Project description
Rethinking ecosystem restoration
Restoring ecosystems is vital in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, yet large-scale rewilding, such as reintroducing animals to revive natural processes, remains controversial. Many worry about its long-term effects. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the NetRewild project aims to bring clarity, moving beyond simplistic species-by-species efforts. Instead, it studies the complex web of interactions between animals and plants – who eats what, who disperses seeds, and how traits shape these relationships. By focusing on networks of species interactions across Europe’s Natura 2000 sites, NetRewild seeks to predict how ecosystems respond to changes, from historical herbivore losses to future rewilding scenarios. This science-based approach offers a more reliable, holistic path to restoration.
Objective
Scaling up ecosystem restoration is critical during the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) to combat the climate crisis, enhance biodiversity and restore essential ecosystem services. Trophic rewilding, which often involves the reintroduction of species to reinstate natural processes, is promising but remains controversial due to uncertainties about its broader, long-term impacts on ecosystems. To address these concerns, further research is needed to guide effective, science-based restoration efforts.
In this context, NetRewild addresses key challenges in restoration ecology by focusing on the complexity of species interaction networks that drive ecosystem processes. Interaction networks serve as a key link between individual species and overall ecosystem properties such as structure, stability, and function. This innovative approach moves beyond traditional restoration methods, which typically emphasize individual species or habitats, offering a more holistic perspective on ecosystem dynamics. NetRewild will use trait-based models to predict animal-plant interactions and associated ecological functions, such as seed dispersal and plant regeneration, based on species traits and assemblages across Natura 2000 sites. The research will focus on two main areas: first, how functional traits explain the mechanisms driving interaction patterns and ecological processes, addressing a critical knowledge gap essential for predicting future ecosystem impacts; second, how historical changes in herbivore communities and future rewilding scenarios shape ecosystem function and stability. The expected results will provide a science-based foundation for actionable strategies to support successful rewilding initiatives, while integrating insights from real-world applications.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering ecosystem-based management ecological restoration
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.