Ressort Presse

• 07.04.2026

Rivers, moors and floodplains are under pressure – and with them, the very foundations of life for both people and nature. But how can damaged ecosystems be effectively restored, not just locally but across Europe? A team led by Daniel Hering from the University of Duisburg-Essen has now found an answer: five key ‘building blocks’ that pave the way for comprehensive restoration. The findings were published in the journal Nature Conservation.

Rivers, floodplains and wetlands perform essential functions such as water purification, flood protection and providing habitats for numerous species. Nevertheless, they are severely impaired by human interventions such as pollution, river regulation and changes in land use. Although so-called nature-based solutions (NbS) are regarded as a promising approach, their implementation has so far often remained localised and fragmented, with a correspondingly limited impact.

Five building blocks for restoration

The study is based on an evaluation of 18 restoration measures in Europe implemented as part of the EU-funded MERLIN project. The project is coordinated by the University of Duisburg-Essen and funded by the European Union with around 21 million euros.

The aim was to identify success factors that enable the replication and scaling up of such measures. The analysis shows that successful renaturation does not rely on individual measures, but on the interplay of several key elements. The researchers define five so-called ‘building blocks’: a thorough analysis of the baseline condition, the development of shared visions for the future, an evidence-based approach, effective resource management, and the active involvement of relevant stakeholders.

From individual projects to systemic transformation

A key finding of the study is that restoration is not merely an ecological or technical task. Rather, it is a complex societal process. The implementation of nature-based solutions is heavily dependent on institutional frameworks, political support and cooperation between various stakeholder groups.

The case studies examined as part of the MERLIN project show that progress is achieved particularly where long-term strategies, stable governance structures and reliable funding models are in place. At the same time, it is clear that large-scale renaturation can only succeed if measures are adapted to local ecological and social conditions, rather than applying standardised solutions.

Furthermore, the role of science is changing: it is increasingly acting as a mediating body that brings together different perspectives, provides knowledge and supports shared learning processes.

New perspectives for policy and practice

The study provides important impetus for European environmental strategies such as the European Green Deal. A broad-scale restoration of freshwater ecosystems is considered central to achieving biodiversity targets, mitigating the impacts of climate change and securing the supply of clean water in the long term.

Rather than prescribing uniform solutions, the approach developed offers practical guidance that takes account of varying regional conditions. In the long term, these findings can help to plan restoration measures more effectively, improve coordination between them and significantly increase their impact – a crucial step towards resilient ecosystems and sustainable livelihoods.

Publication: https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/article/148938/

In the picture: Prof. Daniel Hering and his team taking samples from a stream.

Further information:

Prof. Dr. Daniel Hering, Biology, Tel. 0201-18 3-3084, daniel.hering@uni-due.de