More effective ecosystem restoration in the EU

Specific Challenge: Ecosystem restoration is frequently an expensive and almost always a lengthy process but it is capable of delivering extensive benefits in a cost-effective manner while also conserving and enhancing Europe's natural capital. The restoration sector has accumulated a lot of expertise but knowledge, technologies and capacity will need to grow rapidly (and be shared) if the full potential offered by restoration is to be achieved.

Scope:Proposals should develop for conceptually coherent ecosystem types tools, approaches, methodologies and methods to assess and predict the effectiveness relative to their stated objectives – including both cost-effectiveness and benefits in relation to biodiversity and ecosystem services – of environmental restoration measures. They should engage the whole restoration community (business, academia, including social sciences and humanities, public administrations and civil society) in a major initiative to exchange experiences, identify strengths, weaknesses and best practices, encourage new techniques and technologies, and share information, knowledge and know-how in order to promote effective and sustainable restoration activities across the EU.

Proposals should use pilot projects or case studies, including a demonstration phase.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 5 and 7 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Expected impact: In the mid-term, improved design of restoration/rehabilitation measures and incentives;  more effective integration of the 'restoration agenda' into the delivery of major policy objectives related to growth, job creation, urban and rural development, resilience to climate change, conservation and enhancement of natural capital; innovative policy mechanisms that can facilitate restoration; contribution to advances in green infrastructure; contribution to the objectives of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy^[1] and the EU Water Framework Directive; better assessment of potential benefits of establishing restoration site networks allowing for long-term observations and sharing of experiences for different types of ecosystems and pressures.

Type of action:Research and innovation actions

[1]     COM(2011) 244 final