Land degradation is a widespread problem across the globe with serious consequences for the environment and all of society. Worsening land degradation caused by human activities is undermining the well-being of two-fifths of humanity, driving species extinctions and intensifying climate change. But there’s a huge potential for restoring landscapes: around two billion hectares of land, about two times the size of China, can be restored.
In this MOOC we focus on the potential of business model innovation for the challenge of large-scale landscape restoration. We take a partnership approach and make a bridge between ecology and economy. Learners get to design their own innovative business model for landscape restoration with 4 returns: return of natural capital, return of social capital, return of inspiration and return of financial capital. You move from ideation towards successful implementation. Each step is illustrated with three real-life cases of landscape restoration in Spain, Iceland and Portugal.
We highlight the following elements over a period of 8 weeks:
1. Vision Formulation
2. Systems Analysis
3. Stakeholder Analysis
4. Opportunity Analysis
5. Business Model Design
6. Solution Validation
7. Assessment & Monitoring
8. Reflection & Iteration
This MOOC provides you with a meaningful opportunity to start contributing to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/ ), which aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. Your participation is more relevant now than ever!
This MOOC builds on the MOOC "A Business Approach to Sustainable Landscape Restoration" but can also be followed as a stand-alone. In the first MOOC you get comprehensive knowledge of landscape degradation and landscape restoration from both the perspective of natural science and from an economics and management perspective. (https://www.coursera.org/learn/landscape-restoration-sustainable-development/home/welcome )
These MOOCs are designed by ENABLE, a consortium of: Erasmus University Rotterdam, Commonland, United Nations University Land Restoration Training Programme, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC-CEBAS), and Nova School of Business & Economics. ENABLE was co-funded by the Erasmus+-programme of the European Union.
Welcome to this 8-week course on ‘Business model innovation for sustainable landscape restoration’! Your teachers will introduce you to the process of business model innovation, the concept of landscape restoration and to 3 real-life cases of landscape restoration projects. For each step of the innovation process, we zoom in on those landscapes to show you how the theory looks in practice. By doing this, you will apply the “4 returns” thinking (returns of inspiration, natural capital, social capital and financial capital). Week 1 introduces you to the problem of landscape degradation and the process of landscape restoration. You will also learn about the role of business models in landscape restoration and how important visions are for sustainable business model innovation. We will introduce you to our 3 practical example cases of landscape restoration. Each of these cases has encountered different problems related to landscape degradation and formulated innovative solutions by using the approach set out in this MOOC: the power of sustainable business models to successfully restore natural environments. You will choose a land degradation challenge and formulate a vision and key question.
Introduction - Zooming in on landscape restoration•7 minutes
Getting started•3 minutes
IN THEORY - Land degradation as a grand societal challenge•7 minutes
IN THEORY - Land restoration partnerships•6 minutes
IN THEORY - Sustainable business model innovation for landscape restoration•6 minutes
IN THEORY - Discovering your means•2 minutes
IN PRACTICE -Introduction to the Hekluskógar restoration project in Iceland•5 minutes
IN PRATICE - Introduction to crop diversification and low input farming in southeastern Spain•6 minutes
IN PRATICE - Introduction to forest fires and project CAuSA in Portgual•8 minutes
Unlock a joke•0 minutes
Formulating a shared vision•3 minutes
Landscape restoration partnerships - Interviews with landscape restoration partners•7 minutes
Vision formulation – Interviews with landscape restoration partners•15 minutes
9 readings•Total 243 minutes
Instruction on assessment•5 minutes
Helpful links•20 minutes
Workbook: Introduction and vision formulation•150 minutes
Teams only•1 minute
About this week's optional videos•1 minute
Watch the video: Let's talk about soil•6 minutes
UNCCD Report - Global land outlook•20 minutes
UNCCD Report - Land degradation neutrality•20 minutes
Van Tulder (RSM) - A framework for effective corporate involvement•20 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Reflection•30 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
Opportunities for change•10 minutes
Opportunities for change - part 2•10 minutes
1 plugin•Total 2 minutes
'Land degradation neutral world'•2 minutes
Systems Analysis
Module 2•5 hours to complete
Module details
Week 2 is all about systems thinking and systems analysis. In our practical example cases you will see how diversified crop systems can help in Spain, and how birch woodlands can improve the resilience of the system in Iceland. You will learn how to conduct a systems analysis for your chosen landscape degradation challenge by identifying boundaries and key factors, creating a system map, constructing a central narrative and determining points of intervention.
