Transnational Cooperation on nature-based solutions for restoring degraded forests of Central Europe

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-03-13

Description

Description (EN):

Protecting biodiversity, promoting adaptation and mitigation to climate change are key challenges for the Central Europe (CE) region. Nature-based Solutions (NBS) are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems, to address societal challenges while providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits. Forests of CE harbour biodiversity, ecosystem services(ES), create jobs, and is cost-effective NBS for mitigating climate change. However, CE forests are degraded due to climate change, disturbances, and unsustainable management. These drivers affect forests beyond the national borders of CE countries and therefore cannot be addressed with national and regional approaches. To guarantee forest's function in a changing climate and reverse deterioration, transnational restoration is needed. Although forest degradation is a transnational challenge, no common definition of degradation and restoration in CE countries exist. Lack of transnational restoration guidelines and national policies restricting forest planting materials make restoration more challenging. The objective of the RE-ENFORCE project is to facilitate the restoration of degraded forest ecosystems in CE through (NBS) by fostering transnational cooperation. This will be achieved by developing transnational strategy and identifying priority areas for forest restoration, testing the transnational strategy in 6 jointly developed pilot actions, and integrating maps of key drivers, and lessons learned from pilot actions to develop transnational solutions for forest restoration and developing a web-based decision support system (DSS). This innovative web-based DSS will provide conservationists, landscape planners, citizens, and policy-makers easy access to site-specific NBS for forest restoration. An innovative scoping study to finance restoration activities through the economic instruments such as carbon market is also planned in the project. RE-ENFORCE ensures participatory decision-making and a long-term vision for forest restoration by disseminating expertise, testing NBS in pilot actions, and facilitating long-term transnational collaboration among partners and beyond.

Expected Achievements (EN):

The main objective of the WP1 is to 1) identify relevant stakeholders for the RE-ENFORCE project, compile lessons learned from past forest restoration initiatives, 2) review current operational and policy challenges for restoring degraded forest ecosystems of Central Europe, and 3) compile and harmonize data for modeling ecosystem services and drivers of forest degradation. The main objective of WP 2 is to understand the major reasons why forest gets degraded, test and evaluate transnational strategy in pilot actions and disseminate information to wider stakeholders. This will be achieved by major activities such as i) modeling the forest-related ecosystem services and their drivers of degradation and how they develop under climate change ii) mapping transnational delineation of priority areas for forest restoration, iii) testing and evaluating the jointly developed transnational restoration strategy in 6 jointly developed pilot actions, and iv) communicating and disseminating the pilot actions and possible restoration solutions and analyzing feedback from stakeholders to develop long-term management specifically for the pilot action areas and generally for all any degraded forest ecosystem in central Europe. PP3 (CZU) will lead this Work package and will be supported by all PPs The WP3 aims to integrate lessons learned from testing transnational restoration strategy in pilot actions into 6 innovative solutions to develop long-term management and monitoring of degraded forests. These 6 solutions are in the form of 6 transnational guidelines (D3.1.3) to restore degraded forests through NBs. The 6 innovative solutions differ in their drivers of degradation, ownership patterns, and management regimes. Important deliverables of WP3 such as the Integrated web-based DSS (DT3.1.1) will compile the maps of drivers of degradation, Ecosystem services, delineated priority areas, and recommendations for restoration from Pilot actions.

Project outputs: Transnational cooperation for demonstrating Nature based solutions for restoring degraded forests(EN)
Transnational strategy for the restoration of degraded forest ecosystems(EN)
Jointly developed and implemented Pilot actions for restoring degraded forests of CE
(EN)
Transnational guidelines for restoring degraded forests through Nature-Based Solutions (EN)
Website: https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/re-enforce/

Thematic information

Evaluation systems and results Governance, partnership Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-B_CE_2) Cooperating for a greener central Europe

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 079 Nature and biodiversity protection, natural heritage and resources, green and blue infrastructure

Partners (10)

Lead Partner: Bundesforschungs- und Ausbildungszentrum für Wald, Naturgefahren und Landschaft

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU61289616

Department: Institut für Waldwachstum, Waldbau und Genetik

Address: Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg , 1131 Wien, Austria

