WILDCARD project

?? Can nature heal itself? A new study suggests: Yes, if given the chance! With the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) now adopted, the EU aims to restore at least 20% of land and sea areas by 2030. But how should we go about it? Traditionally, active restoration—such as replanting or reintroducing species—has been the go-to method. However, research from WILDCARD scientists Karel Prach and Petra Jane?ková (University of South Bohemia in ?eské Budějovice) highlights the power of spontaneous ecological succession—where nature recovers on its own under the right conditions. ?? Analyzing 156 European studies, they found that passive restoration successfully restored vegetation in 67% of cases—even outperforming the global average of 60%. Not only is this approach cost-effective, but it also fosters long-term ecological resilience. Yet, passive restoration remains underutilized in large-scale projects. With the NRL in place, this research presents a critical opportunity to rethink how we restore Europe’s ecosystems. By leveraging natural processes, we can enhance biodiversity, improve ecosystem functions, and boost climate resilience. ?? Read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/e_QJszmQ ?? #NatureRestoration #EU #Biodiversity #Rewilding

?? Join our Soil Sampling Workshop! ???? As discussed during our annual meeting, VUKOZ (Vyzkumny ústav pro krajinu, v. v. i.) has organized a dedicated soil sampling workshop in #Brno on April 9th-10th. ?? This event is designed for internal WP2 and WP3 partners, as well as external service providers, aiming to familiarize participants with the WILDCARD project’s soil survey protocol and test it together in the field. ???? ?? Online registration is open until March 18th—don’t miss out! ? ?? Find all organizational, registration, and logistical details here https://lnkd.in/ekcqYn5w #SoilSampling #Workshop

??When nature can do the job: get to know our speakers! On 19 March, leading European experts from the research and policy sectors will come together in Brussels to discuss how we can implement ecological restoration in a way that brings mutual benefits for people and the environment, in view of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation. Our three sessions will include presentations from each of our expert panelists, along with a roundtable discussion where you can raise your own questions, ideas or suggestions. We’re pleased to announce our outstanding lineup of speakers: 1?? Why should we let nature do the job? Henrique Pereira, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig Jette Bredahl Jacobsen, European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change Sven Wunder, European Forest Institute 2??Where nature is already doing the job Jens-Christian Svenning, Aarhus University Wouter Helmer, Co-founder of ARK Rewilding Nederland and Rewilding Europe Iris Moeller, Trinity College Dublin 3??Let the Nature Restoration Regulation facilitate the job An Cliquet, Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Europe Legal Working Group Jan Verheeke, EEAC Network Ariel Brunner, BirdLife International Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with leading experts in ecological restoration and policy! ?? Read our speakers’ full profiles and register for free now: https://lnkd.in/ewz75ZES #WhenNatureCanDoTheJob #EURestorationLaw #Rewilding #EcologicalRestoration #SciencePolicy

Are you a policymaker, stakeholder, researcher or restoration practitioner? Make sure you don’t miss our free event in collaboration with wildE, REWRITE Project EU, CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency and Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Europe, where we will discuss how we can implement the EU Nature Restoration Regulation in a way that benefits both people and the environment. ?? Find out more about what’s in store in our event programme: 1?? Session 1: Why should we let nature do the job? The opening session will set the greater scene and the needs to be tackled under the Nature Restoration Regulation. Our combination of experts from the environmental, social and economic sciences underpins the interdisciplinary nature of the session. 2?? Session 2: Where nature is already doing the job Our second session presents three examples of successful restoration from different contexts, each of which illustrates in its own way how biodiversity support and climate change adaptation are intertwined and can be jointly addressed. 3?? Session 3: Let the Nature Restoration Regulation facilitate the job The final panel will convene a cross-sectorial set of speakers to share their respective experiences with concrete legal, governance, and financial challenges and solutions under the Nature Restoration Regulation. The event will be closed by Humberto Delgado Rosa (Director of the DG Environment Directorate for Biodiversity). Don’t miss out - register before 3 March to secure your place: ?? https://bit.ly/3OIzqKK ?? 19 March 2025, 8:30-17:00 #WhenNatureCanDoTheJob #EURestorationLaw #Rewilding #EcologicalRestoration #SciencePolicy

Check out our recent #Forest #Restoration talk featuring forest ecologists Martin Mikolá? and Miroslav Svoboda from the Czech University of Life Sciences, who discuss primary and #oldgrowth forests in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Drawing on over 15 years of research through their REMOTE project, they explore forest structure, dynamics, #biodiversity, and #carbon storage potential of these forests in the Balkans and Carpathians. In the webinar they share impressive research results including long-term data collection through forest inventories, biodiversity assessments, deadwood analysis, and dendroecological studies, with re-measurements conducted every five years. Key topics include natural #disturbances and their role for biodiversity and forest #resilience. The discussion also addresses forest management strategies that mimic natural processes, the challenges of improper management in protected areas, and the importance of mapping and preserving old-growth forests.?Gert-Jan Nabuurs WILDCARD project Fabio Castelli Priscila Jord?o Lyla O'Brien Gesche Schifferdecker Trishna Dutta https://lnkd.in/e7zN56kw

