It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
A new practical introductory guide on green roofs and walls to EU member states and local stakeholders launched to support the implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation
The report is prepared by the Science Service for Biodiversity under BioAgora
and it shows building-integrated greenery is a scalable, evidence-based solution for nature restoration, urban biodiversity conservation and climate resilience in cities.
Green roofs and green walls are no longer niche design features but proven, scalable nature-based solutions that can significantly enhance biodiversity, climate resilience, energy efficiency and human wellbeing in European cities. This is a central finding of a new knowledge synthesis report prepared by the Science Service for Biodiversity that is being developed by BioAgora in response to a relevant knowledge request submitted by DG Environment to the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD).
The report, titled Implementing green roofs and walls: lessons from European experiences, draws on extensive scientific literature, expert knowledge and 46 real-world case studies from across Europe to assess how building-integrated greenery can support urban ecosystem restoration and climate adaptation objectives. It directly supports the implementation of both the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, particularly their urban ecosystem restoration/greening targets, by providing practical guidance for local authorities, planners and policymakers.
Evidence-based benefits for cities
According to the report, green roofs and green walls deliver measurable benefits across multiple policy domains. The projects examined in the report demonstrate substantial stormwater retention, reductions in urban heat stress, energy savings for buildings, and support for urban biodiversity - including pollinators, birds and other species that inhabit urbanised areas.
Extensive green roofs remain the most widely implemented system across Europe, largely due to their low weight, relatively low cost and compatibility with existing buildings. However, the report highlights that semi-intensive and intensive green roofs, as well as vertical greening systems, can deliver significantly higher biodiversity, social and microclimatic benefits when supported by appropriate design, governance and maintenance frameworks.
Green walls - ranging from traditional climbers to engineered living wall systems - are shown to contribute to cooling, improvement of air quality and habitat provision, particularly in dense urban areas where ground-level space is limited.
Supporting the EU climate and biodiversity goals
The report situates green roofs and walls within the broader EU policy landscape, showing how they contribute not only to the NRR, but also to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, EU climate adaptation strategies and urban water management frameworks.
By transforming underused rooftops and façades into functional green infrastructure, cities can expand urban green space without competing for scarce land. These systems also act as ecological “stepping stones”, strengthening connectivity between fragmented habitats and supporting pollinator recovery - a key EU priority.
Design, governance and long-term performance matter
A key message of the report is that performance depends on how green roofs and walls are designed, implemented and managed over time. Biodiversity outcomes are strongly influenced by substrate depth, vegetation diversity, structural complexity and integration into wider urban green networks.
The report also identifies governance and financing as major barriers to wider uptake. Fragmented regulations, skills gaps, and uncertainty around maintenance responsibilities continue to limit implementation in many regions, particularly in parts of Eastern Europe.
Successful examples across Europe demonstrate the high value added of hybrid governance models that combine public leadership with private investment and community engagement. Participatory approaches, biodiversity monitoring and adaptive management are highlighted as underused but high-impact strategies for improving long-term effectiveness and public acceptance.
Actionable guidance for local authorities
Based on its analysis, the report offers clear policy options for cities and regions. These include embedding green roofs and walls into spatial planning and building codes, introducing targeted incentives, and using performance-based planning tools to prioritise multifunctional outcomes.
The report also highlights emerging innovations, including bio-solar roofs that combine vegetation with photovoltaic systems, blue-green roofs for enhanced water retention, and the use of digital tools, sensors and remote sensing to support monitoring and decision-making.
A strategic asset for Europe’s urban future
By consolidating evidence from both research and practice, the report significantly reduces uncertainty around the utility of green roofs and walls. It provides a robust, action-oriented knowledge base to help cities meet restoration targets while improving quality of life for urban residents.
As European cities face increasing pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss and urban densification, the report concludes that building integrated greenery should be treated not only as an optional add-on but as essential infrastructure that strongly supports in the transition toward resilient, healthy and nature-positive urban environments.
About the report
The report was prepared by a multidisciplinary expert group coordinated by the BioAgora project and the Science Service for Biodiversity, in response to a policy request from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment to the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD). It is published by the Publications Office of the European Union and is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence.
Funded by the European Union under grant agreement No. 101059438, BIO-Agora (Bio Knowledge Agora: Developing the Science Service for European Research and Biodiversity Policymaking). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Citation:
Enzi, V., Manso, M., Aires, A., Catalano, C., Gedge, D. et al., Implementing green roofs and walls: lessons from European experiences, Vierikko, K., Orta-Ortiz, M.S., Nieminen, H., Vasilakopoulos, P. and Velasco Gomez, D.M. (editors), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2026, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/8059292, JRC145552.
