Ecological restoration is key to reversing environmental crises and fostering sustainable growth in Europe
To maximize its benefits, policies must ensure restoration programmes, plans and projects:
✅ Deliver ecological, cultural, and socioeconomic value
✅ Strengthen land/seascape connectivity
✅ Align with nature legislation and strategic goals (e.g. Nature Restoration Regulation, Birds and Habitats Directives, Water FD and Marine SFD)
✅ Follow socially and ecologically meaningful timelines
✅ Engage society for fair and sustainable development
Standards-based restoration is successful because it is based on clear principles that ensure projects achieve their intended goals. European and national administrations must promote best practices, using the best available science to unlock the full potential of nature restoration.
Read more about the SER Standards for Ecological Restoration here.
Download SER-Europe’s Policy brief on the role of Standards of Practice and Certification Systems as tools to improve the quality of restoration plans and actions.