The European Union (EU) Nature Restoration Regulation, which came into force in August 2024, requires Member States to submit National Restoration Plans by 1 September 2026, setting out specific measures to meet the binding target of restoring at least 20 per cent of the EU’s terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. The preparation of these plans will be supported by eight policy briefs produced as part of the BiodivRestore initiative, which includes researchers from the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology at MENDELU (LDF MENDELU), Thomas Jung and Marília Horta Jung from the Institute of Forest Protection and Game Management, who are co-authors of recommendations regarding seedling production in biologically secure nurseries.
The policy briefs translate the latest scientific findings into practical recommendations linked to the individual requirements of the regulation – ranging from the planning of the restoration of specific ecosystems to the conditions necessary for their successful implementation.
Successful restoration of rivers and wetlands requires a comprehensive approach at the level of entire catchment areas, which addresses the causes of degradation, restores the connectivity of aquatic ecosystems and includes long-term monitoring of their condition.
The restoration of forest ecosystems should take into account the interrelationships between biodiversity, climate and the water cycle. Healthy forests are essential for maintaining high-quality freshwater ecosystems and the ecological connectivity of the landscape. The recommendations highlight the need to simultaneously address the impacts of intensive land management, habitat fragmentation and climate change, which threaten both forest and forest-dependent aquatic ecosystems.
Urban rivers, ponds and wetlands can make a significant contribution to protecting biodiversity, improving water quality and enhancing resilience to flooding and climate change. The recommendations emphasise the need to link the restoration of urban water systems with spatial planning and investments that will help address the impacts of urbanisation, outdated infrastructure and climate change.
The successful restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems depends on the careful selection of sites to ensure long-term ecological benefits, which also requires systematic monitoring. The recommendations emphasise the need to strengthen funding and strategic planning.
In line with the European Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, at least 3 billion additional trees will be planted across Europe in the coming years. Given the scale of this planting, particular attention must be paid to invasive soil-borne pathogens to ensure that these activities do not become a conduit for the spread of diseases that could cause ecosystem degradation. Nurseries represent the main point of entry for pathogens such as Phytophthora. To ensure the production of pathogen-free plants, the policy brief recommends implementing biosecurity measures through an EU voluntary code of conduct. These measures include preventive hygiene, regular monitoring and diagnostics, plant traceability, and continuous staff training.
The policy brief also recommends that Member States incorporate a nursery accreditation system into their national National Restoration Plans. At EU level, the authors propose a gradual transition from a voluntary biosecurity code to a legally binding accreditation system, particularly for plants used in publicly funded projects.
Selecting suitable seed is one of the key prerequisites for successful ecosystem restoration – it influences plants’ resilience to climate change, the preservation of genetic diversity and the long-term stability of restored habitats. Natural regeneration in a fragmented landscape is often insufficient. The recommendations emphasise the need for early planning, the development of reliable supply chains and the use of certified seed of local origin. At present, uncertified seed accounts for around 90 per cent of the European market.
Changes in land use are a major factor increasing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission to humans. Nature restoration – the creation of resilient, biologically diverse ecosystems that naturally limit the spread of pathogens – can strengthen ecosystem resilience while mitigating existing disease risks.
Public-private partnerships can help channel private investment into nature restoration and supplement limited public resources. The recommendations set out the conditions under which such partnerships can be transparent and trustworthy, while delivering long-term environmental and social benefits.