Research led by Bangor University is among the evidence underpinning a new series of policy briefs published today by Biodiversa+, Water JPI and partners, offering EU Member States practical, phased guidance for implementing the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR). The briefs are published just before Member States must submit their draft National Restoration Plans (NRPs) to the European Commission.
The series draws on findings from 22 European research projects, including RESTOREID, the Horizon Europe project led by Dr Lucinda Kirkpatrick, at Bangor University, which investigates the links between ecosystem restoration, biodiversity and the risk of zoonotic disease spillover. RESTOREID's work has directly shaped one of the eight policy briefs in the series, highlighting that fewer than one in ten national restoration policies currently address the unintended health or social consequences of restoration, despite the well-established link between land-use change and emerging infectious diseases.
As Europe faces increasingly frequent heatwaves, droughts and wildfires, restoring healthy ecosystems has become an urgent priority – not only for biodiversity, but for climate adaptation, water security, human health and long-term prosperity. Draft National Restoration Plans are due by 1 September 2026, with final plans adopted in 2027 and the first revision not due until 2032, meaning decisions made now will shape restoration across Europe for years to come.
Dr Lucinda Kirkpatrick, co-PI and Scientific Lead of the project, said, “The last few years have demonstrated more urgently than ever that the ecological systems we rely on are facing collapse. Ecological restoration is imperative for our future, but how we restore is key. If we want to restore disease regulation as a key ecosystem service, we need to understand the mechanisms governing host and pathogen ecology in recovering ecosystems, and we need to build that knowledge into restoration plans. Starting now is essential for future success.”
Rainer Sodtke, Biodiversa+ Co-chair, said the science of nature restoration had never been more well-established or actionable, and that the briefs turn European research, policy recommendations and practical experience into guidance that policymakers can use, adding that Member States now have access to practical, evidence-based support at a critical point in the Regulation's rollout and should use it.
The full series of eight briefs covers both specific ecosystems and the enabling conditions restoration depends on, from seed supply to finance, offering Member States an evidence-based roadmap for implementing the Nature Restoration Regulation. Biodiversa+ and its network of 81 partner organisations across 39 countries are calling on Member States and national implementation authorities to use the briefs when reviewing and strengthening their restoration plans.
Read the policy briefs: https://www.biodiversa.eu/restoration/