BiodivRestore Final Conference

Opening the session, Rainer Sodtke (co-chair Biodiversa+) presented the historical view of the 2020 joint call on ecosystem conservation and restoration, reminding that the project are still running at the moment, but will come to an end by next year.

Ondrej Kusbach (BiodivRestore Knowledge Hub Co-Coordinator) presented the Knowledge Hub, a group of 50 experts assisting EU Member States in implementing the Nature Restoration Regulation. The team is interdisciplinary, aiming to bridge research and practice through reports, policy briefs, and webinars until 2026.

Laura Guimãraes (BioReset) reported on the May 2025 dialogue-event “National Restoration Plans and knowledge gaps encountered when drafting them”. She highlighted the key challenges, barriers and opportunities encountered, emphasising the need for harmonized methods, better communication, and conflict resolution. All details can be found in the National Restoration Plans dialogue report.

Jean-Yves Georges (EMYS-R) outlined France’s view, noting resource gaps, contradictory laws, and public resistance. He advocated for participatory, science-informed, and adaptive conservation to make restoration laws and targets effective.

Laura Puertolas (Rest-Coast project) stressed the need to connect research, policymakers, and society to scale up restoration and highlight its ecological and socio-economic benefits. She highlighted the importance of cross-ecosystem, participatory approaches, clear communication of ecological and socio-economic benefits, and better governance to avoid project failures.

Kris Decleer (INBO Research Institute for Nature and Forest) presented the LESA (Landscape -Ecological System Analysis) as a tool to analyse ecological functions and understand how conditions changed over time, how climate change may affect those conditions in the future, and to identify potential targets and pathways towards recovery.

Metodi Sotirov (co-chair of the KH, BIOCONSENT) presented the Knowledge Hub’s workplan through 2016, offering a closer look at upcoming activities (policy briefs, webinars, workshops…).

Mario Brauns (RESTOLINK) reported survey findings showing key knowledge gaps in socio-economic, socio-cultural, and climate-related aspects of restoration.

Kim Magnus (FreshRestore) introduced the group on adaptive management, exploring key aime and ongoing work. The group notably analyses scientific and grey literature to identify success factors and produce concrete recommendations for effective implementation.

Metodi Sotirov followed with an introduction on societal conflicts around restoration, examining their ideological, economic, political and institutional roots and ways to reduce them.

Laura Puertolas concluded with insights on public-private partnerships (PPPs) to boost nature restoration funding. She stressed the need for local community inclusion and long-term commitment.

BioReset evaluates environmental pollution and treatment technologies and their efficiency regarding two types of contaminants : pharmaceuticals and microplastics. The project explored innovative promising treatments using biochars, hydrochars and fungi, using diatoms to evaluate water quality.

DeepRest works on the conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems in the context of deep-sea mining. As the regulations about deep-sea mining are currently under development, the project stresses the urgent need to inform decision-makers. It highlighted 10 different science-based recommendations on conservation, restoration, and governance.

FishME studies how fish removal in mountain lakes can help ecosystems to recover, highlighting various challenges, such as the time needed for restoration or the ignorance of people about the presence of fishes in mountain lakes, and the specificity of countries. The FishME Management Toolbox provides tools to raise the awareness of local decision makers about fish introduction.

FreshRestore, result of successful cross-disciplinary collaborations, across borders, explores the ecological and socio-economic impacts of environmental drivers and cumulative human stressors in freshwater systems. It worked on modular adaptive management tools to predict holistic effects of different restoration efforts.

InterRest focuses on calcareous grassland and its rich biodiversity. The project studied the effect of farmer and agricultural management on biodiversity, the species richness, the species interactions and ecosystem functions, based on a management index going from long-term abandonment to intensive management.

RESTOLINK quantifies restoration success across biomes by linking biodiversity, multifunctionality, and hydromorphological heterogeneity. Using an index of restoration success, the project evaluates river restoration impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Ecosystem functions respond differently and are more sensitive indicators of restoration success. The study highlights the need for integrated, standardized approaches and adaptation to climate and funding challenges.

ReVersal focuses on peatland restoration in temperate Europe (Austria, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden). It analyses peat cores to reconstruct past hydrology, vegetation, pollution, and degradation, helping understand how these ecosystems respond to human impact. The study combined ecological monitoring and stakeholder dialogue to develop locally adapted, climate-resilient restoration strategies.

COAST focused on the marine ecosystems of Cabo Verde. It aims to build the first scientific baseline on marine biodiversity, habitats, and ecosystem functions to guide marine conservation and policy. Combining field research, underwater surveys, and close collaboration with local fishers and stakeholders, the project worked on identifying priority areas for protection and developing restoration actions supporting sustainable blue growth and community engagement.

This first session of project presentations concluded with a roundtable discussion and a Q&A, addressing key conceptual and practical questions in ecological restoration.

