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1. Restoration Concepts and Approaches

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Curious about what “restoration” really means in practice? Read on to explore the concepts shaping how ecosystems are being brought back to life across Europe. Restoration refers to the process of actively or passively supporting the recovery of an ecosystem to improve its structure and functions, with the goal of conserving or enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. However, its meaning can vary between stakeholder groups: some emphasise processes, while others focus on outcomes. In policy contexts, establishing a shared understanding (or at least acknowledging differing perspectives) is essential before engaging in action. This section explores key concepts of restoration, the drivers behind it such as forest degradation, and the diverse approaches used across Europe to restore ecosystems effectively and at scale.

Ecological conditions and forest ecosystems in Europe vary widely and are constantly changing due to human activities, natural events, and the impacts of climate change. Restoring and managing forests in a multifunctional, integrated way can boost biodiversity, strengthen forests’ resilience to future disturbances, and enhance other ecosystem services.

The ownership and management of forest landscapes in Europe is also extremely varied: from small private owners to very large state forest enterprises responsible for hundreds of thousands of hectares. Organisations managing large areas are able to spread costs and risks more effectively if restoration activities are well-planned and programmed. Smaller owners and managers have less capacity for large scale planning, and need simple, easy to implement policies.

In restoration it is essential to consider the effects of climate change not only now but also in the future. The forests we manage must be able to flourish in current AND future conditions. This requires that instead of repeating previous practices and relying on past guidance, we implement more adaptive silvicultural practices, including adaptive forest restoration, or “prestoration”.

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1.1 What is forest restoration?

An adaptive process improving forest health, biodiversity, and resilience in diverse contexts.