Join the Society for Ecological Restoration for a faculty conversation introducing Foundations of Restoration Ecology, SER’s new online learning program designed to build the scientific foundation for effective, standards-based ecological restoration.

During this webinar, faculty contributors share an overview of the course structure, key topic areas, and learning objectives, and discuss how the program was designed to support restoration practitioners across career stages and disciplines. Watch to learn about the ecological concepts covered throughout the curriculum and how these topics connect to real-world restoration planning, implementation, and evaluation. The webinar introduces the two learning pathways available.

1. A self-paced MOOC series offered in three parts:

1. Introductory Concepts (core principles, community assembly, ecosystem change, resilience, and monitoring)
2. Individuals and Populations (ecophysiology, genetics, demography, local adaptation, and seed transfer considerations)
3. Ecosystems (biodiversity–function links, nutrient cycles, food webs, invasives, and ecosystem processes)

2. A virtual, accredited upper-division cohort course offered through the University of Montana for 3 academic credits, featuring faculty-led discussions and graded coursework. Attendees will learn about the content of both courses and how they can apply the knowledge and skills gained to strengthen their restoration practice and professional development.

Description: This webinar is offered as part of a partnership between SER and the Society for Conservation Biology North America. The presentation highlights how restoration and conservation often work in cooperation much as both organizations are doing for a North American Congress for Conservation & Restoration.

Removal of four hydropower dams on the Klamath River in northern California and southern Oregon is the largest dam removal and river restoration project in the country. Tribal communities had long advocated for an undammed and restored river, citing the negative impacts on Tribal fisheries, health, and culture. After decades of advocacy and work, in Fall 2024, dam removal was achieved.

The historic project restored free-flowing conditions and volitional fish passage to over 400 miles of the Klamath River and its tributaries, and is leading to landscape level change seldom seen in a single project. This presentation provides an overview of two primary topics. First, the dam removal effort and restoration approach that is driving landscape-scale change in the project footprint. This includes native revegetation of over 2,200 acres of exposed former lakebed, 3.5 miles of tributary restoration, water quality monitoring, and numerous resource/species conservation measures.

The webinar includes a discussion of fisheries conservation work underway by the Klamath Tribes and project partners in the Upper Klamath Basin since the dams were removed. In collaboration with state, tribal, and non-profit partners, the Klamath Tribes are conducting basin-wide anadromous fish monitoring, including radio telemetry, escapement surveys, biological sampling, and rotary screw trap operations. Multiple species (coho salmon, Chinook salmon, and Pacific lamprey) migrated past former dam sites in the first spawning season following removal, and by the second season Chinook salmon reached tributaries of Upper Klamath Lake (~430 km from the river mouth) where juvenile production was documented.

Description: Identifying where to restore remains one of the most complex and important challenges in deep-sea ecosystem recovery. As global efforts such as Mission Ocean and Waters accelerated action on ocean health, the need for informed, science-based decision-making became increasingly critical.

This SER-Europe webinar recording explores how site selection, ecological baselines, and available data can guide effective deep-sea restoration. Drawing on insights from the REDRESS project, speakers share current approaches, practical experiences, and key uncertainties shaping restoration in these largely unexplored environments. The session examines how mapping tools, ecological knowledge, and emerging methodologies can support decision-making, while also addressing technical, environmental, and governance considerations. Gain insights into how restoration strategies can be designed to be both effective and adaptable across deep-sea contexts.

The webinar recording features keynote presentations followed by a moderated panel discussion and an audience Q&A via Slido.

Speakers and Panelists:

• Murray Roberts (University of Edinburgh)
• Simone D’Alessandro (University of Edinburgh)
• Roberto Danovaro (Polytechnic University of Marche)
• Sabine Gollner (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research – NIOZ)
  

CERPs/CERPITs: this webinar has been pre-approved for 1 CEC.

Description:

Watch the joint webinar from the Society for Conservation Biology North America and SER promoting the work of conservation and restoration professionals in North America!

The Wehr Nature Center is a 220-acre nature preserve located in Whitnall Park, Milwaukee County Park’s largest park. Home to over 400 native plant species and hundreds of bird species, Wehr Nature Center is a hotspot for local wildlife and botanical viewing by nearly 200k annual visitors. 

