Restoring degraded ecosystems is rightly a global priority. But ensuring that restoration genuinely delivers long-term climate benefits requires deeper thinking about carbon integrity in practice.
A PhD student at the CLR, Evie Huhtala is helping to push that conversation forward.
Evie recently secured funding from the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme (ELSP) to convene a two-day Restoration Dialogue titled “Rethinking the Carbon Footprint of Woodland Recovery.” The workshop brought together a diverse group to examine the overlooked emissions and permanence risks associated with woodland expansion and restoration in Europe.
Looking Beyond the Carbon Headline Figures
Discussions explored a range of factors that can influence the true carbon balance of woodland recovery. These included:
- Emissions linked to tree nursery production and site preparation
- Impacts on soil carbon
- Risks from disturbance
- Timber end use
- Leakage and additionality
- Long-term permanence
Together, these considerations shape whether woodland restoration delivers robust climate outcomes in practice.
From concept and proposal development through to securing the grant and coordinating the event, Evie led the initiative, working alongside professional facilitator Dr Hannah Collins to create space for constructive exchange.
Reflecting on the workshop, Evie said:
“I think the dialogue was particularly valuable in creating space for constructive exchange between individuals and organisations with quite different perspectives in this field. Many had not worked together before, yet over the two days we saw genuine common ground emerge and shared willingness to move the conversation forward.
While we may not have entirely solved this challenge yet, the workshop helped clarify its key dimensions — from overlooked risks to structural constraints — and highlighted where progress is already being made. We’re now looking to consolidate these insights into evidence-grounded key guidance that can support more robust restoration practice.”
While the challenge is far from fully resolved, the dialogue marked an important step toward clearer and more robust approaches to carbon integrity in woodland restoration.
Next steps will build directly on the workshop discussions.
Planned outputs include:
- A synthesis of emerging evidence around restoration-related emissions and sequestration risks
- A paper focused on moving “from principles to practice” in woodland restoration across Europe
The aim is to consolidate existing guidance, identify universal best-practice principles, test these against successful case studies, and highlight where additional considerations are needed — ultimately contributing to stronger restoration standards and practice.
We are proud to see this kind of early-career leadership in action.