Department address: Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg , 1131 Vienna, Austria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.bfw.gv.at/

Total budget: EUR 671 020.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 536 816.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 134 204.00

Gozdarski inštitut Slovenije

Name: Gozdarski inštitut Slovenije

Department: Slovenian Forestry Institute

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI37808052

Address: Večna pot, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Department address: Večna pot 2 , 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.gozdis.si/en/

Total budget: EUR 294 225.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 235 380.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 58 845.00

Università di Padova

Name: Università di Padova

Department: TESAF

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999995602

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT00742430283

Address: Via 8 Febbraio, 35122 Padova, Italy

Department address: Viale dell’Università , 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.unipd.it

Total budget: EUR 215 740.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 172 592.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 43 148.00

Instytut Badawczy Leśnictwa

Name: Instytut Badawczy Leśnictwa

Department: Forest Research Institute

Partner’s ID if not PIC: PL5250009200

Address: Sękocin Stary, Braci Leśnej Stree, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland

Department address: Sękocin Stary, Braci Leśnej Stree , 05-090 Raszyn, Poland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.ibles.pl

Total budget: EUR 258 512.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 206 809.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 51 702.40

Contractors:

Name: Hotel Groman Limited
VAT registration or tax identification number: NIP: 5342620435

Fertő-Hanság Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság

Name: Fertő-Hanság Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság

Department: Fertő-Hanság National Park Directorate

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 889727263

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HU15325756

Address: Rév-Kócsagvár, H-9435 Sarród, Hungary

Department address: Rév-Kócsagvár 1 H-9435 Sarród, H-9435 Sarród, Hungary

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.ferto-hansag.hu

Total budget: EUR 200 730.60

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 160 584.48

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 40 146.12

Duna-Dráva Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság

Name: Duna-Dráva Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság

Department: Duna-Dráva National Park Directorate

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 890467858

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HU15325787

Address: Tettye tér, 7625 Pécs, Hungary

Department address: Tettye tér 9. , 7625 Pécs, Hungary

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: https://ddnp.hu

Total budget: EUR 207 901.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 166 321.12

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 41 580.28

Contractors:

Name: Füstösné Dergez Veronika EV
VAT registration or tax identification number: 73647836-2-34

Landesforst Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Name: Landesforst Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Department: Department of Forest Planning, Forest Research, Information Systems / Division Forest Research

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 946418040

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE071144013

Address: Fritz-Reuter-Platz, 17139 Malchin, Germany

Department address: Zeppelinstrasse 3 , 19061 Schwerin, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.wald-mv.de

Total budget: EUR 245 086.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 196 068.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 49 017.20

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Name: Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Department: Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999912570

Partner’s ID if not PIC: CZ60460709

Address: Kamycká, 165 00 Praha, Czech Republic

Department address: Kamycká , 165 00 Praha, Czech Republic

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.fld.czu.cz/en

Total budget: EUR 234 061.20

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 187 248.96

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 46 812.24

Hrvatski šumarski institut

Name: Hrvatski šumarski institut

Department: Croatian Forest Research Institute

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 994239816

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR13579392023

Address: Cvjetno naselje, 10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia

Department address: Cvjetno naselje 41 , 10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: http://www.sumins.hr

Total budget: EUR 268 629.46

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 214 903.56

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 53 725.90

Contractors:

Name: Ansar-analitika d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: HR12100614190

Università degli Studi di Padova

Name: Università degli Studi di Padova

Department: TESAF

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999995602

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT00742430283

Address: Via 8 Febbraio, 35122 Padova, Italy

Department address: Viale dell’Università , 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.unipd.it

Total budget: EUR 215 740.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 172 592.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 43 148.00

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Transnational Cooperation on nature-based solutions for restoring degraded forests of Central Europe

