User Guide

Welcome to the Biodiversity Engagement Courses, this resource has been developed as part of the PLANET4B project to support more inclusive and creative approaches to biodiversity decision making. It introduces a range of methods that invite participation, open up dialogue, and connect everyday practices to broader ecological challenges.

The PLANET4B project ran between 2022–2025, and asked how can we make better decisions for biodiversity and people on individual and institutional level? Over the course of the project 16 international partners carried out transdisciplinary, action-oriented, participatory research across 11 place-based and sectoral case studies in Europe. Project partners explored how factors such as gender, age, culture, disability and values intersect to shape attitudes, norms and behaviours.  

In this video Alex Franklin introduces PLANET4B and explains the aims and vision of the project:

How to Use the Course

In this course you can expect practical introductions to engagement methods, supported by step-by-step guidance, examples, and resources developed through PLANET4B. The course will guide you in developing and adapting engagement methods, support you in building the skills needed for effective facilitation, and deepen your ability to connect biodiversity with wider social and ecological concerns. The course is organised into the following sections, though you can also navigate directly to any unit or lesson and work through the material in a way that suits your needs and interests:

• Introduction to Biodiversity - In PLANET4B, biodiversity is understood not only as an ecological concern but also as a matter of justice, governance, and creativity. In this module, we explain key ecological aspects of biodiversity and introduce how these ideas were framed and explored within PLANET4B.
• Introduction to Engagement Methods - Engagement methods are practical approaches that bring people into dialogue, reflection and action around complex issues. In this module we explore how, within PLANET4B, these methods showed their potential to make biodiversity governance more inclusive, creative and responsive by opening up space for diverse voices and perspectives.
• Working with a Learning Community – Learning Communities are groups of people brought together by a shared interest in a particular issue, challenge, or opportunity. These groups formed the backbone of much of the PLANET4B project. In this module, we distil those experiences into an introduction on how collaborative groups can be enabled to work together in research, decision-making and advocacy.
• Designing and Delivering Impact – Impact is a critical part of working with engaging, creative, and participatory methods. Drawing on learning from PLANET4B, this module offers guidance on planning, evidencing, and communicating the changes that such methods can support.
• Spotlight Method Modules – Fifteen individual engagement methods were selected from across the PLANET4B project. Each module includes useful links, partner videos, and practical how-to guides showcasing how the featured method can be designed and applied to open dialogue, foster reflection, and support inclusive biodiversity engagement.
• Snapshot Method Guides– These are short descriptions that extend the range of methods available. Some were trialled within PLANET4B, while others are included as further examples of how biodiversity-related engagement might be approached. Each method guide provides accessible ways to spark dialogue, stimulate creativity, and engage diverse groups with biodiversity.
• PLANET4B Case Studies – This section presents the case studies in detail, outlining their locations, focus areas and main activities.

Click below to enter the Introduction to Biodiversity module, or return to the course overview page to begin with a different section.