articleNature ConservationFeb 25, 2026GOLD OA

Building blocks for upscaling freshwater ecosystem restoration: Place-based strategies for a transdisciplinary challenge

University of Duisburg-Essen · Ecologic Institute · +13 more institutions

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Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems are vital for biodiversity and human well-being, but remain amongst the most degraded globally. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) offer a promising pathway to restoration, yet implementation remains fragmented and often limited in scale. This paper synthesises insights from 18 demonstration cases across Europe, carried out under the EU Horizon 2020 MERLIN project, to identify key factors enabling the systemic upscaling of freshwater restoration through NbS. Drawing on practical experiences, five interdependent “building blocks” are proposed: (1) comprehensive status review; (2) narratives of the future; (3) evidence-informed approach; (4) resource management and (5) stakeholder engagement.…

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6
total citations
FWCI
136.26
Percentile
100%
References
60
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Authors

26

Topics & keywords

Keywords
  • Interdependence
  • Stakeholder
  • Adaptive management
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Resource (disambiguation)
  • Complex adaptive system
  • Novel ecosystem
  • Restoration ecology
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