What happens when our #WILDCARDers come together? Expect out-of-the-box ideas, deep scientific debates, and a wildly inspiring atmosphere! This is where the magic happens ? A huge thank you to Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava for hosting our first General Assembly near the stunning, snow-covered Romanian Carpathians! ??? Over the first two days, we're weaving together insights from our partners—mapping #rewilding scenarios, identifying rewilding hotspots, measuring #biodiversity with eDNA, tackling social acceptability aspects and more. The goal? Connecting the dots to create a bigger impact. And then, it’s time to get our boots muddy! ?? We’ll head into the Natural Park Van?tori Neam?, where proforestation and bison reintroduction efforts have been implemented. Stay tuned for more updates from the field! ?? #RestoreNature #GenerationRestoration #HorizonEurope #EUResearch Photos: Petru Pralea Sp?nu/USV Giorgio Alberti, Peter Verburg, Lucia Seebach, Harald Bugmann, Mauro Masiero, Davide Pettenella, Yannick De Win, Fabio Castelli, Heleen Deroo, Katharina Faradsch, Elisabeth Klingberg, Carmen Rodríguez, Lucie Loubaton, Maximilian Schulte, Luisa F. Eusse-Villa, Francesco Giardina, Moritz Winterroth, Santiago Alarcón Ceballos, Antonio Tomao, Gert-Jan Nabuurs, Harald Bugmann, Sara Chiba, Tim Peter Nairn, Christopher Leifsson, Samuel Zweifel, Margherita Penna, Sara Cazzaniga, Natalie Piazza, Lena Lopez.

Join us at our upcoming policy event in Brussels! We’re pleased to announce that registration is now open for our event “When nature can do the job: Fostering co-benefits for people and the environment in view of the Nature Restoration Regulation”. ?? The passing of the landmark EU Nature Restoration Regulation implies an upscaling of ecological restoration far beyond current practice, requiring novel perspectives and solutions that are environmentally effective, economically feasible and socially acceptable. Along with our sibling projects wildE and WILDCARD project, and our partners CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency and Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Europe, we’ll be bringing together leading experts from the research, policy and stakeholder communities to consider the opportunities and challenges for implementing restoration in a way that "lets nature do the job”. ?? 19 March 2025 ??Hendrik Conscience Building, Brussels (in person only) ??Free (registration required) Find out more information and register for free now! ?? https://lnkd.in/dTCgZFPV Nantes Université, Le Mans Université, Université de N?mes, Université d'Angers, Université de Caen Normandie, La Rochelle Université, CNRS, Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Syddansk Universitet - University of Southern Denmark, NWO (Dutch Research Council), University of Twente, Ghent University, Universidade de Aveiro, Universidad de Cádiz, CSIC, University of Bremen, Trinity College Dublin, Geonardo Environmental Technologies, Harokopio University of Athens, Umberto Pernice, Saint Mary's University, Mount Allison University, California State University, Office of the Chancellor, University of Essex, University of Hull

Join this webinar tomorrow and learn about ongoing research on #biodiversity in #oldgrowth and #primary #forests, #ecosystem functions and #carbonstorage potential!

?? Majestic, complex and irreplaceable: did you know that primary and old-growth forests cover only an estimated 1-3% of the EU's forest area, with 90% concentrated in just four countries? These rare and relatively undisturbed forests are also rapidly disappearing in Europe. If you're curious about the latest science around primary and old-growth forests, check out the newest Research Highlight on the European Environment Agency's Forest Information System for Europe (FISE). We’re thrilled that WILDCARD is featured in this edition alongside our sister project wildE! ?? #Forests #Biodiversity #Conservation #OldGrowthForests #EUEnvironment #WILDCARD #wildE

Our #ForestRestorationTalk Series is back! In this first webinar of 2025, we will dive into the fascinating world of primary and old-growth #forests in East and South-East Europe. In this webinar, Martin Mikolá? and Miroslav Svoboda from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague will share their extensive research on the structure, dynamics, and #biodiversity of these forests in the Balkans and Carpathians. As part of the REMOTE project, they have spent over 15 years studying these forests, their #carbon storage capacity, and their critical role as habitats for rare species. The discussion will also touch on how this knowledge is shaping ecological forest management strategies that mimic natural processes to preserve biodiversity. ?? 4:00 PM CET, 12 February 2025 ??? Register here: https://lnkd.in/d5rytmY9