LIFE Platform Meeting on Forest Restoration in Europe

Brașov, România, 3-5 iunie 2025

Join the event and learn more about protecting biodiversity

Date: June 3-5

Place: Brașov, România

Event location: Kronwell Hotel, 7 Garii BVD, Brasov, 500203, Romania

For travel options see section Travel Information below

Forests cover approximately 38% of the EU’s land area and represent about 50% of the terrestrial Natura 2000 sites, underscoring their significance in biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. Due to their multifield importance, European forests play a critical role in achieving the objectives of numerous EU key policy frameworks, in several sectors of human life and activity.

BACKGROUND OF THE EVENT

The meeting will serve as a platform to evaluate past experiences, inform ongoing policy developments, and propose pathways to strengthen the resilience of forest ecosystems considering socio-economic and environmental pressures.

The LIFE Platform Meeting on Forest Restoration is a unique opportunity to address pressing challenges and explore innovative solutions for restoring European forests, while contributing to the implementation of key EU strategies such as:

Forests provide ecosystem services essential for biodiversity, water regulation, climate mitigation, and the well-being of local communities. However, these ecosystems and many communities worldwide face increasing threats due to unsustainable land use, climate change, and forest degradation.

The LIFE Programme has been instrumental in supporting conservation and restoration initiatives, showcasing best practices and solutions for sustaining Europe’s Forest landscapes.

The LIFE Platform Meeting on Forest Restoration will not only bring together numerous LIFE projects and other EU-funded international projects, but also forest experts, policy makers, practitioners and key stakeholders to share knowledge, foster collaboration and develop recommendations to improve forest management and restoration.

THEMATIC FOCUS AND BREAKOUT SESSIONS

The 2025 EU Forest Restoration Platform Meeting will focus on four key themes that address urgent priorities in European forest restoration and management:

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND NATURALREGENERATION

Large-scale implementation of ecological restoration techniques, including reforestation with native tree species and habitat restoration for key species.
Promotion of cost-effective, natural regeneration as a fundamental approach to forest recovery.
Management and protection of old-growth forests and primeval forest areas.
Adoption of Close-to-Nature Forest management principles that enhance biodiversity, improve ecological resilience, and integrate sustainable forestry practices.

FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Enhancing the resilience of forest ecosystems to climate change, drought, storms, and forest fire risks.
Exploring the role of forests in carbon sequestration, adaptation strategies, and mitigation measures.
Strategies to improve the sustainability of forest biomass use while maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem integrity.
Strengthening early warning systems and adaptive management for extreme weather events and pest outbreaks.

AGROFORESTRY AND SILVO-PASTORAL SYSTEMS

Integrating sustainable tree cultivation within agricultural and pastoral systems to improve ecosystem services and rural economies
Revitalising traditional silvo-pastoral systems to enhance landscape resilience, soil fertility, and biodiversity
Evaluating the role of agroforestry in sustainable food production, climate adaptation, and supporting local economies
Policy measures to encourage agroforestry adoption across European landscapes.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND FINANCIAL TOOLS

Unlocking the potential of sustainable bioeconomy models for forest-based livelihoods.
Exploring financial mechanisms such as Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), carbon credits, and biodiversity certification schemes to support forest restoration.
Engaging local communities and stakeholders in participatory forest management and governance.
Fostering cross-sectoral collaboration between forestry, agriculture, and conservation to support sustainable forest restoration initiatives.

AGENDA OF THE EVENT

The meeting on Ecological Reconstruction of EU Forests 2025, will focus on four main themes addressing urgent priorities in forest restoration and management at European level.

DAY 1 – OPENING PLENARY AND KEYNOTE SPEECHES

Overview of EU forest restoration policies and LIFE Programme contributions.

Keynote addresses and presentations by EU officials, forest experts, and policymakers.

Elevator Pitch: Short intro presentations of all projects attending the Platform.

Panel discussions on the future of forest restoration in Europe.

DAY 2 – THEMATIC SESSIONS AND EXPERT PANELS

In-depth discussions on the four key themes outlined above.

Exchange of best practices and innovative restoration solutions.

Interactive sessions with project representatives, NGOs, and policymakers.

DAY 3 – FIELD VISITS

Participants will have the opportunity to visit flagship LIFE forest restoration projects in Romania and they are kindly asked to choose one of the options described below:

One-Day Trip to LIFE CARPATHIA Project (June 5, 2025, min. 20 – max. 27 persons, price 50€/pers.). The price includes transport and lunch.

Duration: ca. 8 hours.

Equipment: trekking shoes and a small backpack.

Pickup from the Kronwell Hotel at 9:00 a.m. by rented vehicle. After about an hour we will visit the Beaver’s House in Rucăr, a visitor centre created as part of the project. Then we will go to Valea Dâmboviței with stops at the nursery of forest saplings, at a plot showing successfully completed restoration works, a beaver dam and reach the Richita Nature Education and Activities Center. We will have a lunch with local products at the Center and return to Brasov around 18:00.