What's included
6 videos6 readings3 plugins
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 23 minutes
IN THEORY -Understanding social-ecological systems and tensions•4 minutes
IN THEORY - What is a system analysis?•3 minutes
IN THEORY - Social-ecological system analysis: Identifying factors and understanding relationships•4 minutes
IN THEORY - Central narrative and interventions•2 minutes
IN PRACTICE - Systems analysis in Iceland•6 minutes
IN PRACTICE - Systems analysis in Spain•4 minutes
6 readings•Total 282 minutes
Workbook: Systems analysis•240 minutes
Helpful links•10 minutes
Unlock a recipe: Traditional Icelandic flatbread•1 minute
About this week's optional videos•1 minute
UNCCD Report - Sustainable land management for climate and people•10 minutes
UNCCD Report - Sustainable land management contribution to successful land-based climate change adapation and mitigation•20 minutes
3 plugins•Total 15 minutes
'Soil solutions to climate problems'•4 minutes
'Feeding nine billion'•6 minutes
'How wolves change rivers'•5 minutes
Stakeholder Analysis
Module 3•4 hours to complete
Module details
In this week you will learn what stakeholders are and why they are important. You will see the application of the main concepts in two of our landscape examples. At the end of week 3 you can conduct your own stakeholder analysis of your chosen landscape degradation challenge.
What's included
5 videos5 readings2 plugins
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 19 minutes
IN THEORY - What is a stakeholder analysis?•4 minutes
IN PRACTICE - Stakeholder analysis in Iceland•5 minutes
IN PRACTICE - Stakeholder analysis in Portugal•2 minutes
Joke (unlock a joke)•0 minutes
Stakeholder analysis - Interview about the Scale project•8 minutes
5 readings•Total 161 minutes
Workbook: 'Stakeholder Analysis'•120 minutes
How to find stakeholders? (Tip: use the online 4 returns community)•10 minutes
Helpful links•15 minutes
About this week's optional material•1 minute
EcoAgriculture Partners and IDH Report - Public private civic partnerships for sustainable landscapes•15 minutes
2 plugins•Total 34 minutes
'Live together, decide together'•7 minutes
'Engaging with stakeholders'•27 minutes
Co-Creation and Opportunity Analysis
Module 4•6 hours to complete
Module details
In week 4 we enter the second phase of the sustainable business model innovation process: designing. In this phase we move from forming an understanding of the problem and what means we have available, to generating ideas for new business model solutions. Now you will actually start working with your stakeholders to analyse opportunities for value creation based on common goals and commitment. In week 4, the focus is on co-innovation networks and captured and destroyed value. You are going to build your co-innovation network, validate your current understandings, identify opportunities to add value and generate first business model ideas.
What's included
7 videos5 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 30 minutes
IN THEORY - Building a co-innovation network•4 minutes
IN THEORY - Opportunity analysis•3 minutes
IN PRACTICE - Co-creation in Iceland•5 minutes
IN PRACTICE - Co-creation in Spain•4 minutes
Unlock a joke•0 minutes
Opportunity analysis – Interviews with landscape restoration partners•7 minutes
Opportunity analysis - Interview with Thekla Teunis and Liz Metcalfe from Grounded•7 minutes
5 readings•Total 281 minutes
Workbook: 'Co-creation and opportunity analysis'•240 minutes
About this week's optional videos•1 minute
Helpful link - Grounded•5 minutes
GPFLR Report - Restoring forests and landscapes•15 minutes
Ipbes Report - Thematic assessment of land degradation and restoration•20 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Graded Quiz on Week 1-4•30 minutes
Business Model Design
Module 5•4 hours to complete
Module details
In week 5 you will learn about business models and the triple-layered business model canvas. You will also see the triple-layered business model canvas applied to all of our three cases. You reach the point now where you will select a business idea and complete your own triple layered business model canvas.
What's included
8 videos5 readings1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 36 minutes
IN THEORY - Sustainable business models•4 minutes
IN THEORY - Triple layered business model canvas•7 minutes
IN PRACTICE - Business model design in Iceland•4 minutes
IN PRACTICE - Business model design in Spain•3 minutes
IN PRACTICE - Business model design in Portugal•3 minutes
Unlock a recipe: Spanish recipe•1 minute
Business model design - Interviews with landscape restoration partners•12 minutes
Business model design - Interview with Thekla Teunis and Liz Metcalfe from Grounded•3 minutes
5 readings•Total 167 minutes
More in the workbook•1 minute
Helpful links•10 minutes
Workbook: Business model design•135 minutes
About this week's optional material•1 minute
WBCSD Report - The business case for investing in soil health•20 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Reflection•10 minutes
Solution Validation
Module 6•5 hours to complete
Module details
Week 6 is about assumptions and methods and how to validate them. You will see what methods the practical example cases in Spain and Portugal used. This week then allows you to start testing your own business idea on a small scale. You will identify your own key assumptions, design the testing of those assumptions and actually test them. At the end you will iterate or pivot your business model.
