After 4 years of research work, the SUPERB project (Systemic solutions for upscaling of urgent ecosystem restoration for forest-related biodiversity and ecosystem services) is nearing its completion. The €20 million project funded by the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme aimed to link practical and scientific knowledge for forest restoration. SUPERB project carried out concrete restoration actions in 12 large-scale demonstration areas, and included 36 partners from 16 countries in Europe.
As part of the final activities of SUPERB a two-day event was organised. On the first day a trip to the Netherlands was organised to experience first hand the Dutch demonstration area, and the second day gave place to a full day of presentations and discussions on the outcomes of the project.
On 8 September, the field trip included a guided ‘walkshop’ in the forest of Horst aan de Maas and a panel discussion focusing on the barriers and opportunities for replicating successful restoration approaches across Europe.
On 9 September, the workshop focused on bringing practices insight to policy makers.
The day brought discussions on key lessons from the SUPERB demo, the growing role of private finance for nature restoration, and was an opportunity to launch the Forest Knowledge gateway.
The day closed with a panel discussion on building communities for scaling up restoration, which included Elisabeth Schatzdorfer, EFI and SUPERB coordinator, Cristiane Sater Melnik, FAO-led UN Decade Task Forces, Paul Webb, European Research Executive Agency, Piotr Borkowski, EUSTAFOR, and Hélène Koch, CEPF.
During the panel, Hélène Koch, noted that the legacy of SUPERB with regards to community building will likely last as its original design had been inclusive from the start. She also said that to get forest owners involved in restoration projects, forest owners need trust in the process, respect for their rights, and to see the benefits. Finally, for the future, the most important aspect is to take the time to properly design restoration actions that last and succeed.