Animals are powerful landscape engineers shaping the Earth’s surface, global study finds
Global meta-analysis led by Queen Mary University of London quantifies how wildlife shapes landscapes
Queen Mary University of London
Wild animals are not just inhabitants of the natural world. Many also act as natural landscape engineers, reshaping the Earth’s surface as they burrow, feed and build shelters that move soil and sediment across ecosystems.
From animals disturbing riverbeds to burrowing species redistributing soil, wildlife constantly modifies the physical structure of landscapes through everyday activities.
A global meta-analysis led by Dr Zareena Khan and Professor Gemma Harvey from Queen Mary University of London analysed data from 64 studies covering 61 species of wild animals across freshwater and terrestrial environments.
The researchers found that animal activity altered geomorphic processes by an average of 136 percent in freshwater ecosystems and 66 percent in terrestrial environments.
Published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, the study shows how animal activity can significantly influence the movement of soil and sediment across landscapes.
The research found that animals consistently increased the porosity of soils and sediments and reduced the amount of fine material present. These changes influence how water and sediment move through ecosystems and can affect processes such as erosion, river behaviour and landscape development.
Dr Zareena Khan said:
“Animals are constantly redistributing soils and sediments through their everyday activities. When these actions accumulate across landscapes and over time, they can significantly influence how landscapes evolve.”
Professor Gemma Harvey added:
“Our findings show that animals can act as important geomorphic agents. Recognising their role helps us develop a more complete understanding of how landscapes change.”
The study examined species from nine different taxonomic classes, spanning environments from rivers and lakes to terrestrial ecosystems.
The findings build on Professor Harvey’s wider research into animals as landscape engineers. In 2025, she led the first global synthesis identifying more than 600 animal taxa that influence Earth surface processes, highlighting the diversity of species that shape landscapes through their activities.
The new study provides quantitative evidence of how strongly animal activity can modify geomorphic processes across ecosystems.
The researchers say many species remain understudied, meaning the overall influence of wildlife on landscape change may be greater than current data suggests.
Understanding the role animals play in shaping landscapes could help scientists better predict how ecosystems respond to environmental change and biodiversity loss.
Chronic wounds affect approximately 2% of the population in developed countries. Existing treatments are expensive and may cause side effects. In his doctoral thesis, Amal D. Premarathna shows that a promising alternative to synthetic wound care treatments may come from nature—namely, algae. Some beneficial algae species are also found in Estonia.
Amal D. Premarathna, who recently defended his doctoral thesis at Tallinn University, demonstrates that polysaccharides extracted from various seaweeds and freshwater cyanobacteria possess remarkable bioactive properties. His research shows that these natural compounds can accelerate wound healing, reduce inflammation, and protect skin cells from UV-induced damage. These findings highlight their potential as alternatives to synthetic treatments for chronic wounds, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
His doctoral research investigated polysaccharides derived from diverse algal sources, including red, green, and brown seaweeds collected from Estonian coastal waters, the shores of Sri Lanka, the coasts of South Africa, Canadian coastal waters, as well as commercially available materials. Using advanced analytical techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and chromatography, Amal characterized the chemical structures of these complex sugar molecules and evaluated their biological activities in laboratory studies using human skin, immune, and intestinal cells.
Algae support wound healing in multiple ways
A fucoidan polysaccharide extracted from the brown seaweed Macrocystis pyrifera demonstrated an exceptional ability to protect skin cells against UV-induced damage while simultaneously activating immune cells, a dual effect valuable for both therapeutic and cosmetic applications. Another compound from the red seaweed Furcellaria lumbricalis, found in Estonian coastal waters, significantly enhanced skin cell migration and proliferation, which are key processes in wound closure.
“We discovered that the biological activity of these polysaccharides is closely linked to their specific structural features, including molecular weight, sugar composition, and sulfate content,” explains Amal. This means we can now begin to select or design seaweed extracts for specific medical applications based on their chemical fingerprints. The research also revealed that polysaccharides from the cyanobacterium Nostoc sp., collected from freshwater ponds in Harjumaa, Estonia, exhibited strong anti-inflammatory effects. Their bioactivity was further enhanced by naturally associated proteins, opening new avenues for understanding how these natural complexes function.
Chronic wounds are also associated with high treatment costs, exceeding $25 billion annually in the United States alone. Current therapies are often expensive and may cause side effects. Seaweed-based alternatives, derived from sustainably harvestable marine resources, could provide more affordable and safer options, particularly in regions with limited access to advanced healthcare.
Proven results
Amal’s thesis work provides scientific validation for these traditional uses and opens the door to developing new, evidence-based natural products. The research was further validated using an animal wound model, in which oral administration of seaweed extract significantly accelerated wound closure compared to untreated controls, with no observed toxic effects on liver or kidney function.
These findings have potential applications in pharmaceutical development, advanced wound dressings, skincare products, and functional foods. The next steps include further preclinical studies and formulation development to translate these laboratory discoveries into practical applications for human health.
