As restoration efforts move from planning to implementation, questions of governance, evidence and decision-making become increasingly important. These themes guided the BiodivRestore Knowledge Hub conference held on 29 September 2026. The event explored how the Hub’s resources can address practical restoration challenges, with contributions from researchers, the European Commission and Italy’s National Restoration Plan team.
Key takeaways for restoration planning
- Plan beyond the initial intervention. The Getting restoration right together digest connects the Regulation’s requirements with practical guidance, a decision guide and ecosystem-specific factsheets, covering assessment, planning, implementation, ongoing management and evaluation.
- Match conflict management to the causes of disagreement. The stakeholder conflicts report and digest explain why material losses, conflicting rules, legitimacy concerns, differences in knowledge and values, and power inequalities require different responses.
- Restoration finance needs suitable partnerships and policy conditions. The public-private partnerships brief examines how private investment can support restoration while protecting public interests and ecological integrity. The presentation also discussed the joint statement on nature-related risks, calling for stronger links between biodiversity science and financial decisions.
- Prepare seed supply early. The Need for Seeds brief highlights advance planning and sourcing suited to ecological and future climatic conditions. Seed Transfer Zones can help coordinate supply across regions and borders.
- Prevent planting from spreading disease. The biosecure nursery production brief addresses pathogens spread through nursery stock. The presentation emphasised the limitations of visual inspections and the need for stronger production practices and nursery accreditation.
- Consider health risks from the design stage. The zoonotic risks brief recommends integrating a One Health approach into restoration planning and funding, with measures adapted to local conditions.
- Strengthen the legislative foundations for restoration. The white paper on the Birds and Habitats Directives finds that the Directives remain fundamentally fit for their conservation objectives. Priorities include better implementation, monitoring, capacity, funding and coordination across sectors.
- Address gaps shared across ecosystems. Research on freshwater, terrestrial and marine restoration identified climate change and restoration delivery as urgent knowledge gaps, alongside shortages of tools addressing social, cultural and economic aspects. A paper is being prepared.
- Connect monitoring to management decisions. Of 13 restoration initiatives analysed, all had clearly evidenced objectives, indicators and monitoring, but only three had clearly evidenced triggers for reviewing or changing management. The presentation called for clear responsibilities and arrangements for acting on findings. A paper and policy brief are in preparation.
What comes next?
The Hub will continue its work within Biodiversa+ until September 2027. Announced during the conference, the extension will support countries as they refine their National Restoration Plans and prepare for implementation. During this extension, the Hub will focus on:
- Supporting use of its resources, through dissemination, webinars and exchanges with authorities and practitioners.
- Responding to emerging needs, with timely scientific input to restoration policy and implementation.
National authorities, practitioners, researchers and restoration initiatives are invited to share their priorities and experience to help shape this work.
