The 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (SERE2024) took place in Tartu, Estonia, at the end of August 2024. Experts in ecological restoration from across Europe gathered to discuss strategies for restoring ecosystems and tackling biodiversity loss, especially with the upcoming EU Nature Restoration Law set to introduce new goals in 2024.

SpongeBoost partners from Wetlands International Europe and CIREF took part in the session "Restoration of Wetlands: Pathways, Trade-offs, and Co-benefits" on 27th August. They presented an overview of SpongeBoost’s objectives and shared insights from key case studies focused on improving natural water retention in landscapes.

On 29th August, the Estonian partners from the University of Tartu organised a field trip for SpongeBoost participants to showcase the project's demonstration sites in Estonia. The first stop was Männikjärve Bog in Endla Nature Reserve, one of the key sites in Work Package 2. This peatland features a monitoring station that has collected meteorological and hydrological data for over 100 years, providing valuable information for SpongeBoost. The team also enjoyed a walk along the scenic public study trail through the bog.

Next, the group visited Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve, where the Estonian team highlighted study sites related to Work Package 3, sharing details about the Pärnu catchment and Alam-Pedja areas. The field trip concluded with a visit to the Tähtvere cut-over peatland, a former peat extraction site. This area, part of the Emajõgi River catchment, holds significant potential for future restoration, making it an important focus for SpongeBoost.