BIO-TRADE studied how European trade and business laws can reduce global biodiversity loss caused by EU consumption. It analysed trade, business, and human rights law, and recent EU measures like the deforestation and due diligence regulations, warning against deregulation trends and promoting “nature-positive” business and sustainable investment approaches.

BIOCONSENT supports decision-making for forest restoration in Europe. It analysed how EU forest and biodiversity policies are implemented at national levels, how forest owners and managers respond, and explored future management scenarios to balance restoration, biodiversity, and bioeconomic goals.

FRESHH studied how herbicides and semi-natural habitats interact in agricultural landscapes. It examined how such habitats support beneficial insects, reduce herbicide runoff, and enhance biodiversity in nearby waters, while also exploring farmers’ motivations and barriers to adopting these restoration practices.

ForestFisher studied frugivorous fish in tropical river floodplains, particularly in the Amazon Basin. It investigated how land use change, climate change, and river fragmentation affect fish diversity, ecosystem functions like seed dispersal, and the livelihoods of local fishing communities. The project also worked on policy support, capacity building, and community engagement to promote sustainable fisheries and conservation.

MPA4sustainability focused on improving the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for biodiversity conservation. It analysed 17,000 MPAs worldwide to assess biodiversity risk, management types, and human pressures. The project developed integrated, ecosystem-based management tools, combining ecological modeling, social data, and digital behavior analysis, to help managers and policymakers design MPAs that balance conservation, sustainable use, and community needs.

REMOVE_DISEASE explored how removing introduced mammals from sub-Antarctic islands can support biodiversity restoration and influence the dynamics of infectious diseases in seabird populations. It combined fieldwork, lab analysis, and disease surveillance to understand links between invasive species, disease spread, and ecosystem health, highlighting the importance of integrated conservation approaches under climate and biodiversity change.

NICHES explored how nature-based solutions (NbS) can improve urban stormwater management and reduce flood risks in cities. It developed models and participatory tools for inclusive planning, showing that NbS work best when combined with hybrid infrastructure and good governance.

The session ended with a roundtable. The discussions focused on governance, ecological prioritization, and challenges in implementing environmental regulations such as the EUDR. Speakers emphasized the need for dialogue between science, business, and policy, greater supply chain transparency, and an inclusive land–sea approach to biodiversity restoration. The debate addressed barriers to a common EU forest policy, harmful forestry subsidies, and the benefits of collective forest management. Speakers highlighted the need for polycentric and locally adapted governance, balancing ecological, social, and economic goals, and aligning incentives to support long-term biodiversity restoration.

BiNatUr showed that aquatic nature-based solutions like ponds and small streams can enhance urban biodiversity and ecosystem services. Using innovative monitoring tools, it highlighted the need for better maintenance, long-term monitoring, and local collaboration to bridge the gap between implementation and management.

Emys-R assessed wetland restoration to support the reintroduction of the European pond turtle (Emys) and related biodiversity. It studied how restoring wetlands can improve habitat quality and public connection to nature, insisting that it requires long-term monitoring, adaptive management, and local stakeholder engagement to ensure lasting success.

COSAR developed new ways to assess the ecological and social impacts of river restoration. By analyzing extensive datasets and social media images, it showed that larger, well-planned projects in degraded areas yield stronger benefits. The project highlighted the need for standardized monitoring to better compare restoration outcomes across Europe.

NARROW questioned the idea that Europeans are disconnected from nature. It highlighted the strong ties rural communities still have with their landscapes and calls for more inclusive, community-based conservation approaches that value local narratives and contributions alongside scientific perspectives.

RESPOND highlights the ecological importance of temporary ponds, an overlooked habitat. It shows they host unique species, support biodiversity, and even reduce mosquitoes. The team calls for better recognition, restoration, and inclusion of these ponds in European conservation policies.

RESTORESEAS studied marine forests of algae, seagrass, and corals to guide restoration under climate change. It showed that conservation is more effective than large-scale restoration, which rarely matches natural ecosystem functions, and stressed the need for long-term monitoring and prevention of biodiversity loss.

Transloc explored conservation translocations of plants, animals, and fungi. By building an open database of 1,700 programs, it assessed ecological and evolutionary impacts and promoted standardized success criteria to guide restoration under climate and connectivity changes. Conservation translocation can aid biodiversity restoration but remains complex. Success depends on standardized data, adaptive management, and integration of ecological, evolutionary, and social factors. True restoration means rebuilding dynamic, evolving systems.

Concluding with a roundtable, panelists explored how to scale up biodiversity restoration – from data sharing and long-term monitoring to harmonized methods, social inclusion, and systemic thinking. Beyond science, they stressed reconnecting knowledge systems, tackling root causes of degradation, and empowering people to restore nature sustainably. Ppscaling restoration requires strong partnerships across governance levels, from EU and national agencies to city authorities and local communities. Participants stressed the need for cross-border coordination, policy enforcement, and citizen engagement.

Content coming soon