What drives public support for forest restoration in Europe?
New research from the SUPERB project, published in Ecosystems and People, compares public attitudes toward forest restoration in Sweden and Spain. The study highlights how social and cultural factors shape people’s support.
The results show contrasting patterns: in Sweden, older people are more supportive of restoration, while in Spain, younger generations show stronger backing. Longer travel times to forests reduce support, especially in Northern Sweden. Across both countries, positive views of forest benefits such as biodiversity, recreation, and risk reduction boost support, while seeing forests mainly as resources for exploitation lowers it.
These findings underline the need for restoration strategies that are tailored to local perceptions and values. For the EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation to succeed, policies must go beyond ecology and engage people where they are, reflecting different regional priorities – from wildfire resilience in Mediterranean Spain to biodiversity protection in boreal Sweden.
Read the study here!
Full reference: Kazungu, M., Svensson, J., Erdozain, M., de-Dios-García, J., Granberg, Å., & Hunziker, M. (2025). Factors influencing public support for forest restoration in Europe: Evidence from Sweden and Spain. Forest Policy and Economics. https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2025.2554695
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