LIFE Programme - Tackling key challenges to upscaling nature restoration in the EU

More than 80% of natural habitats in the European Union are in poor condition, according to recent assessments. However, valuable lessons for restoring these ecosystems to a healthy state can be drawn from LIFE-funded pilot projects, as highlighted during a recent online LIFE Networking Meeting on the challenges of upscaling nature restoration across the EU. 

In 2024, the EU adopted the EU Nature Restoration Regulation that requires measures to improve habitats being put in place in at least 20% of Europe's land and sea. It aims to have measures in place in all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.  

It's an ambitious goal, Andrea Vettori, head of the Nature Conservation Unit within the EU Directorate-General for Environment, told. But there are thousands of projects funded by the LIFE Programme that have experience and knowledge of how to restore habitats and species populations, he said. 

'What the Nature Restoration Regulation does is give a legal policy framework to scale up what is already happening as [LIFE] pilot projects but will now have to happen at a much bigger scale,' said Vettori. 'We can use LIFE projects as a way to communicate that nature restoration is not an abstract concept or theory that is a long term-goal, but that it is happening, is possible and is quite cheap.' 

The 2-day online meeting showcased the experience of 15 LIFE-funded projects that have been implementing ecosystem restoration across the EU. Nearly 450 policymakers, LIFE project representatives and stakeholders from the public and private sector attended the meeting.  

Julia Carlsson, deputy national project manager for LIFE2Taiga  shared how the project used a collaborative learning approach to improve restoration monitoring of the Boreal forest in Sweden and Finland. They drew on the experience of several previous LIFE projects that had used controlled burning to replicate the natural renewal processes that take place in these forests. One of the key steps was to build capacity with the help of staff from regional authorities. 

Other projects including GrassLIFE, which has been restoring grasslands in Latvia, and LIFE CONNECTS, which has been restoring river systems and habitats in Sweden, discussed how they brought together multiple landowners to help restore land. LIFE DUNIAS presented how they mobilise private gardeners and volunteers to help with restoration efforts, in particular in controlling Invasive Alien Species. 

Key recommendations for scaling up projects included defining shared goals among stakeholders, fostering a sense of ownership for restoration efforts, and setting ambitious targets for stakeholder involvement. 

'We see that LIFE really represents an invaluable source of experience and expertise that can be used for nature restoration initiatives across our continent and perhaps even beyond,' Anne Burrill, head of the LIFE Environment (Nature & Circular Economy) Unit at CINEA, told the meeting.  

The Networking Meeting – Key challenges to upscaling nature restoration in the EU – learning from LIFE experience contributes towards the EU Habitats Directive, the Birds Directive and the Nature Restoration Regulation.  

Recordings from the meeting are available on the LIFE YouTube channel.