BioAgora Collaborative Workshop on Freshwater River Restoration at SERE2024

On August 25, the BioAgora Project held its final collaborative workshop of the summer at the 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (SERE2024) in Tartu, Estonia. Facilitated by Twan Stoffers from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) and Karmen Czett and Kata Fodor from the Environmental Social Science Research Group (ESSRG), this event marked the culmination of a series of interactive workshops aimed at shaping the future Science Service for Biodiversity. 

The workshop featured an innovative role-playing exercise designed to simulate the intricate dynamics of science-policy-society interactions. Participants engaged with a diverse array of stakeholders, allowing them to explore various perspectives and reconsider their assumptions about the roles and motivations of other actors involved in river restoration. This exercise highlighted the complexities inherent in the restoration process and underscored the importance of inclusive dialogue and stakeholder consultation in developing effective biodiversity strategies. 

In addition to the workshop, attendees had the opportunity to visit the former Aidu quarry, gaining insights into the restoration of artificially created landscapes. This field trip provided valuable real-world context to the theoretical discussions held during the conference, illustrating the challenges and successes of ecological restoration in practice. 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in our workshops over the past months and contributed to the co-creation of the Science Service for Biodiversity. Your engagement and insights have been invaluable.

Stay tuned for more updates on our ongoing efforts to advance biodiversity restoration and conservation!