The European Union has adopted the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) to combat the widespread degradation of ecosystems, aiming to restore at least 20% of land and sea areas by 2030. A major challenge now is ensuring its proper implementation across member states. Traditionally, active restoration—such as replanting or reintroducing species—has been the dominant approach. However, new research by WILDCARD scientists highlights the effectiveness of spontaneous ecological succession, or passive restoration, where nature recovers on its own under suitable conditions.
Based on a previous analysis from 2020, which encompassed 530 global studies across various terrestrial ecosystems (Prach and Walker 2020), WILDCARD’s Karel Prach and Petra Janečková did an analysis of 156 European studies. They found that spontaneous succession successfully restored vegetation in 67% of cases, with slightly higher results than the global study (where 60% of the cases were successfully restored). This method is cost-effective and, when applied correctly, can lead to long-term ecological recovery. Yet, passive restoration is rarely prioritized in large-scale projects, the researchers emphasize.
The study authors advocate for a greater reliance on natural processes, which can enhance biodiversity, improve ecosystem functions, and support climate resilience. With the NRL in place, the experts see an opportunity to rethink how restoration is approached across Europe, ensuring ecological integrity while maximizing cost efficiency.