#1 First in the series: Integrating the Biodiversity – Climate – Water Nexus into Forest Landscape Restoration
Biodiversa+ releases eight new briefs that aim to inform policymakers involved in the implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation. They serve as an ongoing resource for Member States and the European Commission at every stage, as National Restoration Plans are strengthened, finalised, and revised over time.
Let's start with Forest Landscape Restoration!
Restoring forests is not only about biodiversity. Healthy forests support climate resilience, water regulation and freshwater ecosystems, making them a clear example of the biodiversity–climate–water nexus. Effective restoration therefore requires integrated planning that accounts for climate risks, ecological connectivity and the interactions between forest and freshwater systems.
Across Europe, these ecosystems face growing pressures from climate change, intensive management and habitat fragmentation. Research shows why forests, freshwater and climate need to be considered together: restoring river connections may not be enough if the loss of trees along riverbanks causes water temperatures to rise and reduces habitat quality as the climate warms. Research looking at 52 freshwater species under scenarios extending to 2100 shows the importance of restoring rivers and the forests around them together. Addressing these interconnected pressures requires coordination across sectors and policies. Without this coordination built into NRPs from the start, restoration risks being undermined by conflicting demands across forest, biodiversity, climate, water, energy and bioeconomy policy.
Main solutions listed by the briefings:
Restore more than forest cover alone, developing forward-looking forest-freshwater assessments that plan forests and freshwater systems together, supporting biodiversity, water systems, and climate resilience.
Coordinate across competent authorities to align restoration, land-use, freshwater, and climate policy, using targeted incentives tailored to different forest owner groups to drive engagement.
Select restoration sites and species based on long-term habitat suitability and connectivity, incorporating climate-risk screening for species reintroductions to ensure decisions hold under future conditions.
Monitor ecological recovery over the long term through catchment-scale riparian restoration approaches and adaptive management, adjusting as conditions change.
