Opportunities in Nature Restoration: Translating Science Advice into Policy

This symposium, organised by the KNAW and EASAC, will discuss the key insights from the recent EASAC commentary Opportunities in Nature Restoration, with special attention to the range of options available to the Netherlands for implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.

Fully implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation is a strategic investment in Europe’s health, security and economic resilience, rather than simply a legal obligation, according to a new scientific commentary from the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC).

The European Union’s Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) marks a historic step in European environmental regulation by establishing legally binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems on land and at sea. The EASAC Commentary Opportunities in Nature Restoration emphasises restoration as a cost-effective strategy for climate mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity recovery, water security, and disaster-risk reduction, and synthesises scientific evidence and policy options to support implementation across Member States.

Under the NRR, Member States should submit national restoration plans by mid-2026 and describe where and how they plan to deliver key targets. During this symposium speakers and panellists from science, policy and practitioners will discuss the range of options available to the Netherlands for implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.

Programme:

This symposium, organised by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and EASAC, will take place on Wednesday, 6 May 2026, from 09:00 to 12:30 CET.

There will be introductions by:

Thomas Elmqvist (EASAC Environment Director and lead author of the Commentary)
Tim van Hattum (Program Leader Green Climate Solutions at Wageningen Environmental Research)
Bregje van Wesenbeeck (Scientific Director of Deltares and Professor Nature-Based Solutions for Flood Risk and Climate Adaptation at the TU Delft)

Following the introductions there will be panel discussions led by Louise Vet, member of the KNAW and the EASAC Environment Steering panel.

Panellists:

Leonie Geerts (Quartermaster NRR, Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature)
Kirsten Haanraads (Head of the Netherlands Programme at WWF-NL)
Judy Koppenjan (Senior Advisor Strategy the Netherlands, WWF-NL)
Els Otterman (Board member at Water authority Hoogheemraadschap De Stichtse Rijnlanden)
Co Verdaas (Professor Urban Area Development, TU Delft)
Jannemarie de Jonge (Ambassador Collectief NatuurInclusief)
Jim van Belzen (Estuarine Ecologist, NIOZ)