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

Berlin

2025

19 S.

Sonderdruck

13403S

40005388

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.Keywords: Afforestation; Drivers of change; Ecological recovery; Economy; Historical; Obstacles; Political;