The doctoral thesis is based on ten peer-reviewed scientific articles, in which Amal D. Premarathna is the first author, published in leading international journals, including Food Hydrocolloids and International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
Study challenges neo-liberal higher education model by revisiting Confucius’ dual ideals of the ideal individual and social order
Research draws on Confucian ideals of man (Junzi) and social order (Tianxia), proposing a Confucius-inspired framework for reimagining higher education
Higher education systems worldwide are grappling with an identity crisis. The Anglo-American Research University, the globally dominant model of higher education, has been increasingly criticized for its overreliance on neo-liberal values—reducing education to economic outputs, framing students as consumers, and prioritizing institutional rankings over human flourishing. At the same time, rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and the unprecedented massification of higher education are reshaping the very conditions under which universities operate. Since 1990, the global proportion of young people participating in tertiary education has surged from 14% to 40%. Against this backdrop, scholars are turning to diverse intellectual traditions to reimagine what higher education should aspire to be.
In a study made available online on March 17, 2026, Catherine Yuan Gao from Southern University of Science and Technology and Rui Yang from The University of Hong Kong revisit the foundational philosophy of Confucius to propose a fresh conceptual framework for reimagining higher education. Drawing primarily on The Analects—the most authoritative source of Confucius’ teachings—the study focuses on two interconnected ideals: Junzi (君子), the ideal individual, and Tianxia (天下), the envisioned social order, and explores how higher education serves as the bridge between them.
“Every higher education model is underpinned by imagined specific ideals of personhood and societal organization,” explain both authors. “Grasping these ideals is crucial for comprehending and evaluating the relevance and effectiveness of any higher education practice in addressing the societal needs and challenges of its era.”
Central to Confucius’ vision is the concept of Junzi—the ideal individual who cultivates virtue not for personal gain but in service of the collective good. The Junzi’s development is defined by a set of relational roles—as son, brother, friend, subordinate, and ruler—each governed by corresponding virtues such as filial piety (Xiao 孝), trustworthiness (Xin 信), and love for others (Airen 爱人). The ultimate standard guiding the Junzi is Ren (仁)—humanity or man-to-manness—which Confucius described as simultaneously an internal aspiration and a relational practice: “Is Ren truly distant? No sooner do I desire it than it becomes attainable” (The Analects, 7:30).
Complementing the ideal of the Junzi is Confucius’ vision of Tianxiayoudao—a well-ordered society in which each person occupies a defined role and fulfills corresponding duties. Social order, in Confucius’ formulation, is maintained not through coercion alone but through Li (礼)—rites and propriety—and above all through De (德), the internal quality of those in leadership. When rulers govern through De, their moral authority naturally inspires subjects to emulate virtuous conduct.
The study adopts the “Confucius pragmatic paradigm” to interpret The Analects, emphasizing the situational and participatory nature of Confucius’ teachings. This approach treats each utterance as a speech act in which the speaker’s intentions are as important as the literal meaning. Through this lens, the researchers show how Confucius’ two ideals are inseparably linked through the practice of self-cultivation (Xiushen 修身)—simultaneously a personal endeavor and a civic responsibility—positioning higher education as a lifelong, relational, and ethically purposeful process.
The researchers identify four distinctive characteristics of Confucius’ educational vision that set it apart from dominant Western models. It is relational: rather than foregrounding the autonomous individual, Confucius positions relationships as both the origin and the goal of education. It is contextualized and practicable: teachings are always situated, adaptive, and action-oriented, reflecting the principle of “unity of knowledge and action.” It is inward-calling: self-regulation stems from internal motivation rather than external enforcement, resonating with Humboldt’s concept of Bildung. And it is unified and coherent: individual self-cultivation and the construction of social order are woven into a single, inexhaustible pursuit, captured in Confucius’ maxim, “My way is to thread it all together as one” (The Analects, 4:15).
The authors acknowledge that Confucius’ ideals carry inherent limitations. During the Spring and Autumn period, access to education was largely restricted to the nobility, and his curriculum placed less emphasis on practical and productive knowledge such as agriculture. Yet the researchers argue that these limitations do not diminish the framework’s contemporary relevance. With the global massification of higher education creating unprecedented levels of educated populations, and with AI poised to transform labor markets and knowledge production, established paradigms of the ideal individual and social order urgently require rethinking.
“Today, broader access to higher education allows more people to envision and work toward ideals that transcend personal interests,” note both authors, “It is time to move beyond the narrow, competitive vision of neoliberal higher education and reimagine what it means to educate people for a fragmented yet deeply interconnected world.”
By recovering and recontextualizing Confucius’ insights, this study invites scholars, policymakers, and educators to look beyond the Anglo-American university model for intellectual resources adequate to the challenges of the AI age—challenges that demand not merely technical skills but a renewed sense of relational responsibility, ethical purpose, and global solidarity.
