Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nature Restoration Regulation helps build momentum for citizen participation across the continent
Brussels, Belgium, Thursday, 14 May 2026 – From 30 May to 7 June, thousands of volunteers across Europe will take part in the Society for Ecological Restoration’s (SER) 6th Annual Make a Difference Week. Ecological restoration is the practice of restoring degraded or damaged ecosystems. It is a powerful nature-based solution that supports biodiversity and helps prevent and protect against the worst impacts of climate change.
The goal of Make a Difference Week is to enable everyone, everywhere, to take part in hands-on ecological restoration activities in their community. Last year, over 8000 volunteers took part in 218 projects in 42 countries. Individuals can sign up to participate in a planned event or organise their own. Registered events across the continent range from a beach clean-up in Portugal, to a hedgerow survey in Dorset UK, and community education on the impact of invasive aquatic species at the University of Pavia, Italy.
The event will follow closely on the heels of Natura 2000 Day BioBlitz. Natura 2000 is the largest network of protected areas in the world, with over 27,000 sites across the European Union (EU). Running from 14 to 21 May, the BioBlitz encourages participants to find and identify as many species as possible in a specific area and time.
“The challenge posed by the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) has raised the bar for restoration on the continent, and with it the need for increased knowledge and capacity to plan and implement projects,” said Boris Barov, Chief Operating Officer of SER Europe. “Vitally, however, successful implementation of the NRR will also need the support of all those affected by the loss of biodiversity, degradation of our lands and waters, and the impacts of climate change. This means each and every one of us. Which is why we are seeing accelerating momentum for initiatives like Make a Difference Week and the Natura 2000 BioBlitz. We work to protect what we value, and these events offer us all the chance to roll up our sleeves, get our hands dirty, and connect with nature, right on our doorstep.”
“We are proud to have launched the first SER Student Association in Europe at the University of Pavia. It is essential to engage and empower youth to protect and regenerate our ecosystems,” said Daniele Paganelli, Research Fellow in Experimental Ecology at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Pavia. “During Make a Difference Week, we will help educate members of our community on the importance of managing invasive species. And while we are focused on restoring our local environment, the global scale of the event reminds us that, around the world, thousands of others are also working to regenerate nature, for the benefit of their own communities.”
Join the global movement! Last year, over 8000 volunteers took part in 218 projects in 42 countries. A list of Make a Difference Week events currently planned across Europe is below. Sign up to participate or register your own event by visiting: https://makeadifferenceweek.org/find-an-event/
Sunday, 30 May to Friday, 5 June
Great Big Dorset Hedge Survey (Chaldon Herring, Dorset, UK): Hedgerows are the most important ecological building block in the farmed landscape. Volunteers will join the survey crew for a morning of data collection. The summer surveys are essential for planning the winter planting. 1300 km of hedgerows have been surveyed in three years! All materials will be provided.
Sunday, 30 May to Tuesday, 2 June
Removal and control of invasive plant species (Fier and Vlora, Albania): Volunteers will help control the spread of invasive species in the sandy dune habitats of Divjakë-Karavasta National Park and Vjosa- Narta Protected Landscape.
Monday, 1 June
Breeding Bird Survey (Bonaly Moorland, Edinburgh, Scotland): An early morning start to help survey Bonaly moorland to see how well our feathered friends are doing in this habitat. Limited numbers – register early!
Tree monitoring and maintenance of nature restoration site (Benissa, Alacant, Spain): Volunteers will gather to maintain trees planted by Life Terra in 2022 and 2023 to boost biodiversity and improve soil conditions of the farm.
Tuesday, 2 June
Degraded Peat Bog Restoration (Østfold, Buskerud, Oslo and Akershus, Norway): Volunteers and curious hikers can join to make peat dams, to block the ongoing draining of the bog. There will also be other non-intensive activities, like collecting and spreading sphagnum moss, and making peat depth measurements on the bog.
Wednesday, 3 June
Beach clean-up (Braga, Minhno, Portugal): This event will engage the local population, especially schoolchildren, on the importance of reducing waste – especially plastics – in waterways, and on the need to control invasive species, before the start of beach season on June 15.
Saturday, 6 June
Ecosystem restoration to support birds and pollinators (Romonya, Baranya, Hungary): Activities designed to support the overall ecosystem, including soil improvement and the promotion of soil life, increasing water retention capacity, mulching, and the creation of natural habitats.
Education and action to preserve local biodiversity (Ribeira da Sobreda Almada, Portugal): The event will raise awareness of the need to preserve natural heritage, through environmental education focused on local biodiversity. It will highlight the vital importance of riparian ecosystems, empowering participants to recognize the balancing role these waterways play in the environment. Volunteers will help with the cleaning and ecological recovery of stream banks and planting of native plant species.
Sunday, 7 June
Control of invasive aquatic species (Pavia, Italy): Part of the European GuardIAS project, aiming to increase awareness of the problems caused by aquatic alien species. This event will actively involve volunteers in the control of the red swamp crayfish in a recently restored wetland.
Maintenance of restoration site (Meco, Madrid, Spain): Since 2022, Reforesta has been carrying out ecological restoration work in the area of Las Palas, where several native plantations require regular care to ensure their long‑term success. Volunteers will help maintain young trees and shrubs by removing competing vegetation, checking protective tubes, and watering.
Make a Difference Week showcases the collective power of local action in driving global environmental progress. Since its launch, over 22,400 volunteers have worked 140,000 hours on 825 projects in 55 countries. Volunteers have the opportunity to work alongside Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioners and SER community members in projects that apply SER’s International Principles & Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration. Learn more at www.makeadifferenceweek.org.
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About Make a Difference Week:
Make a Difference Week is an annual global initiative hosted by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) that brings together individuals and organizations for hands-on restoration projects worldwide. For more information, visit makeadifferenceweek.org.
About the Society for Ecological Restoration
The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) advances the science, practice, and policy of ecological restoration to sustain biodiversity, improve resilience in a changing climate, and re-establish an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture. An international non-profit organization with more than 5,200 members in more than 130 countries, SER actively promotes participatory, knowledge-based approaches to restoration. Learn more about our work at www.ser.org.
For more information, please contact:
Society for Ecological Restoration
Keith MacCallum
keith.maccallum@ser.org
Media
Florencia Panizza
Claro Communications Consulting
florencia@claro-comm.com