The restoration of ecosystems is one of the major challenges of our time. Restoring degraded landscapes, preserving biodiversity, and promoting natural processes require an intensive exchange between research and practice, from which both sides benefit. This is precisely where the “Netzwerk Renaturierung” (restoration network) comes into play. Since its founding in 2016, the network has evolved into an important platform for the German-speaking restoration community. For Vicky Temperton from the Institute of Ecology at Leuphana University and one of the network’s organizers, it is a “success story” for transdisciplinary collaboration.
Info: What Is Restoration?
Restoration is defined as a human-induced process that supports the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, disturbed, or completely destroyed. The goals and success criteria for restoration projects are based on ecological (and social) conditions and site-specific factors. According to the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), restoration should not only reestablish individual species or landscape features but also create a long-term resilient, self-sustaining ecosystem that is ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable.
A Success Story: How it all Began
The initial spark for the network was ignited at the 10th European Conference on Ecological Restoration 2016 in Freising. During a specially organized practitioner’s day, the need and strong interest in better networking between scientists, practitioners, and administrative actors became evident. During the conference, an initial mailing list was created, which has steadily grown and now includes around 300 members.
In 2017, the first network meeting took place in Jänschwalde (Brandenburg), organized by Sabine Tischew and Kathrin Kiehl in collaboration with local stakeholders. This was followed by the strategic plan for the “Netzwerk Renaturierung” as a “loose working group” leading to regular events at changing locations in Germany, and also Luxembourg. Each meeting focuses on a specific restoration topic and ecosystem. The changing locations allow new participants to join regularly and the network to expand constantly.
The Structure: Openness as a Principle
A key feature of the network is its flexible and non-bureaucratic structure. There are no membership fees or association structures, keeping administrative effort to a minimum. Additionally, network meetings are self-financed, meaning there are no extra conference fees.
As a result, the network remains open to anyone interested in restoration, regardless of whether they come from academia, associations, government agencies, planning offices, or businesses.
The organizers (Simone Schneider – Naturschutzsyndikat SICONA; Annika Schmidt and Sabine Tischew – Anhalt University of Applied Sciences; Kathrin Kiehl – Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences; Vicky Temperton – Leuphana University; Johannes Kollmann – TUM) invest a great deal of voluntary work to keep this unique network alive. They share tasks related to the website, coordination, and (technical) organization. For them, it is clear: the collaborative exchange and the opportunity to advance restoration ecology are worth the effort.
Practice Meets Science: The Importance of the Network Meetings
A central element of the network’s work is its regular meetings. These typically consist of short keynote presentations followed by site visits to restoration areas and projects. A special focus is placed on open discussions about successes, challenges, and even failures – since the community can gain valuable lessons from mistakes.
Previous meeting topics have included the restoration of raw soil areas, the integration of conservation aspects into spatial planning, and the restoration of grasslands at the last network meeting in Luxembourg in summer 2024. In 2025, there will be three network meetings.
At the European Level
The “Netzwerk Renaturierung” is also well-connected at the European level. Since 2019, it has been a member of SER Europe (the European chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration) and maintains close contacts with related organizations, including the Working Group on Conservation and Restoration Ecology within SER Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This international collaboration helps develop leverage synergies between different restoration initiatives. Adding to that, networks as the “Netzwerk Renaturierung” play a crucial role for promoting the EU Nature Restoration Law – by scaling up restoration efforts and contributing to national implementation aligning with EU-wide objectives. Such networks are essential for translating policy into action, promoting innovative approaches, and maximizing the long-term success of restoration efforts under the new legislation.
Info: The EU Nature Restoration Law
The EU Nature Restoration Law came into force on 18 August 2024. It aims to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and marine areas by 2030 and to restore all ecosystems in need of restoration to good ecological status by 2050. The EU Member States are obliged to draw up national restoration plans that set out how the defined targets are to be achieved at national level. By promoting restoration initiatives, biodiversity and the climate can be protected, the resilience of ecosystems can be increased and economic benefits secured. This regulation is a central component of the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030.
Conclusion: Working together for a Sustainable Future
The “Netzwerk Renaturierung” is an outstanding example of how flexible, inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration can be successfully implemented. Through open exchange between science and practice, innovative solutions are developed to address the diverse challenges of restoration ecology. In a time when intact ecosystems are invaluable, such a platform is indispensable.
Anyone interested in becoming part of the network can find more information and get in touch via the network’s website. One thing is certain: the restoration of our ecosystems is most successful when we shape it together.
