MERLIN project

The EU Nature Restoration Law

As of August 2024, the Eurpean Union's Nature Restoration Law (NRL) is in force. It holds the potential to significantly improve nature conservation and restoration efforts in the EU. The NRL targets ecosystems included in former legislation (Birds Directive/Habitats Directive), additional ecosystems, such as urban, forest, marine and agricultural ecosystems, as well as pollinator diversity and river connectivity. Improvements towards reaching a good conservation status are to be fulfiled stepwise with deadlines set for 2030, 2040 and 2050. Further reading on the content and an assessment of the looming challenges with its implementation can be found here:

EU Member States are obliged to prepare “National Restoration Plans“, which define the national needs for restoration and measures to actually fulfil these targets. This poses a variety of new tasks and potential challenges for conservation administrations and practitioners. Apart from preparatory monitoring and research, these tasks include the identification of synergies with agriculture, forestry and the energy sector as well as with the National Restoration Plans of other Member States. The preparation of the national restoration plans has to be transparent and needs to include the public and all relevant stakeholders.

Training for the Nature Restoration Law

The MERLIN Academy is a soon-to-be-launched online learning platform aiming at bringing theoretical as well as practical knowledge about restoration and nature-based solutions to restoration managers, administrators and practitioners. The online modules are divided into sub-modules and smaller courses that consist of 5- to 10-minute teaching videos, recorded webinars and recommended reading lists, each finished off with a short quiz on the learned content.

We need your valuable input!

The MERLIN Academy intends to offer training material for the NRL implementation. To adequately shape its design to your needs, we want to learn more about what kind of knowledge about the implementation of the NRL already exists, what kind of help is needed and how new knowledge can be conveyed best. We highly value your opinion and past experiences with e-learning resources and would be delighted if you help us to improve our content and user experience.

It will take you 15 to 20 minutes to fill out the questionnaire. Thank you very much for taking the time and for your help!

Academy questionnaire

1. What is your job title?

If you want, you could share the name of your organisation (institution) here:

2. Have you used an e-learning resource before (such as LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, Udemy or similar)?

3. In what realm of nature (conservation) lies your main expertise?

4. How do you evaluate your knowledge about the upcoming NRL?

5. How likely will you be involved in the NRL implementation?

6. In what aspect of the NRL implementation will you most likely be involved?

7. How do you rate your competence for implementing the necessary tasks of the NRL?

8. What are – according to your current knowledge – the most important challenges for the implementation of the NRL?

9. How useful would you consider a tailored e-learning resource in preparation for the NRL implementation tasks?

10 a) How are new resources/tools such as e-learning resources typically procured in your organisation?

b) Which are the reasons for the decision to procure a new resource/tool such as e-learning courses in your organisation?

11 a) How many people are working in your organisation/working group/department (please consider the organisational unit that makes most sense in this context)?

b) How many users do you expect would use a resource like the MERLIN Academy in your organisation/workgroup/department?

12. How likely is it that you yourself would use an e-learning resource in preparation for your NRL implementation tasks?

13. If you would use an e-learning resource for your NRL implementation tasks, would you like that to be…

14. How likely would you watch a learning video for your NRL implementation tasks, if it was …

a) in English with English subtitles

b) in English with national language subtitles

15. What kind of content would you find most useful/would you need regarding an e-learning resource about the NRL implementation?

16. If one e-learning module would consist of around 20 to 40 lessons (5-10 minute videos, scripts, quizzes, recorded webinars, podcasts), what is the maximum amount you would be willing to pay (with a discount for more modules)?

17. Do you have any additional thoughts on e-learning resources in general and specifically in relation to your NRL implementation tasks? Please also list any e-learning platforms or networks you are aware of that deal with conservation and restoration ecology.