On 5 December 2025, the major scientific online conference of the Interreg Central Europe project “ReCo – Restore to Connect” took place. Around 125 participants from research, public administration, nature conservation and policy participated from all over Europe. The full-day event offered a wide-ranging programme on ecological restoration, biodiversity, habitat connectivity and the practical implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.
In the first thematic block, experts from six pilot regions along the European Green Belt presented concrete restoration measures. These included stream and peatland restoration in Germany and Czechia, the revitalisation of coastal lagoons in Slovenia, the conservation of species-rich mountain meadows in Slovenia, as well as measures supporting the European wildcat in Austria and Czechia and European bison in Poland. The presentations provided impressive examples of how scientific methods and local cooperation can deliver tangible improvements for threatened species and habitats.
The second block focused on ecological connectivity and Natura 2000. Representatives from other projects and research institutions introduced innovative approaches to analysing historical environmental data, implementing landscape connectivity, applying remote sensing in restoration planning and enhancing climate resilience in forest and wetland ecosystems. Another highlight was the exchange with coordinators of major EU nature conservation projects, who contributed best-practice examples from across Europe.
In the afternoon, experts from ministries and NGOs in five EU Member States presented the current status of the national restoration strategies being developed in the context of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation. Participants discussed key challenges, opportunities and priorities for effective implementation at the national level.
The successful online conference underlined the importance of cross-border cooperation for the future of the European Green Belt and the implementation of the EU’s restoration objectives.
The recording of the event is available in the following link using the Passcode: P@eLd%m7