WP6: Restoration

The work began with a review of restoration literature across habitats and species groups, assessing what has worked, what has failed, and what lessons can be applied to the Baltic context. 

Expert workshops and surveys helped refine the priorities, ensuring that the plan is not only scientifically sound but also rooted in the experience of those carrying out restoration on the ground.

The draft Action Plan already proposes 27 actions, grouped under themes such as knowledge sharing, data and mapping, analyses and assessments, restoration support tools, MPAs, pressure reduction, funding, and cooperation. 

These themes reflect the reality that restoration is not just about planting seagrass or rebuilding reefs—it is about enabling the conditions for ecosystems to recover.

As the work has progressed, Work Package 6 has had to navigate challenges. 

The adoption of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation has influenced the scope of the Action Plan, requiring alignment with European targets while avoiding duplication. 

Another key challenge is balancing active restoration measures—such as seagrass planting or mussel bed reintroduction—with passive approaches that focus on reducing pressures and letting ecosystems recover naturally. 

Data availability and consistency across the region also remain a hurdle, making it necessary to carefully assess confidence levels when setting priorities.

Yet these challenges are matched by opportunities. The process of refining guidelines and tools with continuous feedback from HELCOM groups and national experts ensures that the final outputs will be both scientifically robust and directly applicable to real-world management.

The project's work on restoration is about turning ambition into action. 

By combining international goals with regional priorities, lessons learned with practical tools, and active measures with passive recovery, it provides the Baltic Sea region with guidelines and tools for a clear path forward. 

The outcome will be a stronger, more coordinated approach to restoration—one that not only repairs damaged ecosystems but also strengthens the resilience of the entire MPA network.