News published: 23 June 2026

On 23 June, the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) published the third edition of its International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration, widely recognised as the most comprehensive global guidance for restoration practice.

BGCI is pleased to have been represented on the author list through Dr David Bartholomew, CEO of The Global Biodiversity Standard, who contributed as a co-author.

The 3rd Edition responds to accelerating demand for measurable climate and biodiversity action. Updates include more rigorous quantitative thresholds, expanded Social Benefits and Ecological Recovery measurement tools, alignment with Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and enhanced guidance across the full restoration project cycle to support certification and investment. The Standards also strengthen emphasis on societal engagement, Indigenous Knowledge, and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent.

For BGCI’s network, this update is particularly relevant. Botanic gardens bring deep expertise in plant diversity, threatened species, seed and plant material, ecological restoration, and long-term monitoring. Through BGCI’s Ecological Restoration Alliance of Botanic Gardens and The Global Biodiversity Standard, many botanic gardens have already been helping to test and apply these concepts in practice, translating global restoration guidance into field-based assessment, mentoring, and long-term monitoring.

The updated SER Standards also provide a stronger basis for demonstrating restoration outcomes. They expand guidance across five project components: assessment, planning and design, implementation, ongoing management, and monitoring and evaluation. This supports greater transparency and comparability, helping practitioners, funders, regulators, and insurers reduce risk and improve confidence in restoration projects.

As George Gann, lead author and SER Global Policy Lead, said: “There has been an important shift in the conversation; the question is no longer about why we need to restore, but about how we measure and deliver the best results.”

The Standards clarify that ecological restoration aims to recover native ecosystems, informed by reference models, and include eight Principles to help practitioners define, guide, and measure restoration projects. The updated Restorative Continuum also recognises the wider range of restorative activities needed across different ecosystems and social contexts.

For botanic gardens working to restore biodiverse, resilient ecosystems, the 3rd Edition offers a timely and practical framework for strengthening restoration quality, supporting credible assessment, and helping global restoration commitments translate into measurable outcomes for people and nature.

The Standards are published open access as a special issue of Restoration Ecology