Jeff Veglahn – Land Manager at the Wehr Nature Center – discusses the history of Center, the Center’s restoration goals, activities, and challenges, and how volunteers and the public are engaged in this important work.

This event showcase projects at the intersection of both professional fields, serving as a preview of sessions that will take place at our North American Congress for Conservation and Restoration on July 12-16, 2026.

Description:

Across Europe and around the world, the need to restore nature has never been more urgent. As the EU’s Nature Restoration Law takes effect, a new generation of skilled restoration professionals is essential to turn policy into action.

This webinar to explores two innovative digital tools designed to accelerate and enhance ecological restoration practice:

1. The Digital Ecological Restoration Toolbox (DERTO) — an open educational resource developed by the TEAM#UP Consortium. DERTO offers free online training materials, including vocational education modules and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), to upskill and reskill professionals across sectors—from agriculture and forestry to landscaping and coastal management.
2. The Marine Restoration Toolbox (MRT) — developed through the CLIMAREST project, this comprehensive platform supports practitioners throughout the entire restoration process. It combines practical case studies, guidance on funding options, and a Virtual Lab hosted by BlueCloud, featuring interactive tools and digital twins for tasks such as protocol development, image analysis, and site prioritization.

Together, DERTO and MRT demonstrate how open-access knowledge and cutting-edge digital tools can help practitioners, educators, and policymakers scale up effective ecological restoration globally. Watch this webinar to discover how these resources can empower your work—and the future of restoration.

This session presents research investigating how China's legal and policy frameworks can support the implementation of global restoration obligations at the domestic level. The research examines national strategies, key legislation, and institutional mechanisms that advance restoration across diverse ecological contexts. Legal case studies highlight the opportunities and challenges associated with advancing restoration in China, and the findings aim to contribute to the global discourse on innovative legal and policy frameworks that support restoration initiatives.

Session title: From Restoration to Replication: Lessons and Next Steps for Marine Ecosystem Restoration under Mission Ocean – Restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030

Description:

As the CLIMAREST project concluded, this final session highlighted lessons learned from restoration initiatives, how Mission Ocean and Waters is driving systemic change, and the next steps for achieving healthy, resilient marine ecosystems by 2030.

• Vicente Fernandez (European Commission, DG MARE) – part of the team leading Phase 2 of the European Commission’s Mission Ocean and Waters.
• Ana Lillebø (Universidade de Aveiro) – leader in coastal ecosystem research and coordinator of major EU innovation actions, including A-AAGORA, RESTORE4Cs, and Beside Project.
• Ida Beathe Øverjordet (SINTEF Ocean) – Senior Researcher and coordinator of the CLIMAREST project.
• Inês Machado – Head of Marine Environment and Licensing at WavEC - Offshore Renewables, specialising in offshore renewables, underwater noise, and Nature-Inclusive Design.
• Melinda Marcou – Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR). 
• Demetris Kletou – Marine & Environmental Research Lab (MER), Director, Principal Investigator

Participe do webinar organizado pelo The Global Biodiversity Standard Brasil (TGBS Brasil), em colaboração com a Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) e o Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), no dia 30 de outubro. O evento marca o lançamento da versão em português do manual “The Global Biodiversity Standard: Manual de Avaliação e Boas Práticas”, referência para avaliar e reconhecer boas práticas em restauração, plantio de árvores e agricultura sustentável.

A TGBS é uma certificação realizada no terreno que avalia os impactos dos projectos na biodiversidade, na integridade dos ecossistemas e nos benefícios sociais. Durante o webinar, serão apresentados os elementos centrais do TGBS, incluindo protocolos de avaliação em campo, a Roda de Integridade e o uso de sensoriamento remoto.

Também serão destacados exemplos práticos de manejo alinhados aos Padrões da Década da Restauração da ONU e a aplicação de oito critérios de avaliação que permitem mensurar de forma robusta o desempenho de projetos. O webinar é voltado para conservacionistas, biólogos, ecologistas, gestores ambientais, praticantes de restauração ecológica, acadêmicos e profissionais do setor privado, oferecendo uma visão prática sobre como aplicar padrões globais de biodiversidade em projetos locais.

