Restoration as a complex issue requires joint actions. Collaboration of policy makers, practioners and scientists is needed to develop and monitor context specific best-fit solutions to regain ecological integrity and enhance human wellbeing in deforested or degraded landscapes. Currently, emphasis is put on ecological and technical solutions thereby neglecting the social dimension of restoration. To strengthen social-ecological focus on restoration and collaboration at the science-practice interface, TREES project performs accompanying research on FLR strategies implemented by GIZ’s global project Forests4Future (F4F). Hereby, focus is put on ecological and socio-economic effects as well as questions on governance. Master and PhD students based at universities in Germany and in F4F implementing countries are selected to work on project relevant topics in a tandem approach. Whilst each student has his/her individual research focus, data collection is planned and implemented in the binational tandems.