Symposium Opportunities in Nature Restoration - Translating science advice into policy

This symposium, organised by the KNAW and EASAC, will discuss the key insights from the recent EASAC commentary Opportunities in Nature Restoration, with special attention to the range of options available to the Netherlands for implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation. Chair of the meeting is Louise Vet (Academy member and former NIOO director), who is one of the co-authors of the report.

Fully implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation is a strategic investment in Europe’s health, security and economic resilience, rather than simply a legal obligation, according to a new scientific commentary from the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC). 

The European Union’s Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) marks a historic step in European environmental regulation by establishing legally binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems on land and at sea. The EASAC commentary Opportunities in Nature Restoration emphasises restoration as a cost-effective strategy for climate mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity recovery, water security, and disaster-risk reduction, and synthesises scientific evidence and policy options to support implementation across Member States.

Under the NRR, Member States should submit national restoration plans by mid-2026 and describe where and how they plan to deliver key targets. During this symposium speakers and panellists from science, policy and practitioners will discuss the range of options available to the Netherlands for implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.