The Evolution of Forest Restoration in Europe: A Synthesis for a Step Forward Based on National Expert Knowledge

Abstract Purpose of review We are amid a historical momentum encouraging forest restoration, yet the translation of ambitious targets into reality is hindered by poor documentation and understanding of the success and failure of past restoration efforts. This review aims to evaluate the ecological, social, political and economic characteristics of forest restoration across Europe, their development over time and key lessons learned to guide future restoration initiatives. The analysis is based on the synthesis of expert assessments from 18 European countries. Recent findings Early restoration initiatives in central and southern Europe were largely reactive to natural disasters or timber shortages, and while effective in erosion control and timber production, their ecological benefits were often limited due to monoculture plantations and short-rotation systems. Geopolitical crises intensified timber production, with nationalized and centrally managed forests in several countries, but often at the cost of biodiversity. Since the 1990s, a shift toward multifunctionality has emerged driven by the convergence of environmental, social, political and economic events. Summary Forest restoration in Europe has transitioned from disaster reduction and production-driven efforts to a more multifunctional approach that promotes biodiversity. Changes have been driven by a combination of environmental (e.g., catastrophic consequences following natural disasters), political (e.g., wars, forest nationalization and management centralization), legal (e.g., strict and ambitious national and international policies), social (e.g., rural abandonment and changes in societal values) and economic (e.g., new funding mechanisms or market fluctuations) events. Despite the development, conflicting goals, insufficient funding, climate change and short-term thinking persist as key barriers.

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Publication Details

Journal
Current Forestry Reports
Published
2024-12-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40725-024-00235-3
Citations
14
Primary Topic
Forest Management and Policy
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.96

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article

The Evolution of Forest Restoration in Europe: A Synthesis for a Step Forward Based on National Expert Knowledge

László Gálhidy, Jurij Diaci, Jordi Palau, Marcus Lindner et al.
14 citations
Current Forestry Reports
Forest Management and Policy
3.96
article

The Evolution of Forest Restoration in Europe: A Synthesis for a Step Forward Based on National Expert Knowledge

László Gálhidy, Jurij Diaci, Jordi Palau, Marcus Lindner, Réka Aszalós, Susanne Raum, María Menéndez‐Miguélez, Leland K. Werden, Liviu Nichiforel, Palle Madsen, Martina Đodan, Maitane Erdozain, Vassilis Detsis, Matthias Haase, Yoan Paillet, Kris Vandekerkhove, Katharina Lapin, Jerzy Skrzyszewski, Timo Kuuluvainen, Delphine Jaymond, Giorgio Vacchiano, Thibault Lachat, Sander Teeuwen, Sergio de‐Miguel, Isabel Cañellas, Maciej Pach, Silvio Schueler, Johan Svensson, Frank Krumm, Georgios Efthimiou, Henrik Jørgensen, Jesús García, Kurt Bollmann, Icíar Alberdi, Elisabeth Johann, Ciprian Palaghianu, J. Hoffmann, Sanja Perić, A. Paneque Ávila
article en
14 citations

Abstract

Abstract Purpose of review We are amid a historical momentum encouraging forest restoration, yet the translation of ambitious targets into reality is hindered by poor documentation and understanding of the success and failure of past restoration efforts. This review aims to evaluate the ecological, social, political and economic characteristics of forest restoration across Europe, their development over time and key lessons learned to guide future restoration initiatives. The analysis is based on the synthesis of expert assessments from 18 European countries. Recent findings Early restoration initiatives in central and southern Europe were largely reactive to natural disasters or timber shortages, and while effective in erosion control and timber production, their ecological benefits were often limited due to monoculture plantations and short-rotation systems. Geopolitical crises intensified timber production, with nationalized and centrally managed forests in several countries, but often at the cost of biodiversity. Since the 1990s, a shift toward multifunctionality has emerged driven by the convergence of environmental, social, political and economic events. Summary Forest restoration in Europe has transitioned from disaster reduction and production-driven efforts to a more multifunctional approach that promotes biodiversity. Changes have been driven by a combination of environmental (e.g., catastrophic consequences following natural disasters), political (e.g., wars, forest nationalization and management centralization), legal (e.g., strict and ambitious national and international policies), social (e.g., rural abandonment and changes in societal values) and economic (e.g., new funding mechanisms or market fluctuations) events. Despite the development, conflicting goals, insufficient funding, climate change and short-term thinking persist as key barriers.

Current Forestry ReportsVol. 11(1)
Agricultural University of Athens (GR), Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava (RO), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Bern University of Applied Sciences (CH), University of Helsinki (FI), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES), University of Ljubljana (SI), Universitat de Lleida (ES), University of Milan (IT), Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse (FR), Research Institute for Nature and Forest (BE), Danish Nature Agency (DK), Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (CH), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE), University of Agriculture in Krakow (PL), Harokopio University of Athens (GR), ETH Zurich (CH), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (ES), HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research (HU), European Forest Institute (DE), Austrian Research Centre for Forests (AT), Croatian Forest Research Institute (HR), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), WWF Hungary, Imperial College London (GB), Technical University of Munich (DE), Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
European Commission, Universitat de Lleida
Climate action
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Forest Management and Policy
3.96
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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