DRAGONS (Diffusing biodiversity Response-able Action and awareness raising through citizen empowerment, inclusive engagement and innovative GOvernance of Nature and Society) is a Horizon Europe project that develops, tests, and diffuses innovative approaches to overcome the psychological, emotional, and structural barriers that limit meaningful action for biodiversity.
Despite growing awareness of biodiversity loss, translating concern into action remains a major challenge. DRAGONS addresses this ecological paradox by tackling the “Dragons of Inaction” – the complex factors that prevent people, communities, and institutions from engaging with biodiversity and nature restoration.
Working across five Biodiversity Engagement Domains in Finland, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, and Colombia, the project brings together behavioural science, environmental justice, participatory governance, and social innovation to co-create and test transformative interventions. Through institutional and individual champions, networks, and practical tools, DRAGONS explores how solutions can be effectively diffused across different social and ecological contexts.
The project develops innovative approaches such as LANTERN, a reflective toolkit supporting emotional awareness and narrative exploration, and COMPASS, a practical guide for inclusive governance and citizen participation. By combining emotionally resonant communication, citizen engagement, and multi-level networks, DRAGONS aims to strengthen biodiversity action while supporting health, equity, climate resilience, and democratic participation.
Ultimately, DRAGONS contributes to the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the EU Nature Restoration Law by creating pathways for biodiversity engagement that are socially inclusive, emotionally grounded, and capable of generating lasting transformative change. DRAGONS is funded by the Horizon Europe programme under Grant No. #101291624.
GreenFormation leads the impact and diffusion work in DRAGONS, collaborating with communities, champions, and policymakers to support the uptake of project innovations and ensure that knowledge, tools, and insights reach and inspire diverse audiences.