Description: Únete este 26 de agosto al webinar organizado por los Hubs de The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS) en América Latina, en colaboración con la Sociedad para la Restauración Ecológica (SER) y BGCI. El evento marca el lanzamiento del nuevo manual “The Global Biodiversity Standard: Manual de Evaluación y Buenas Prácticas”, una guía para evaluar y reconocer buenas prácticas en restauración, agricultura sostenible y plantación de árboles.

Se presentarán los elementos clave de TGBS, una certificación basada en sitios que incorpora evaluaciones de biodiversidad, integridad de los ecosistemas y beneficios sociales, así como herramientas prácticas como la rueda de integridad y evaluaciones en campo.El webinar también abordará el uso de teledetección y metodologías aplicadas por los Hubs en países como Brasil, Perú, India y Uganda, entre otros. Se destacarán ejemplos de manejo alineados con los principios de restauración ecológica de la ONU, y se explicará cómo los sitios son evaluados según ocho criterios definidos. Este espacio está dirigido a conservacionistas, ecologistas y gestores ambientales interesados en aplicar estándares rigurosos para mejorar los resultados en biodiversidad.

Puedes descargar el manual en: https://www.biodiversitystandard.org/our-method/

This webinar explores how coastal restoration planning can help overcome common barriers through three European case studies. Speakers from the REST-COAST project share approaches from the Venice Lagoon, Arcachon Bay, and the Ebro Delta, highlighting the role of nature-based solutions, co-developed business plans, and collaborative governance in scaling up coastal resilience.

Umberto Pernice discusses restoration activities in the Venice Lagoon that apply nature-based solutions supported by co-developed business plans to enable sustainable upscaling.

Julian Dalle presents on collaborative efforts in Arcachon Bay, on France’s western coast, to strengthen local governance and support large-scale coastal restoration strategies.

Xavier Sánchez-Artus shares insights from the Ebro Delta on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, focusing on the role of embryonic dunes in enhancing coastal roughness and resilience in a subsiding, erosion-prone delta.

These presentations are part of the European research project REST-COAST, which addresses coastal restoration across nine pilot sites along Europe’s shores. Learn more at https://rest-coast.eu/.

Though several ecological studies have a local or regional framework, producing high-quality results can significantly advance global ecological concepts, theories, and paradigms. Publishing scientific results in international journals is nowadays a ‘vital’ and constant requirement for researchers and graduate students and may pose several challenges. In this webinar recording the Editor in Chief, Prof. Stephen Murphy, and Managing Editor, Dr. Valter Amaral, of Restoration Ecology (journal) discuss how to publish in Restoration Ecology effectively: what are the main challenges, from making global generalizations with local and regional results to the language barrier, and how to effectively overcome these.

Webinar Description: With the EU's Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) requiring member states to draft National Restoration Plans, this webinar delved into the pivotal role that Horizon Europe projects like CLIMAREST play in shaping and supporting these plans, emphasizing the integration of scientific and legal frameworks to bridge policy and practice.

Featured speakers: Elisa Cavelin (SER-Europe Legal Working Group) provided an overview of the NRR's implementation framework and relevance to marine restoration, followed by Dr. Tanja Šegvić Bubić (Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Croatia) showcasing replication site work on octopus population restoration along the Croatian coast.

Expert panel: Pablo Sánchez Jerez (University of Alicante), Daria Ezgeta Balić (Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries), and Jelena Uroš (Government of Croatia), moderated by Sahar Stevenson-Jones.

The session featured interactive audience participation via Slido, exploring how CLIMAREST and similar initiatives contribute tools, legal insights, and scientific expertise to support NRR implementation.

This webinar is proudly organised by SER Europe and CLIMAREST.

The ‘Universal Declaration of Rights of Wetlands’, based on a constellation of eight rights around the right to exist, is a pathway for furthering wetlands conservation through ecosystem rights and personhood framing. These rights challenge the notion that nature is to be simply viewed as property to which humans have a right to exploit and manage and instead promote the adoption of a more ‘biocentric’ perspective which recognises nature as an entity with fundamental rights which are to be protected while taking into account human needs. In this webinar, the panellists discuss the ways in which the rights of wetlands support ecological restoration.