One-Day Trip to LIFE ROSALIA Project (June 5, 2025, min. 20 – max. 27 persons, price 45€/pers.). The price includes transport and lunch.

Duration: ca. 8 hours.

Equipment: hiking shoes and a small backpack.
Description: Pick-up from the Kronwell Hotel with a rented vehicle. After approximately 2 hours, we will arrive at the project site in the Putna-Vrancea Natural Park. On-site, we will observe the project’s results and learn about the actions and challenges related to the conservation of saproxylic insects in the Carpathians. A packed lunch will be provided. We will return to Brasov at around 18:00.

Two-Day Trip to LIFE CARPATHIA & Poiana Tămaș Camp (June 5-6, 2025, min.12 – max. 19 persons, cost 250€/pers.). The price includes transport, tent lodging and meals (2 x lunch and a dinner).

Duration: Approximately 45 hours.

Equipment: Hiking boots and a medium-sized backpack with clothes suitable for cooler weather in the evening and morning. For sleeping, you will have a bed mattress, clean bedding, and sleeping bags.

Description: Pick-up from the Kronwell Hotel at 9:30 a.m. with a rented transport vehicle. On the first day, the itinerary will be similar to the one-day programme of Excursion No. 1. Additionally, after visiting Richita Center, we will hike up to the camping site in Poiana Tămaș, where we will enjoy a campfire dinner and continue with informal discussions. In the morning, we will have breakfast, followed by a visit to a clear-cut restoration site and an artificial spruce monoculture reconversion site where Conservation Carpathia specialists will be our guides. Return to Brașov at 5:00 p.m. the following day.

Download the agenda of the event.

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT

To participate in the event, please register using this FORM and transfer the participation fee based on the information provided in it.

All participants are encouraged to register their poster presentation or their intention to give an oral presentation. The selection of the latter is, however, subject to the availability of presentation slots.

The maximum number of participants is limited on a first come, first served basis. The registration fee is 180 € per person and includes the costs for the conference rooms and catering for the first two meeting days (excluding breakfast and dinner).

The cost of the excursions is extra.

Online registration to attend the Platform in person will no longer be possible once the maximum capacity of the venue has been reached. The registration closing will be clearly announced on this website.

After the close of registration, further interest in the online streaming of the plenary day on 3 June 2025 can be expressed by sending an email to lifeforests@elmen-eeig.eu

USEFUL INFORMATION

For the most enjoyable experience at the event, please see the information below and feel free to contact us for further details.

ACCOMMODATION RECOMMENDATIONS

Brașov is one of the main touristic cities in Romania and is intensely visited by people from all over the world. It offers a large variety of accommodation possibilities, covering various preferences and budgets.

The venue, Kronwell Hotel and Conferences, is located near the main railway station of Brasov and is about 40-60 minutes’ walk from the historic city centre, or 20 minutes by bus. There is a regular bus service between the centre of Brasov and the main train station (near the venue).

We advise you to book your stay at least one month before the event dates, as June is a relatively busy month here.

Our recommendations include:

Kronwell Hotel

Victoria Bulevard Hotel

A simple search on www.booking.com or www.airbnb.com can help you identify other accommodation options according your personal preferences.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Airports nearby: Brasov, Bucharest, Sibiu.

Location map: Google Map It takes ca. 3 hours to drive from Bucharest or Sibiu International Airports to Brasov. We recommend train transfer from Bucharest especially on weekends, to avoid being stuck in traffic.

Minibus shuttle from Bucharest International Aiport to Brasov:

https://direct-aeroport.ro/otopeni-brasov

Shuttle from Sibiu Airport to Brașov:

www.autogari.ro

National train running website:

https://mersultrenurilor.infofer.ro/en-GB/Itineraries

Local public transport information (in Brasov):

https://www.ratbv.ro/routes-and-timetables/

Locally (in Brașov and Sibiu) you can use transport apps for both cars and scooters/e-bikes: Uber and Bolt

OPTIONAL LIVESTREAMING

A live stream of the plenary sessions will only be offered if the number of registrations significantly exceeds the capacity of the venue (80 participants).

CONTACT

For questions regarding the event agenda and technical issues: LIFE Forest restoration platform / ELMEN preparatory team: – lifeforests@elmen-eeig.eu

For logistics and registration issues: Andrei Strugariu – a.strugariu@carpathia.org

For general inquiries, please contact: Fundația Conservation Carpathia, Calea Feldioarei nr. 27, Brașov 500471, Romania

Email: info@carpathia.org

We look forward to welcoming you to Brașov in June 2025 for an inspiring and impactful event dedicated to restoring and sustaining Europe’s forests!