What's included
10 videos4 readings1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
10 videos•Total 51 minutes
IN THEORY - Validating the business model design•5 minutes
IN THEORY - Systems and stakeholders•3 minutes
IN THEORY - Prototyping and testing•4 minutes
IN PRACTICE - Solution validation in Portugal•1 minute
IN PRACTICE - Solution validation in Spain•4 minutes
Unlock a joke•0 minutes
Solution validation - Interview about the Scale project•8 minutes
Solution validation - Interview with Thekla Teunis and Liz Metcalfe from Grounded•12 minutes
Solution validation with stakeholders - Interviews with landscape restoration partners•4 minutes
Testing - Interviews with landscape restoration partners•9 minutes
4 readings•Total 266 minutes
Validation methods•10 minutes
Research methods•15 minutes
Workbook: 'Solution validation'•240 minutes
About this week's optional videos•1 minute
1 discussion prompt•Total 5 minutes
Assumptions•5 minutes
Assessment and Monitoring
Module 7•7 hours to complete
Module details
In week 7 we enter the third phase of the sustainable business model innovation process - implementing. In this phase your business model moves from being a design concept to an implemented practice that is helping to restore landscapes. We will consider how we will manage the finances, understand if we our business model is delivering its intended value, and forecast potential outcomes. We will also reflect on our constructed business models to consider how they could be scaled-up or scaled-out, and what next actions we need to take to make them a reality. You will learn about assessment and monitoring tools such as financial analysis, 4 Return Model (20 years outcomes & value creation in 3 zones), key performance indicators and scenario analysis. The cases in Portugal and Iceland serve as examples of how these can be implemented. You will make a financial analysis of your business model, set specific KPIs to measure the success of your business model for four returns in 20 years, evaluate how you can involve the stakeholders that are impacted through the 4 returns and do a Scenario Analysis.
What's included
11 videos10 readings
Show info about module content
11 videos•Total 66 minutes
IN THEORY - 4 returns assessment•11 minutes
IN PRACTICE - Assessment and monitoring in Portugal•2 minutes
IN PRACTICE - Assessment and monitoring in Iceland•5 minutes
FINANCE Q&A - Intro•2 minutes
FINANCE Q&A - Mark Gough•3 minutes
FINANCE Q&A - Dr. Rudolf de Groot•8 minutes
FINANCE Q&A - Prof. Dirk Schoenmaker•12 minutes
FINANCE Q&A - Willem Ferwerda•10 minutes
FINANCE Q&A - Paul Chatterton•8 minutes
Unlock a joke•0 minutes
Introduction to the Natural Capital Coalition NCC•5 minutes
10 readings•Total 326 minutes
Helpful links•10 minutes
What is a financial analysis of your business model?•10 minutes
Schoenmaker (RSM) - From Risk to Opportunity a Framework for Sustainable Finance•20 minutes
Not done learning? 2 recommended courses from the Capitals Coalition•5 minutes
Reflection and Iteration
Module 8•4 hours to complete
Module details
In this last week you will learn about key leadership principles, our Community of Practice and the nexus challenge of the SDGs. You will read about the application of concepts in practice in all of our landscapes. You will review your exercises of the past weeks, reflect about what you learned and forecast your next actions. If you want you can also connect to a global community of practitioners.
What's included
7 videos6 readings2 assignments2 plugins
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 35 minutes
From me to we•7 minutes
Keep momentum - Join the community•2 minutes
The end of the beginning•2 minutes
Zooming out•8 minutes
Unlock a joke•0 minutes
Reflections of landscape restoration partners•4 minutes
Reflections - Interview with Thekla Teunis and Liz Metcalfe from Grounded•12 minutes
6 readings•Total 92 minutes
Join the 4 returns community•10 minutes
Workbook: 'Reflection and iteration'•60 minutes
Instructions for the graded reflection assignment•1 minute
About this week's optional videos•1 minute
Helpful links•10 minutes
WRI Report - Roots of prosperity•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Graded quiz: week 5-8•30 minutes
Graded Reflection assignment•30 minutes
2 plugins•Total 50 minutes
Documentary 'Green Gold'•47 minutes
'Payments for ecosystem services'•3 minutes
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Erasmus University: a top-100 ranked international research university based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Our academic teaching and research focuses on four areas: health, wealth, culture and governance.
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It was not an easy journey as it was a new area of study, but it was a joyful learning experience throughout the course.
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I was exposed to some concepts of financial and natural capital but most importantly got to understand the newer concepts of social and inspiration capital which I look forward to implementing.
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Very manageable assignments. Quizzes are fairly easy to pass.
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