European experts analyze 150 years of forest history to inform the implementation of the new Nature Restoration Regulation.
The decisions Europe makes today about forest restoration will be shaped by more than a century of history. This is the main conclusion of a new study led by researcher Maitane Erdozain from the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC) and recently published in Land Use Policy. The study examines how wars, political changes, economic fluctuations, and social transformations have shaped European forests since the late 19th century. The work arrives at a key moment: the European Union is preparing to implement the new Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), which aims to promote large‑scale restoration across the continent.
The study, developed within the framework of the European SUPERB project (Horizon 2020) and coordinated by the European Forest Institute (EFI), brings together the knowledge of 32 experts from 18 countries. Based on this comparative perspective, the authors identify the factors that have historically supported —or hindered— forest restoration. Among them are changes in forest governance and ownership, market influences, rural abandonment, and shifts in public opinion.
The results show that forest restoration does not depend solely on technical or ecological decisions, but on a complex social fabric. For example, fragmentation resulting from forest privatization or the coexistence of divergent social views on the role of forests have generated incoherent policies that have limited the success of many projects. In contrast, periods with solid regulatory frameworks, stable funding, and broad social participation have enabled significant progress.
Drawing on these lessons, the study proposes recommendations for implementing the NRR. Among them is the need for hybrid governance models that combine clear national guidelines with local flexibility, as well as stable financing systems based on economic and fiscal incentives and market mechanisms linked to forest ecosystem services. “Without these elements, Europe risks repeating the same mistakes of the past and moving only toward scattered and uncoordinated restoration efforts, far from the ambition of large‑scale recovery that has been set,” Erdozain notes.
Although the analysis is qualitative and based on the perspectives of national experts —which may introduce some degree of subjectivity—, the work opens new key questions for forest research and policy, such as designing effective incentives for private landowners, understanding which governance models work best in diverse socio‑ecological contexts, or determining how to ensure that restoration continues even in times of crisis.
With European countries currently developing their National Restoration Plans, these conclusions arrive at a decisive moment. According to Sergio de Miguel, Professor of Forest Science at the University of Lleida and coordinator of the CTFC’s Global Forest Ecosystems Research Group, understanding the past is essential for building more resilient forests in the future.
Last modified: 5 February 2026
