Editorial message from Aveliina Helm, Chair of the Board, SER-Europe
As 2025 draws to a close, political attention to nature and sustainability is worryingly weakening. Yet the need to align our human ambitions with planetary boundaries has never been clearer. I am truly proud of what SER-Europe has achieved this year, and grateful to our members — practitioners, researchers, students, policymakers, and partners — whose commitment makes this community effective and turns shared goals into real progress.
Ecological restoration is not a “nice to have” luxury. It is a prerequisite for keeping our societies functioning, our environment stable, and the future of our children hopeful. We are reminded of this through cascading systemic failures, where the erosion of ecological buffers has already translated into lost lives and livelihoods. Nature, in all its diversity, must be recognised as essential life infrastructure: no less critical than energy, transport, or public health systems.
In this challenging context, SER-Europe’s mandate is clear: connect people, raise ambition, and translate science into restoration that works on the ground. Working together for nature can unite us around shared purpose, especially in times of uncertainty. Over the past year, we have focused on putting our goals into action by strengthening our community, contributing to policy and practice across Europe, and investing in the next generation of restoration professionals. The achievements below reflect these priorities and the collective effort of our members, partners, and supporters.
1) We strengthen the SER-Europe community and increase its reach.
This year, we invested in what makes restoration durable: people, trust, and strong professional networks. One core objective of SER-Europe is to bring together expertise that is too often fragmented. This focus translated into stronger collaboration within the marine restoration community. Our Marine Restoration Working Group (MRWG) now brings together more than 75 dedicated experts, creating a space where specialists who rarely meet can exchange knowledge and align their efforts. From deep sea to seagrass and saltmarshes, MRWG is laying the foundations for a seascape restoration movement.
2) We help to shape European nature restoration policy and practice.
SER-Europe supports the implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation by translating its legal requirements into science-based guidance for practice. Our members contribute directly to the development of National Restoration Plans, and SER-Europe experts participate in EU-level discussions and technical exchanges. Through this work, we help ensure that restoration approaches are effective and workable across different national contexts.
3) We educate and train the next #generationrestoration.
Building on strong academic foundations and informed by the needs of practitioners, we developed and launched DERTO, the Digital Ecological Restoration Toolbox, in collaboration with our partners in the TEAM#UP project. DERTO supports vocational education in four European countries by strengthening practical skills and shared standards in ecological restoration, and complements the broader training and course materials offered by SER.
Together, these achievements reflect what SER-Europe is about: a community that connects knowledge, practice, and people across Europe, and that turns shared responsibility into concrete action. Behind this collective effort are many individual contributions. Whether you contributed by running a field course, sharing a case study, mentoring a colleague, joining a working group, or advocating for restoration in your home country — your engagement is what keeps SER-Europe going. Thank you.
As we move into 2026, clarity and focus matter more than ever. It is our shared commitment and shared purpose that continues to carry the work forward. SER-Europe will continue to stand for ecological integrity, support practitioners, and help ensure that restoration in Europe benefits nature and people. The work is urgent, but it is also hopeful: every restored wetland, grassland, forest, river, or urban habitat is a tangible step toward a healthy and thriving continent.
Thank you for your trust, your expertise, and your energy. I wish you and your loved ones a moment of well-deserved rest and renewed resolve for the work ahead.
With appreciation,
Aveliina Helm
Chair of the Board, SER-Europe