Europe's environment is in an alarming state, with climate change expected to further aggravate the situation. This poses severe threats to economic prosperity, human wellbeing and social peace – our society needs systemic transformative change.

Ecosystem restoration is key to this change, and freshwaters play an important role: the restoration of streams, rivers, peatlands and wetlands has a long tradition and offers an extensive knowledge base – freshwaters are ideal demonstrators of the necessary change.

The MERLIN project commits to transformative ecosystem restoration, mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions for the urgent systemic change of our society.

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) - Design and Reform

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) plays a pivotal role not only in shaping Europe’s agricultural landscape but also in safeguarding broader environmental quality and societal well-being. At the same time, food production and rural economies depend fundamentally on healthy water systems.
This Policy Working Paper illustrates how water restoration can be embedded in future agricultural policies to enhance water resilience. It draws on research funded by MERLIN and Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme (KJHI-3-1 Land Use Transformations).