Project acronym: RE-ENFORCE

Project ID: CE0200902

Project start date: 2024-06-01

Project end date: 2027-05-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

H2020 "SUPERB" Systemic solutions for upscaling of
urgent ecosystem restoration for forest related biodiversity and ecosystem services (EN) | Several participants of the RE-ENFORCE project( BFW, CZU, CFRI & SFI) also participate in SUPERB which focuses on large-scale forest restoration. The
RE-ENFORCE and SUPERB projects will cooperate to compile best practices for forest restoration. The SUPERB project will enable dissemination of RE-ENFORCE results beyond CE while the SUPERB project will benefit from models developed
for understanding forest degradation and delineation of priority areas developed
within the RE-ENFORCE project. (EN), Interreg CE "SUSTREE" Conservation and sustainable
utilization of forest tree diversity in climate change . (EN) | RE-ENFORCEwill capitalize the climate data ECLIPS2.0 (https://rmets.onlinelibrary.
wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/gdj3.110) and species distribution models https://annforsci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1007/s13595-021-01029-4.
These data and models will be capitalized to develop the RE-ENFORCE DSS. Transnational delineation models developed within the SUSTREE project will be
extended in the RE-ENFORCE with rare species and non-native tress species adapted to the likely future climate conditions. (EN), Interreg Danube TP "REFOCUS" Resilient riparian
forests as ecological corridors in the Mura-Drava-
Danube Biosphere Reserve (EN) | The REFOCUS project aims to fight forest decline by boosting riparian forest resilience through silvicultural methods for forest management and conservation
and appropriate planting material. The models for riparian species distribution and seed sources will be incorporated within the RE-ENFORCE DSS. Here these species will also be supplemented with management recommendations especially to restore degraded riparian forest ecosystems (EN), Interreg Alpine space "ALPTREES" Sustainable use
and management of non native trees in the alpine region (EN) | The Interreg Alpine space project ALPTREES is being coordinated by BFW which aims at managing the non- native tree species by understanding the risks of
cultivation and opportunities for climate change adaptation. Species distribution models (SDMs) and data collected in the ALPTREES project as well as the "Site Specific risk assessment" will be capitalized to develop the DSS within the RE-ENFORCE Project (EN), Waldklimaformds project "EVA". Evidencebased
potenial for cultivation of forest tree species" (EN) | BFW and LFOA are also members of the EVA project which aims at developing recommendations for adapted species and provenances suitable for future climate conditions by evaluating the risks of
cultivation, growth performance, phenotypic
plasticity. Within the EVA projects the models developed within the SUSTREE project will be extended by incorporating many tree species. These models will be capitalized within the DSS proposed in the RE-ENFORCE. In addition, the EVA project will enable RE-ENFORCE in the identification of relevant German stakeholders for the transnational stakeholders meeting proposed in the RE-ENFORCE
project. (EN), EU-Cost Action "NNEXT", Nonnative Tree
Species for European Forests - Experiences,
Risks and Opportunities (EN) | Participants of the RE-ENFORCE consortium were also members of the EU Cost Action NNEXT. Within the NNEXT cost action management recommendations for cultivating NNTs were developed along with guidelines for risk assessment and seed sourcing strategies. these guidelines will be incorporated within the RE-ENFORCE project especially output1.2 on transnational strategy
for restoration
of degraded forests. (EN), EU- Forest value Project "VALOFOR" (EN) | Lead partner BFW also coordinates the forest value project VALOFOR project which aims at quantifying ecosystem services from small private forests in central and northern Europe to understand their role in the Bioeconomy. RE-ENFORCEwill capitalize the country-specific models for ecosystem services developed within the VALOFOR project and integrate them into Europe-wide transnational models
for both contemporary and future climate. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 595 905.66

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 076 724.52

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 2 076 724.52. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Infrastructure investments:

I2.2 - Protection against wildlife damage for Ash species - EUR 27 739.47 - country: Magyarország (HU), town: Somogyudvarhely, postal_code: 7515, Dél-Dunántúl (HU23), Somogy (HU232)
I2.3 - Protection against wildlife damage (hardwood sp) - EUR 26 277.30 - country: Magyarország (HU), town: Dunaszekcső, Dél-Dunántúl (HU23), Somogy (HU232)

Deliverables:

Stakeholder identification, and database of experts and EU projects, networks.
Transnational Stakeholders Workshops for understanding
forest degradation.
Stakeholder's survey on forest regeneration in degraded areas.
Regional Policy analysis
Policy brief translated into the
languages of all partner countries
language
Review of economic instruments related to forest restoration
Project workshop for data requirement, TOR and harmonization
Transnational database on drivers of forest degradation and management
recommendations
Draft Transnational Forest Restoration Strategy
Evaluation of Draft Transnational Forest Restoration Strategy
Transnational Forest Restoration Strategy
Mapping the drivers of forest degradation
Mapping provision of Ecosystem services under current climate and climate change
Transnational delineation of
priority areas for forest restoration
Press releases on transnational delineation of priority areas
Pilot actions outline and rollout plan
Joint evaluation of pilot actions
Pilot action report
A short film on forest degradation and nature based solutions
Open day for Pilot actions
Web-based visual display and documentation of pilot actions 3D model with drones
Concept of Web based decision support system (DSS)
Integrated web based decision support system (DSS) for restoring degraded forests
Transnational Guidelines on nature-based solutions for forest restoration
Continuous project dissemination
Workshops for national/regional authorities involved in policy making
WS for policymakers in Brussels to
disseminate project findings
National and regional media appearance

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EuropeanGreenDeal The EU Green Deal, which includes the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030, requires swift & targeted efforts to make European forests more resilient and maintain their ecological, social, and economic functions.
RE-ENFORCE will contribute to this goal by
providing tools (models, maps, web applications for sustainable forest management, restoration & reforestation) directly linked to Pillar 2 of the first and chapters 2.4, 3.2, and 3.3 of the second strategy.
TerritorialAgenda2030 RE-ENFORCE connects directly with the territorial agenda 2030 especially in achieving its objective of Green Europe by providing NBS with restoring the
Ecosystem services provided by forests. This links strategically to the agenda of linking ecosystems and protected areas in spatial planning, land management, and other policies to increase forest resilience. The project also indirectly helps the territorial agenda by enabling CE countries to conform to the SDGs (SDG 13 and 15).
EUStrategyDanubeRegion RE-ENFORCE will contribute to the EUSDR, PA6, by identifying priority areas for restoration in the countries common to the CE and Danube regions, and by providing knowledge and maps for the development of a common approach to defining and identifying ecological corridors on land through
ecosystem services and other driver mappings.
EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion RE-ENFORCE will contribute to the EUSAIR, Pillar 3 specific objective to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services by
providing definitions of degradation and solutions demonstrated through pilot actions. Tools (maps, DSS) developed through RE-ENFORCE will provide
a comprehensive risk assessment of forest ecosystem degradation which is in line with the proposed Actions of EUSAIR, Pillar 3, Topic 2.
EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion RE-ENFORCE connects to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region in its updated Action plan (2015) as it aims at implementing NBS for restoring degraded forests to promote climate change adaptation and enable
ecosystem services they provide, increasing the region’s natural capital. The project improves knowledge transfer by connecting various stakeholders: scientists, land managers, policymakers, the tourism sector, and NGOs.
EUStrategyAlpineRegion The objectives of RE-ENFORCEmight also be transferred to the Alpine Region as they contribute to the 3rd policy area “Environment and energy” of the
EUSALP Action Plan (2015). This includes action 6: To preserve and valorize natural resources, including water and cultural resources; action 8: To improve risk management and to better manage climate change, including major natural risks prevention; and action 7: To develop ecological connectivity in the whole EUSALP territory.
Other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). RE-ENFORCE will contribute to SDG 13 Climate action, by providing definitions of degradation and solutions demonstrated through pilot actions to restore degraded forests, and to SDG 15 Life on land, by providing tools (maps, DSS, 3D display) for sustainable
management of forests in CE, especially for restoration and reforestation, which will ultimately lead to halting biodiversity loss in the area.

Deliverable (other than infrastructural investment) areas:

Hrvatska (HR), Cvjetno naselje 41, 10450, Jastrebarsko

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSALP

EUSALP Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSALP Degree of compliance:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-03-31

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

100 / 100 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 017 / 1 074 (94.69%)

Notes on the data

Programme's webpage last visited on 2025-03-17.

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Transnational Cooperation on nature-based solutions for restoring degraded forests of Central Europe

Description

Thematic information

Partners (10)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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