Worldwide, ecological restoration projects have proven successful and cost-effective, nature-based solutions to modern-day environmental problems. Ecological restoration has been increasingly encouraged in strategies and policies such as the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030. In Europe, the Green Deal explicitly commits to protecting and restoring nature to achieve the EU climate and biodiversity objectives for 2030 and 2050, and to ensure the resilience of food systems. As a major tool, ecological restoration can reverse biodiversity loss and recover ecosystem services while creating functional green infrastructure and enhancing our resiliency to a changing climate.
The European Nature Restoration Law, as part of the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, will include developing National Restoration Plans in EU Member States. To implement national restoration plans for net-positive nature restoration, educational programs, specifically those of Vocational Education and Training (VET) schools, require further and more thorough integration of ecological restoration methods in school curricula. The TEAM#UP project aims to provide this educational material on ecological restoration, working with pilot VET schools across four countries in Europe.
Humanity recognises the planet’s native ecosystems as having irreplaceable ecological, societal, and economic values. In addition to their intrinsic value, such as biodiversity and spiritual or aesthetic importance, healthy native ecosystems assure the flow of ecosystem services. These services include: provision of clean water and air, healthy soils, culturally important artifacts, and the food, fiber, fuel, and medicines essential for human health, wellbeing, and livelihoods (1).
(1) International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration, Society for Ecological Restoration
