A Structured Pathway for Upscaling Freshwater Ecosystem Restoration

Resource description:

From isolated efforts to coordinated, large-scale action

Healthy freshwater and wetland ecosystems are vital for people and nature, yet many need restoration. Progress in current restoration efforts remains too slow, small-scale, and fragmented. This brief calls for bold, coordinated action that aligns with EU policy goals and delivers lasting benefits for nature, climate, and society. The time to upscale is now.

Author/Contact:

Tom Buijse1 , Ellis Penning1 , Maria Ojanen2, Sebastian Birk3

1 Deltares, Delft, The Netherlands; 2Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki, Finland; 3University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

Publication date:

1 January 2026

Resource download:

MERLIN_Structured_Pathway_for_Upscaling.pdf (1.86 MB)

Mobilising Diverse Funding for Nature Restoration in Europe

This briefing presents three EU-wide actions to unlock diversified funding for nature restoration.

Advancing the Water Resilience Strategy through Sponge Landscapes and Nature-Based Solutions for a Climate Resilient Europe

EU public policies are central to scaling up freshwater restoration and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) across Europe.

mainstreaming freshwater restoration requires supporting materials

Mainstreaming freshwater restoration requires supporting multiple economic sectors to collaborate

This brief explores opportunities and challenges to mainstreaming working with nature across all sectors.

A Structured Pathway for Upscaling Freshwater Ecosystem Restoration

Resource description:

Author/Contact:

Related content