Outdoor environmental education as a nature-based solution for “education” and “environment”: a new conceptual framework and its pilot application in a coastal community case study in Taiwan

Nature-based solutions (NbS) have recently gained significant attention in coastal research. NbS are generally defined as actions aimed at safeguarding, sustainably managing, and restoring natural or altered ecosystems to address societal challenges while simultaneously promoting human well-being and biodiversity benefits. In this paper, I introduced a novel concept of NbS, where environmental education (EE) serves as a solution for both “education” and the “environment.” I designed an outdoor EE curriculum focused on land crab conservation to enable students to make practical contributions to current issues, based on scientific research within a traditional fishery community. Additionally, I developed a conceptual framework, the PPEF framework (Preparation, Practice, Evaluation, and Future), which explores how EE can function as an NbS for both education and the environment. I also used students’ self-reports to assess their learning outcomes, exploring changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions toward coastal conservation. I believe that the new concept and framework can make valuable contributions to society by benefiting students, local residents, and the environment, thereby enhancing both people and nature.