Prof. Lourens Poorter, who presented on “Restoring Forest Landscapes in the Tropics,” examined natural regeneration and active restoration as approaches to restoring forests. He also highlighted the influence of climate change and ecological conditions on plant growth and discussed challenges related to the scale, durability, and sustainability of restoration projects.

Dr. Gabriel Moinet, in his presentation “Reconceptualising Carbon Science for Climate Change Adaptation,” explored global fossil-fuel emissions and the role of forests, grasslands and croplands in carbon management. He emphasised the importance of maintaining and storing carbon while noting that climate change can affect the ability of ecosystems to retain carbon and sustain restoration gains.

The social dimension of restoration was addressed by Dr. Verina Ingram through her presentation, “Forest Restoration in Terms of Its Social Factors.” She highlighted progress under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and demonstrated how restoration can be understood from different disciplinary and historical perspectives. She further emphasized the importance of considering social outcomes and the people and communities connected to restoration initiatives.

The REFOREST-IT Project therefore highlights the value of a multidisciplinary, evidence-based, and sustainable approach to forest restoration. Such an approach is essential for strengthening forest ecosystems and ensuring that they continue to provide environmental, economic, and social benefits for present and future generations.

The chairman for this presentation is Dr. Ernest G. Foli