Ecological Restoration Knowledge Hub
The DERTO is a resource library of ecological restoration (ER) educational materials for interested Vocational Education and Training (VET) schools, and other educational institutions in Europe and around the world. DERTO materials are targeted for VET and align with the European Qualification Framework (EQF) levels 4, 5 and 6. Several Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on the Basics of ER and Advanced Methods in ER will be available from our partner, the Society for Ecological Restoration, and will be able to be accessed at no cost (coming in May 2026).
Open Educational Resources Platform
The DERTO is open access. All materials are available at no cost and can be downloaded, used or modified based on Creative Commons licensing. The DERTO is also intended to be the place where modified and revised educational materials on ER are uploaded and shared for all to benefit. For example, a VET provider in Bulgaria downloads the English resources, modifies them to the local language and ecosystems for teaching, and uploads the new content for other VET providers in Bulgaria to benefit from.
Virtual Demonstration Site Repository
Examples of best practices for a variety of ER projects across Europe are available as virtual demonstration sites. These ER demonstration sites have been developed as virtual reality tours to enhance interactive learning in a classroom setting and can complement actual field trips to ER sites located near VET providers or other institutions. Additionally, the DERTO provides webinars, handbooks and technical resources for VET providers so students can engage in creating their own virtual demonstrations of ER sites relevant to their regional ecosystems, enhancing digital skills development.
Demand for Nature Restoration Skills
There is a renewed and urgent demand for practical skills in ER within the European workforce and around the world. This is true for both project managers and planners and for those who implement, monitor and maintain ER projects.
Both the Osnabrück Declaration, calling for VET providers to enhance green skills development across Europe, and the Nature Restoration Regulation, mandating ER in many habitats within Europe to ensure continued ecosystem services are provided to human societies, assure continued demand for ER skills within many sectors, including agriculture, forestry, landscape gardening and urban planning.
Improved Knowledge Transfer
Ecological restoration (ER) educational materials are primarily developed and used in higher education (i.e., universities) and are largely missing from Vocational Education and Training (VET) curricula across Europe. The DERTO is a hub for ER educational materials to facilitate knowledge transfer of this critical subject matter to future and current professionals. VET students can learn about basics in ecology and ER, gain hands-on, practical skills, improve digital skills development and better understand the ER business market and job opportunities.
Open Access
DERTO provides open access knowledge and tools to encourage knowledge transfer and skills development without a cost barrier. The educational materials created on DERTO use the Creative Commons licensing procedure, allowing for VET providers and others to reuse, distribute, remix, adapt and build upon the material, thus maximizing flexible use of DERTO content to enhance uptake by all interested parties.
For Vocational Education and Training (VET)
VET providers are the primary audience of the DERTO. Our hope is that interested schools and teachers, from any country, download and modify the DERTO educational materials to fit their needs. Quality-assured, open-access educational materials, appropriate for EQF levels 4, 5 and 6, should appeal to the needs of those VET providers looking to enhance existing programs with ER knowledge or create an entirely new ER program of study.
For Existing Workers and Lifelong Learners
Gaining a certified new skill in ER is attractive for many workers looking to upskill and can increase employability for those who wish to reskill. Continuing Professional Development is recognized across sectors as a way to retain employees, enhance job satisfaction and improve business outcomes and productivity. In particular, the MOOCs 'Basics in Ecological Restoration' and 'Advanced Methods in Ecological Restoration' are provided for this purpose. An opportunity to attain a certificate after successful completion of each course is available.
For the General Public
Interested citizens and stakeholders of ER projects, who might not have a background in ER are encouraged to use the DERTO for self-learning. These resources can be utilized for education and training of the public, local councils, community groups, or other stakeholders and are designed to foster a collaborative working environment. Ecological restoration is primarily about reviving and repairing ecosystem services that we, as complex human societies, depend upon. The more ER knowledge is transferred to workers, decision-makers, and the public, the better off we all are.
What will your Students Learn?
If you integrate DERTO resources into your VET program, your students will learn:
Basics in Ecology and ER
- Ecological systems
- Biodiversity
- Ecosystem services
- Threats to ecosystems & species
- Plant community succession
- Wildlife conservation
- Habitat connectivity
- Types of ER
- Laws that guide ER
Hands-on, practical skills in ER
- How to assess a possible ER site
- Basics of project design and planning
- Site preparations, first-year management
- Monitoring & evaluations
- Species introductions
- Managing for biodiversity
- Regional seeds & plants
Digital Skills Development
- Technology used in ER projects
- Making and using 360° photographs
- Basics of creating a Virtual Reality tour with LUMI and implement different content types
- Use of LUMI software for H5P content
- how to prepare your digital learning material (conceptional and practical)
Entrepreneurship in ER
- Career opportunities
- ER funding and financing opportunities
- Examples of successful ER business models
- Training in business development
- Options for ER certification
Resource Library
The DERTO Resource Library is a curated collection of educational and informational materials—such as research articles, guidelines, case studies, videos, and tools—designed to support practitioners, researchers, and students in the field of ecosystem restoration.
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
DERTO MOOCs are online courses that are freely accessible to a large number of participants, offering structured learning on topics related to ecosystem restoration, such as ecological principles, restoration techniques, and project management. Two MOOCs, the Basics of Ecological Restoration and Advanced Methods in Ecological Restoration will be available starting in May 2026.
Virtual Demonstration Sites
Virtual demonstration sites are interactive, online representations of real-world ER projects. They showcase methods, progress, and outcomes through maps, videos, photos, and data, allowing users to explore and learn from practical examples of ecosystem restoration without visiting the physical location.
Flexible Modular Learning
DERTO educational materials are organized in a way to support modular learning. Students can learn directly on the DERTO or VET providers can download the material for use in various Learn Management Systems (such as Moodle), to record student scores and progress. ER course layouts remain flexible and interested VET providers may pick and choose what material best fits existing modules or programs within their institution.
