SER-Europe is pleased to announce that recordings from our recent Marine Ecosystem Restoration training event are now available to view on the SER Restoration Resource Library.

About the Training

Delivered in collaboration with the CLIMAREST project, this two-day training event took place on 9–10 September 2025 at the Maldron Hotel, Merrion Road, Dublin, D4. The location was carefully selected for its proximity to the Merrion Strand seagrass restoration site and its accessibility from multiple European locations, with timing coordinated to align with seasonal tidal patterns for optimal site access.

The training brought together 23 participants representing diverse backgrounds in ecological restoration, including researchers, practitioners, and local authorities.

The programme featured five invited speakers who attended in person and three speakers who led their sessions online, coordinated by three organisers, one from SER-Europe, and two local partners from the University of Galway.

Accessing the Training Videos

The full series of training videos is now available through the SER Restoration Resource Library. To access the recordings:

  1. Visit the → SER’s Restoration Resource Center – Resource Database
  2. Use the keyword filter to search for: “marine restoration toolbox”
  3. Browse the available sessions and select the videos relevant to your interests

These resources are intended to support both those who attended the training and the wider restoration community. Whether you are currently engaged in marine restoration projects, exploring new approaches to ecosystem recovery, or seeking to strengthen your professional network in this field, the training materials offer valuable insights from leading experts and practitioners.

Training Objectives and Content

This training was designed with the aim of addressing capacity gaps and fostering collaboration across practitioners working in marine ecosystem restoration. The event focused on three core objectives:

Strengthening understanding and application of the UN Decade Principles for Ecosystem Restoration, with particular emphasis on the Marine Restoration Toolbox, a key output of the CLIMAREST project. Participants explored how these principles can guide effective restoration planning and implementation across all phases of a project.

Building knowledge and skills in the use of the Marine Restoration Virtual Lab, including its practical application to real-world case studies. This hands-on component enabled participants to engage directly with digital tools designed to support restoration decision-making and planning.

Facilitating the exchange of expertise and experiences from Arctic–Atlantic Lighthouse Mission Ocean restoration initiatives. By sharing knowledge across projects and contexts, the training sought to create opportunities for learning from diverse restoration approaches and challenges.

Empowering Practitioners Through Shared Knowledge

By combining theoretical knowledge with practical tools, the training sought to empower participants to apply UN Decade restoration approaches more effectively within their own contexts. Beyond individual capacity building, the event contributed to the creation of a stronger European network for marine ecosystem restoration, enabling ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange among practitioners across the region.

Looking Ahead

This training represents part of SER-Europe’s ongoing commitment to building capacity and supporting collaboration within the restoration community. We encourage practitioners, researchers, and decision-makers working in marine ecosystem restoration to explore these resources and to consider how the approaches and tools presented might be applied within their own work.

For questions about the training content or the CLIMAREST project, please contact SER-Europe at mrwg@ser-europe.org.

This training was delivered as part of the CLIMAREST project, which aims to advance marine restoration practice across European waters through collaborative research, capacity building, and the development of practical tools and resources for practitioners.