests, and negotiation processes can influence decisions regarding nature restoration. The exercise also emphasised the importance of dialogue and collaboration when addressing environmental challenges.
A-AAGORA is an EU-funded project that supports the implementation of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”. The project develops solutions for the restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems, combining scientific knowledge, stakeholder participation and community engagement. A-AAGORA is also one of the EU-funded projects contributing to the BESIDE Platform, bringing valuable experience in participatory approaches, ocean literacy and innovative tools for ecosystem restoration.
By introducing Nature’s Edge during the Autumn School, BESIDE highlighted how serious games can support learning, stakeholder engagement and more inclusive decision-making, strengthening the connection between science, policy and practice.
Explore the Nature’s Edge serious game: https://a-aagora.konnektable.com/games/natures-edge
