The project is structured around three strategic goals:

1. Comprehensive methodological frameworks for socio-economic assessment (WP1, WP6, WP7): Develop standardized approaches to assess restoration measures, advance ecosystem service valuation, and integrate biodiversity into large-scale economic models (CGE, ABM, IAM).
2. Integrated ecological-economic modeling (WP2, WP3, WP4, WP5): Enhance ecological modeling capacity, create linkages among ecological and economic models, and implement AI-enhanced approaches for restoration planning.
3. Policy-relevant tools and evidence (WP7, WP8, WP9): Assess the distributional and employment effects of restoration policies, demonstrate methodologies through case studies, develop decision-support tools for policymakers and investors, and enable staged implementation assessment for targets between 2030 and 2050.

CMCC role
CMCC serves as the Project Coordinator, overseeing comprehensive scientific and operational tasks. Besides managing WP11 and WP12, focused on project administration and coordination, CMCC also leads WP4, which explores the two-way connections between ecosystems and the economy, including innovative biodiversity representation and the development of integrated ecological-economic models. Additionally, CMCC contributes to WP1 by working on climate-informed environmental stratification and ecological network mapping. It also supports WP5, which involves integrated ecological and economic modeling to connect nature restoration with the broader economy and to create the ECONATURES Online Ecosystem. CMCC leads Tasks 7.3 and 7.4, which involve non-market impact assessments and integrating climate-informed tools into decision-support systems. It coordinates several national and local case studies, such as the soil restoration project in the Venetian plain (Task 8.2). Moreover, CMCC leads Task 10.3, focusing on Nature Restoration Knowledge and Skills Accelerators, like webinars, summer schools, and the ECONATURES Library, along with Task 10.4, which encompasses socio-economic analysis and policy recommendations.

Activities
ECONATURES is structured into twelve work packages across two phases. The first phase (M1–18) establishes methodological foundations: WP1 develops the conceptual framework for economic assessment of restoration integrating multiple values of nature; WP2 quantifies biophysical responses of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and agricultural productivity to restoration measures; and WP4 (led by CMCC) traces bidirectional links between ecosystems and the economy, advancing coupled ecology-economy modelling.

The second phase (M19–42) delivers integrated tools and policy outputs. WP3 assesses restoration impacts across EU member states, evaluating National Restoration Plans. WP5 develops AI-enhanced decision support tools and the ECONATURES Online Ecosystem platform. WP6 produces theory-based valuation and benefit transfer methodologies. WP7 co-designs policy scenarios with stakeholders and runs comprehensive market and non-market impact assessments.

Running throughout, WP8 implements five case studies across Europe — in Italy (CMCC, Venetian plain soil restoration), the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and Greece — applying project tools to specific local contexts through participatory stakeholder engagement. WP9–10 manage dissemination, communication, and capacity building. WP11–12 (both led by CMCC) ensure scientific and administrative coordination, quality control, ethics, and risk management.

Expected results
ECONATURES delivers nine key results. Three scientific outputs form the core: an Integrated Ecological-Economic Assessment Framework quantifying the full spectrum of restoration impacts across regions and timescales; an Integrated Modelling Toolbox linking CGE, IAM, agent-based, and ecological models for scenario-based assessments of biodiversity, GDP, employment, and trade; and AI-enhanced modelling methods enabling real-time, multi-objective scenario analysis.

A Valuation and Transfer Toolkit provides standardized guidelines for scaling restoration benefit estimates across space, time, and socio-economic contexts, supporting cost-benefit analysis across European member states.

On the policy side, Interactive Decision-Support Tools offer web-based dashboards allowing policymakers, investors, and practitioners to explore restoration scenarios without specialist expertise. Restoration Pathways and Scenarios deliver pre-calculated, country-level roadmaps aligning biodiversity, socio-economic, and climate objectives with the 2030 and 2050 targets. A Business Model Builder translates restoration benefits into investment cases for private sector actors and public authorities.

Finally, a Knowledge and Skills Accelerator programme — webinars, summer schools, and an open-access library — builds practical capacity among stakeholders. Evidence-based Policy Recommendations translate project findings into actionable guidance for EU, national, and regional authorities implementing the Nature Restoration Regulation and Biodiversity Strategy.

Partners
The University Of Exeter (UNEXE ), UK
Ministerie Van Infrastructuur En Waterstaat (PBL), NL
E3-Modelling Ae, (E3M), EL
Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule Zuerich (ETH), CH
Stichting Radboud Universiteit (RU), NL
Universitaet Leipzig (LU), DE
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KULeuven), BE
Rainno Idiotiki Kefalaiouchiki Etaireia (RAINNO), EL