Restoration Ecology Group

Agricultural landscapes are among Europe's most important ecosystems, yet they have experienced dramatic declines in biodiversity over recent decades. The second publication in our Policy Brief Series explores how the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) can help reverse these trends while contributing to climate resilience, healthier soils and...

The implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) is entering a crucial phase across Europe. To support policymakers, practitioners, researchers and all those involved in restoration, the SER Europe Legal Working Group has published a series of concise policy briefs that unpack some of the Regulation's most important legal...

The third edition of the International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration has been published in the latest special issue of Restoration Ecology. Developed by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) in collaboration with leading experts worldwide, the updated guidance provides a comprehensive, evidence-based...

The latest episode of the Greenfo podcast, Nature Restoration in Hungary: A Shared Responsibility, A Local Task, explores the opportunities and challenges of implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation in Hungary. The discussion was recorded during the 35th National Meeting of Hungarian Green Civil Organisations held in Szentendre in May 2026...

The past few years of extreme drought in Hungary have made the problem of climate change — which has actually been ongoing for decades — tangible for many people. The importance of water retention is receiving increasing attention, and regulatory and practical measures have been launched to conserve water in the landscape. While the sight of...

On May 12, 2026, the European Commission launched a public consultation regarding the review of the Birds and Habitats Directives. The comments and suggestions received will serve as the basis for the fitness check of the Directives.

Expert speaker Kris Decleer introduces Landscape Ecological System Analysis (LISA) as a structured, science-based approach to assessing restoration needs across landscapes, alongside the concept of the Favorable Reference Area (FRA) as a way to define restoration ambition and long-term ecological viability. The session also raises concerns that...

At the 200th anniversary conference of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA), our group member Melinda Halassy delivered a lecture on the scientific foundations and practical implications of ecological restoration in the early 21st century. Framing restoration as the "acid test of ecology," she highlighted the importance of community assembly...

The SER-Europe Legal Working Group (LWG) has published a series of six policy briefs examining the legal and governance implications of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR). The series offers targeted analysis across key sectors, including agriculture, forestry, marine and urban ecosystems, protected species, and restoration planning and...

One of our group members, Anna Kövendi-Jakó, received funding through the Academy's grant program for researchers raising children. The support was awarded for preparing a scientific paper on testing seed transfer zones based on the palnt traits of sandy species.

On April 17, the latest episode of the ÖKé! podcast, "The Foundations of Our Life: Ecosystem Services", will be released. Dr. Péter Koncz, a member of our group and ecological expert at the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, explains the natural processes that are essential for understanding both human well-being and the functioning of...

In addition to climate change and our ecological footprint, economic uncertainties, social inequalities, and public health challenges are increasingly intertwined—this complex phenomenon is known as a polycrisis, a global-scale problem. The "Polycrisis Conference" sought answers to this urgent situation, examining the greatest crisis of the 21st...

EU Nature Restoration Regulation in Hungary: Insights from ÖBI Seminar In the latest ÖBI seminar, Melinda Halassy presented "Implementing the Nature Restoration Regulation: Where Do We Stand?", offering a clear snapshot of how the EU's Nature Restoration Regulation is being put into practice. She outlined the EU framework and guidance, detailed...