Over 60 experts contribute their knowledge to define how to measure effective forest restoration.
The research provides a scientific foundation for the future National Restoration Plan required by the EU.
A new study led by the Global Forest Ecosystems Research Group at the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC) proposes a framework of indicators to guide forest restoration in Spain. Based on the expertise of 62 specialists and a process of consensus and participatory workshops, the work analyzes 34 forest restoration indicators —including those proposed by the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR)— and evaluates their relevance and applicability in the Spanish context.
The study comes at a key moment: EU Member States will soon have to design their National Restoration Plans and define the indicators to measure their progress. “Ensuring that restoration efforts translate into effective socio-ecological outcomes requires robust monitoring frameworks with appropriate indicators,” notes Maitane Erdozain, first author of the paper. In this sense, the study provides a scientific basis to guide indicator selection and ensure that European policies are adapted to Spain’s ecological and social diversity.
One of the main findings of the study, developed under the REFORADAPT project and published in the Journal of Environmental Management, is that the most suitable indicators to assess the progress of forest restoration initiatives may differ in Mediterranean regions compared to those proposed at the European level by the NRR. The case of deadwood, for instance, is paradigmatic: while it is essential for biodiversity and other ecological processes, in Mediterranean environments some experts associate it with increased risks of wildfires or pest outbreaks. This debate highlights the need to improve communication and research about its ecological role and management in the face of natural disturbances.
“Through this participatory process with experts, the team proposes a flexible framework of indicators by restoration objectives, balancing European harmonization with regional adaptation and integrating both ecological and socioeconomic aspects of restoration,” explains Sergio de Miguel, Professor of Forest Science at the University of Lleida and coordinator of the Global Forest Ecosystems Research Group at CTFC.
This approach represents the first systematic national-scale assessment of forest restoration indicators in Spain, combining scientific evidence with input from diverse stakeholders. Finally, the study stresses the importance not only of choosing appropriate indicators but also of defining reference values to determine when different types of forests can truly be considered restored.
REFORADAPT is supported by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, through its grant program for projects contributing to the implementation of the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (2021–2030).
More information:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479725036497
Last modified: 10 November 2025