Description: This webinar features three experts who explore the application of Traditional Ecological Knowledge to enhance restoration ecology practices. Presenters share case studies from diverse ecosystems across the Americas, demonstrating how indigenous wisdom can improve the effectiveness of environmental restoration efforts.

Download the webinar transcript here.

CERPs/CERPITs: This webinar has been approved for 1 CEC.

This webinar is hosted by The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS) partners, in collaboration with the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). This event coincided with the release of our highly anticipated manual, "The Global Biodiversity Standard: Manual for Assessment and Best Practices," available from 18th June.

The webinar explores the unique features and advantages of TGBS, a site-based certification methodology designed to assess the impacts of tree planting, restoration, and sustainable agricultural initiatives on biodiversity. TGBS stands apart by focusing on comprehensive biodiversity assessments, incorporating both ecosystem integrity and social benefits. Key discussions will include the innovative use of field surveys, the practical application of the ecosystem integrity and social benefits wheel, and the development of a novel protection system.

Gain insights into how TGBS uses remote-sensing and ground surveys conducted by ‘TGBS hubs’ in Brazil, China, India, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Peru, and Uganda, located in well-established biodiversity and ecological restoration organisations. The webinar also showcases the assessment of management practices in line with the UN Decade Standards of Practice to guide ecosystem restoration and the Restoration Project Information Sharing Framework.

Our expert panel provides an in-depth overview of the manual, demonstrating how the assessment methodology works and how sites will score against the standard’s eight criteria. The webinar aims to equip conservationists, ecologists, and environmental managers with the knowledge and tools needed to implement these best practices and achieve certification under TGBS. Register now to join us in advancing standards to protect, enhance, and restore biodiversity.

Webinar transcript available here.

Webinar Description: Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) is a global priority aimed at reversing forest loss and degradation. While humans are central to restoration efforts, their role is often underrepresented in forest restoration projects. A new report by IUFRO, WWF, SER, and UNIL addresses this gap by focusing on the human dimensions of FLR.

Dr. Stephanie Mansourian, lead author and external scientific collaborator with the the University of Lausanne (UNIL), explains: "Human dimensions of FLR encompass activities essential for enabling restoration, such as negotiating long-term objectives and resolving conflicts. They also include understanding the motivations behind forest restoration or destruction, and the factors influencing public support for restoration efforts."

This webinar will explore the report's findings, emphasizing the critical importance of integrating human dimensions into the FLR process for successful outcomes. The study, a collaboration between 11 social scientists and practitioners, examines why human dimensions are essential in FLR and other forms of restoration, and how they can be better incorporated into practice and policymaking. Contributing authors are: Mercy Derkyi, Ida Djenontin, Marlène Elias, Johan Oldekop, Pablo Pacheco, Janice Burns, Anita Diederichsen, Michael Kleine, Daniel Vallauri, and Bethanie Walder.

Additionally, the webinar presents a summary of relevant guidance materials developed under other processes that can contribute directly to FLR. This collaborative effort across diverse institutions marks a significant advancement in the field of Forest Landscape Restoration.

Webinar Description: Discover the benefits of SER’s Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program! SER's Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program encourages a high professional standard for those who are designing, implementing, overseeing, and monitoring ecological restoration projects throughout the world. The program guarantees that practitioners meet a set of minimum requirements for restoration and ecological knowledge, on-the-ground practical experience, and an understanding of restoration principles and standards. The CERP program also offers a CERP-In-Training certification for those who don’t quite meet all of the requirements of a full CERP certification, and is ideal for new graduates of restoration programs and professionals who are newer to the field of ecological restoration.

Description: SER Europe and global policy experts discuss the EU Regulation on Nature Restoration (Nature Restoration Law, NRL) and it's European and global implications. 

CERPs/CERPITs: this recording is pre-approved for 1 CEC.

