Advancing and applying knowledge of ecosystem restoration

The ELSP supports the projects that it funds to carry out science-based restoration, with effective monitoring and generation of new learning embedded into practice. The ELSP also provides a number of small grants to advance our knowledge of how to carry out effective landscape and seascape restoration in Europe, building on the experience and expertise that exists across the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) and ELSP partnerships.

During 2023, the Phase 1 Restoration Landscapes and Seascapes continued to collect data describing 101 outcome indicators, assessing change in the natural capital, ecosystem services and socio-economic dimensions, across the seven landscapes. The seven Phase 2 Restoration Landscapes started implementing their monitoring plans and collecting baseline data using the Landscape Restoration Monitoring Framework, describing 109 indicators. In addition, many Phase 2 Restoration Trials got underway in 2023, with the aim of improving our understanding of what does and doesn’t work in large-scale restoration.

Three new Advancing Restoration Knowledge (ARK) grants were awarded in 2023, focused on acoustic techniques to monitor restoration, nature positive enterprises, and integrating sustainable trade of plants and fungi in restoration.

In 2023, five ARK projects were completed: Enabling Nature Positive Enterprises explored sustainable business models; Understanding Voluntary Carbon Markets  brought together knowledge and lessons learnt to provide clear guidance and build capacity for identifying appropriate pathways for European ecosystem restoration projects aiming to sell carbon credits; Acoustic Monitoring developed software to allow automated species identification of bats, owls and curlews from acoustic survey data throughout Europe, which were integrated in to the BTO’s Acoustic Pipeline; Building Partnerships created resources for building collaborative partnerships and behaviours in landscape-scale restoration initiatives; and Understanding Drivers of Wildfire revealed the patterns and drivers of fires in ecosystems of Polesia and elaborated a reproducible methodology that can be applied to other understudied regions. Additionally, a project led by UNEP-WCMC assessed the potential climate change mitigation benefits that may be delivered by ELSP restoration landscapes and seascapes. 

The ELSP is committed to the application of evidence in project design and is an ‘evidence champion’. Two hybrid events for conservation funders, jointly organised by ELSP, Conservation Evidence and the Environmental Funders Network, were held in the David Attenborough Building to discuss mechanisms to improve conservation effectiveness through evidence-based applications and funders enabling intervention testing.

“There is much that we still don’t understand about how to restore healthy and resilient ecosystems. It is vital that we take opportunities created through the programme, via monitoring change, designing and implementing restoration trials, and Advancing Restoration Knowledge grants, to improve our knowledge of how to effectively restore our land- and seascapes and maximise the benefits for nature and people.”

Dr Nancy Ockendon, ELSP Science Manager