European Seagrass Restoration Alliance
Alone we can do so little,
together we can do so much.
— Helen Keller
ESRA provides a platform for the European seagrass restoration community to collaborate and engage in knowledge exchange.
Our mission
The European Seagrass Restoration Alliance (ESRA) supports the protection and ecological restoration of European seagrass species and their habitats in areas of their current or historical distribution.
ESRA seeks to overcome existing barriers to the conservation, restoration and re-establishment of European seagrass meadows by providing a platform for the seagrass community to collaborate and engage in knowledge exchange.
ESRA seeks to support responsible restoration practices, while respecting biosecurity and sustainability.
From workshop to alliance
2010 – 2027
2010
ESRW 1
The 1st European Seagrass Restoration Workshop.
2024
17 June
The European Council formally adopts the Nature Restoration Law.
2024
August
The European Seagrass Restoration Alliance is founded.
2024
18 August
The Regulation on Nature Restoration comes into effect.
2025
ESRW 2
The 2nd European Seagrass Restoration Workshop.
2027
ESRW 3 · Next
The 3rd European Seagrass Restoration Workshop.
Background
ESRA was founded to meet the challenges presented by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the EU Nature Restoration Law. There has never been a more urgent need to revive damaged ecosystems than now.
On 17th June 2024 the European Council formally adopted the Nature Restoration Law. On 18 August 2024 the Regulation on Nature Restoration (Nature Restoration Law) came into effect. Full implementation of the law is crucial to restore the EU’s biodiversity strategy, and to stop further biodiversity loss, to reach climate neutrality by 2050, to adapt to climate change, and to enhance food security. It is also a key instrument to help the EU and its Member States meet international biodiversity commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Next workshop · 2027
ESRW 3
The third European Seagrass Restoration Workshop.