On 31 March 2026, the PLANES Lab at the University of Trento, represented by Davide Geneletti, Alessandra Longo, and Silvia Frezzi, acting as leaders of the SOLO Think Tank “No net soil sealing and increase the reuse of urban soils”, hosted their dedicated webinar. The event focused on the effectiveness of desealing interventions and their role in urban soil restoration, bringing together perspectives from policy, spatial planning, and citizen engagement. The webinar opened with Prof. Davide Geneletti introducing the roadmap developed by the Think Tank.

The first presentation, delivered by Kristina Flexman (WSP), focused on the EU-level guidance developed supporting the European Commission’s Soil Strategy for 2030, “Indicative guidance on addressing soil sealing and achieving no net land take”. Her contribution outlined key principles, policy instruments, and technical measures aimed at reducing soil sealing across Europe. The presentation highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that approximately 4.2% of EU land is already artificialised and that an estimated 60–70% of soils are currently in an unhealthy state. In this context, the guidance emphasises the importance of an integrated approach that combines the avoidance of new sealing, the reuse of already developed land, and active desealing measures. These elements are considered essential to achieving the broader objective of no net land take by 2050.

The second presentation, delivered by Peter Lacoere (HOGENT-DRUM / KU Leuven), focused on the Flemish approach to reducing land take and soil sealing. He illustrated a significant paradigm shift in spatial planning, moving away from expansion-oriented development models towards strategies aimed at reduction and consolidation. This transition is supported by data-driven planning tools, opportunity mapping, and large-scale initiatives aimed at ecological restoration and urban transformation. The Flemish case provided an example of how integrated planning approaches can support more sustainable land-use trajectories.

The third contribution, by Anton Christiaens (Breekijzer), emphasised the added value of societal engagement in enabling large-scale desealing. He argued that achieving meaningful change requires a shift in collective perception, where sealed surfaces are no longer seen as permanent but as spaces with the potential for transformation into green and functional environments. Through initiatives such as the Tile-Flipping Championship, a citizen-driven campaign, desealing is framed as an accessible and empowering action, helping to reimagine paved urban spaces as living ecosystems.

Overall, the discussion highlighted that effective desealing strategies require a combination of robust policy frameworks, spatial planning instruments, technical solutions, and active citizen participation. In addition, a key message emerging from the webinar was that a substantial share of soil sealing occurs on private land, making behavioural change and public engagement crucial components in achieving long-term soil restoration and sustainability goals.