The 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (SERE2024) is an international conference organized by the European Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SERE), held in Europe every two years. In the last week of August 2024, experts in the science, practice, and policy of ecological restoration will gather in Tartu, Estonia, to exchange knowledge and shape the future of European nature.

As biodiversity continues to decline, ecological restoration has become a critical issue on both political and scientific agendas. Degraded ecosystems worldwide urgently need informed and effective strategies for recovery. The EU is actively working on the Nature Restoration Law, with new and ambitious goals to reverse biodiversity loss in Europe set to be agreed upon in 2024.

The SERE2024 conference in Tartu offers a timely platform to develop the most effective approaches for long-term nature recovery. It will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from across Europe to share ideas, knowledge, and experiences. Sessions will cover a wide range of topics, from the theory and practice of restoring various ecosystems—such as wetlands, grasslands, forests, rivers, agroecosystems, and urban and marine environments—to the socioeconomic and political contexts of ecological restoration. Special emphasis will be placed on developing national restoration plans in alignment with the new EU law.

SpongeBoost partners from Wetlands International Europe and CIREF will participate in SERE2024 on August 27 during the afternoon session "3.1. Restoration of Wetlands: Pathways, Trade-offs, and Co-benefits." Their presentation will provide an overview of SpongeBoost and highlight some of the case study areas where SpongeBoost will work to identify effective strategies for enhancing or restoring landscapes’ natural water retention capacity.

Stay updated on SpongeBoost's participation at SERE2024 by following our channels. Learn more about the conference sessions here and explore the thematic workshops here. The full programe is available here.