image: Brock Bowles, co-chair of the SER2025 conference in Denver, passing the baton to Alice Nunes, co-chair of the next edition in Lisbon. Denver, United States of America, October 2025.
Credit: Society for Ecological Restoration - SER
The announcement was made in early October in Denver, USA, during the 11th edition of the conference, and marks the first time Portugal will host this prestigious international event. The proposal, coordinated by Dr. Nunes, was selected by an international panel of experts and received enthusiastic support from global institutions, including several regional chapters of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER).
“Ecosystem restoration lies at the heart of tackling the climate and biodiversity crises, socio-economic sustainability, and the health and well-being of current and future generations” said Dr Alice Nunes. “Hosting this global conference in Lisbon is therefore, of great significance and comes at a most timely moment for Portugal and the international community. We expect the urgency and relevance of this theme to galvanise the scientific community, economic partners, policymakers and society around Nature and Ecosystem Restoration”.
Portugal’s rich ecological diversity and innovative restoration initiatives were key factors in the selection. From cork oak woodlands and mountain habitats to urban green infrastructure and post-fire recovery projects, the country offers a living laboratory for restoration science. The conference theme, “Restoration in Motion: From Land to Sea, Knowledge to Action,” will highlight interdisciplinary approaches and foster collaboration between researchers, policymakers, industry, and civil society.
Dr. Nunes is a prominent figure in the field, serving as Vice-President of SER-Europe, coordinator of the Ecological Restoration Network of SPECO, and member of the National Restoration Plan Working Group led by the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF). Her leadership was instrumental in securing institutional support from national and international bodies, including the Portuguese Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Regional Government of the Azores, and the Lisbon City Council.
The organizing team also includes Prof. Cristina Branquinho and Dr. Patricia Rodríguez-González, both affiliated with the University of Lisbon, reinforcing the central role of the Faculty of Sciences in bringing this global event to Portugal.
SER2027 will take place during the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and is expected to contribute significantly to the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law and other international frameworks. With over a thousand participants anticipated, the conference will position Lisbon as a global hub for restoration science and policy.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FganpM1jEhA
Production: LengaLenga Filmes; Music: Miguel Mateus Pinheiro; Script: Rúben Sousa de Oliveira; With: Alice Nunes