Learn about large scale afforestation on salt affected land, constraints on development, and success factors. Around 450 hectares of land allotted to develop a 2000MW BSES power project, which was financed by World Bank started in 1989. First stage of development for 2x500 MW was undertaken and commissioned in 1994. Due to the political problems and environmental problems further development was stopped. BSES decided to make the project in to best eco-friendly project and decided to develop the balance degraded land in to an excellent ecosystem. Various stages of land development and afforestation case study will be presented.

CERPs/CERPITs: this recording is pre-approved for 1 CEC.

Make a Difference Week 2024 Information Session - Applying the Standards to volunteer-focused restoration events

Learn about SER’s Make a Difference Week 2024 (1-9 June). Make a Difference Week is SER’s annual week of global restoration action where individuals and organizations from around the world host and participate in local volunteer restoration events. There are two ways to get involved with Make a Difference Week 2024 — either by hosting a volunteer restoration event, or by volunteering with a restoration event near you.

This information session focuses on providing details to potential event hosts. Keith McCallum discusses the Make a Difference Week 2024 event, the SER International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration, and some considerations for the application of the Standards to volunteer-focused ecological restoration, like Make a Difference Week 2024.

Webinar Description: This inaugural webinar laid the groundwork for establishing robust marine ecological restoration (MER) standards, anchored in the SER Principles of Ecological Restoration. The session explored how these principles can be adapted for marine environments—from deep seas to coastal areas—emphasizing a holistic, ecosystem-based approach.

Featured speakers: Jordi Cortina-Segarra (UAlicante, then Chair of SER-Europe), Cristina Gambi (UNIVPM), Simonetta Fraschetti (UNaples), with a panel including Ida Beathe Øverjordet (CLIMAREST coordinator), Martin Perrot (Seaboost), Marc Bouchoucha (Ifremer), and Jose Moutinho (Blue Mission AA CSA coordinator).

Key topics included best practices for MER protocols, the significance of the Nature Restoration Law, and opportunities to embed high-quality restoration standards via the CLIMAREST toolbox in support of EU Missions and the UN Decade on Ocean Restoration.

This webinar is proudly organised by SER Europe and CLIMAREST.

Webinar description: This webinar features insightful discussions led by experts McKenna Davis of the Ecologic Institute, Mathilde Laymarie & Elsa Alfonsi of Bordeaux Métropole, Merle Karro-Kalberg (Tartu University), and Karin Bachmann & Anna-Liisa Unt (Estonian Academy of Arts). The content presented delves into the critical topic of ecological restoration within urban environments, shedding light on the importance of enhancing biodiversity and ecological quality in cities.

CERPs/CERPITs: this recording is pre-approved for 1 CEC.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), and IUCN’s Commission on Ecosystem Management launch the of Standards of practice to guide ecosystem restoration: A contribution to the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030.

The Standards of practice present a common lexicon for all types of restorative activities under the UN Decade, from reducing societal impacts to ecological restoration, and includes over 300 recommendations to improve benefits of ecosystem restoration to people and nature, across all types of ecosystems from forests to oceans.

To celebrate the publication, the collaborative team hosted two 30-minutes sessions with individuals involved with the development of this important document.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), and IUCN’s Commission on Ecosystem Management launch the of Standards of practice to guide ecosystem restoration: A contribution to the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030.

The Standards of practice present a common lexicon for all types of restorative activities under the UN Decade, from reducing societal impacts to ecological restoration, and includes over 300 recommendations to improve benefits of ecosystem restoration to people and nature, across all types of ecosystems from forests to oceans.

To celebrate the publication, the collaborative team hosted two 30-minutes sessions with individuals involved with the development of this important document.

Newly available! Download the webinar transcript here: Transcript for Standards of Practice to Guide Ecological Restoration Launch - Western Hemisphere

Webinar description: This webinar was led by renowned institutions ETH Zurich and Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, and features insightful discussions led by experts Valentin Klaus from ETH Zurich and Sandra Dullau and Henny Grewe from Anhalt University. The content presented delves into the critical topic of ecological restoration within urban environments, shedding light on the importance of enhancing biodiversity and ecological quality in cities.

CERPs/CERPITs: this recording is pre-approved for 1 CEC.