An international team of researchers from LMU, the University of Zurich, and further partners investigated ash residues from incense burners. The substances they discovered show that Pompeii was part of a global trade network.
An international team of researchers analyzed ash residues from incense burners in Pompeii and obtained new insights into the offerings that Roman families burned to their domestic gods.
The team found the first-ever archaeological evidence for the burning of incense and wine in domestic rituals in Pompeii.
The incense probably came from tropical rainforests in India or Africa – evidence for the inhabitants of Pompeii participating in far-reaching trade networks.
Munich, 23 March 2026 – The destruction of Pompeii preserved ash residues on the household altars of its inhabitants. An international research team has scientifically investigated for the first time what was burned in Roman incense burners from Pompeii – and discovered something surprising: In addition to native plants, the people used imported aromatic substances from Africa or Asia. This indicates that Pompeii was part of a global trade network.
In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried Roman Pompeii and many other towns and villas in the vicinity. The catastrophe for the people of the time is a boon for today’s archaeology thanks to the unique preservation conditions. One of the things preserved by the volcanic ash was the ash in the incense burners with which Romans offered sacrifices to their gods. The ash from two such ritual vessels from Pompeii and a nearby villa has now been analyzed using a range of state-of-the-art laboratory techniques.
Exotic tree resins from Africa or Asia
“We can now pinpoint which fragrances were actually burned in Pompeian domestic cult practices,” says Johannes Eber from the University of Zurich, who led the study. “Alongside regional plants, we found traces of imported resins – an indicator of Pompeii’s far-reaching trade connections.” Particularly notable: In one vessel, the researchers identified residues from an exotic tree resin that probably comes from tropical regions of Africa or Asia. “Molecular analyses also point to a grape product in one of the incense burners,” says Maxime Rageot from the University of Bonn, who carried out the biomolecular investigations for the study. “This would be consistent with the use of wine in rituals as portrayed in Roman imagery and described in texts. At the same time, it demonstrates the importance of supplementing archaeological studies with scientific analyses,” observes Rageot. “The combination of various cutting-edge chemical and microscopic investigation techniques makes the everyday religious practices of the people in Pompeii suddenly tangible,” explains LMU archaeologist Philipp W. Stockhammer, whose ERC research group initiated the study.
Far-reaching trade network almost 2,000 years ago
Pompeii Archeological Park, which recently established a new permanent exhibition about the eruption and its victims, in which it presents a large number of organic finds such as plant residues, foods, and wooden objects, underscores the importance of these kinds of studies: “Without Pompeii, our knowledge of the Roman world would be poorer,” says director of the park, Gabriel Zuchtriegel. “Yet it holds a wealth of data and insights that only contemporary archaeological practices can properly access. Thanks to interdisciplinary collaboration with other sciences, we can still discover many things about life in the ancient city.”
The investigation shows that Pompeii was not just a Roman city near Mount Vesuvius – but part of a global trade network whose traces can even be found in the aromas of their household altars.
Chicks, just like pets, also benefit from gentle human touch, new research has revealed. Scientists at the University of Bristol have discovered that gentle human interactions do not only prevent fear in baby chicks but also triggers positive emotions. The findings offer new insights into how early-life handling affects the welfare of young farm animals.
Early interactions with humans are known to influence farm animals’ behaviour and stress levels, yet it has remained unclear whether animals really experience gentle handling as emotionally positive.
In this study, published in Animal Welfare today [30 March], researchers from Bristol Veterinary School used a “conditioned place preference” test, a method commonly used in neuroscience to explore what animals remember of past experiences. The key principle is simple, animals should develop a learnt preference for places where they felt good/better.
Twenty domestic chicks from a laying hen strain were trained in a two‑chamber set‑up, each marked with different colour cues. After their initial preferences were recorded, the chicks completed a series of pairing sessions.
One chamber with gentle human handling, slow stroking and soft speech, and the other with a neutral human presence, still and silent.
When tested after the conditioning sessions, the chicks consistently spent more time in the chamber previously associated with gentle human handling, demonstrating a positive association with this experience.
Crucially, the chicks did not avoid the chamber linked to neutral human presence, indicating their behaviour suggested attraction to the gentle‑handling environment rather than avoidance of the neutral human presence.
Dr Ben Lecorps, Senior Lecturer at Bristol Veterinary School, and the study’s principal investigator, said: “Our findings show that gentle human contact can trigger positive emotions in young chicks. The study demonstrates how simple, calm handling has the potential to shape the human-animal relationship from fear-inducing to positive and consequently improve the chicks’ welfare.”
The study’s results highlight how humans can play a meaningful role in shaping animals’ early affective experiences, with potential benefits for husbandry practices and welfare assessment frameworks.
