Wetland forests and nearby habitats represent only a small fraction of the Earth’s total land area. Nevertheless, these areas have been described as the lifelines of the landscape, providing services of global importance and so deserving disproportionate attention in the near future as key environmental resources. Much more worrying is that, in recent years, there has been a more than 50% loss of wetland areas globally, with even greater losses (ca 80%) in Europe and North America. These losses are associated with massive deforestation, drainage, and climate changes leading to severe forest degradation. It is known that wetland forests and aquatic systems interact in a complex manner and together have been identified as essential elements in mitigating climate change. Thus, a call to action for the preservation of forests, of water and so of climate, is emerging on many fronts as key to human survival. Such work stands among the top priorities in suitable development goals, as defined in The Agenda 2030 (United Nations, 2015). In this context, NERVE4 Action will ensure the harmonization of recommendations for European wetland forest protection. As such, improved biodiversity management will facilitate delivery of Aichi targets for Restoration (2010), Madrid Resolution MCPFE (2015), the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 and outcome of Agenda 2030.

The overall aim of the NERVE4 Action is to create an international working network for the conversion of knowledge on biodiversity loss, restoration, and sustainability in European wetland forests among scientists and stakeholders, and to raise awareness of wetland forest protection within and outside the V4 region. We want to establish the long-standing biodiversity and environmental monitoring network of the most representative wetland forests of V4  to prepare evidence-based guidance to practical nature conservation. This monitoring will help to identify main gaps and find solutions on how to protect European wetland forests. The benefits and obstacles of wetland forest protection will be described in the wetland protection brochure and educational video. It will allow to produce guidance and recommendations on how managed woodland systems enhance the biodiversity of woodlands in particular, and thus the functioning of the wider ecosystems of which they are a part. The project will facilitate wetland ecosystems enhancing biodiversity in European wetlands via specific methodologies applicable in practice. We will use unique possibilities to compare four regions with different climatic conditions to predict biodiversity response driven by climate change. To facilitate the survival of the remaining populations of endangered species, targeted management, and monitoring measures will be incorporated into wetland protection brochure. As the project will be ongoing, you can look forward to 2 day workshop / conference event in May 2023.