Synthesis of the final Regional Scalability Plans (09/2024)

Key messages:

1. The 17 MERLIN Regional Scalability Plans (RSPs) offer visions for upscaling restoration at wider landscape levels with a time horizon up to 2050 created through collaborative efforts to upscale freshwater restoration initiatives. The RSPs address 'why', 'where', 'what, 'how', and 'who' questions to upscale freshwater restoration.

2. The RSPs mainstream Nature-based Solutions (NbS) thinking and interaction with stakeholders towards common goals.

3. The starting point for developing an ambitious and feasible regional scale-up plan requires insight into current approaches to restoring freshwater ecosystems. The MERLIN case studies differed greatly in this regard which determined the scope and content of their RSPs.

4. Upscaling freshwater ecosystem restoration entails mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into policies and practices and interaction with stakeholders towards common goals. In MERLIN, this has been done through the EU Green Deal ambitions.

5. Biodiversity net gain, climate change mitigation and inclusivity are the main EU Green Deal goals of the RSPs.

6. The RSPs highlight that transformative change requires actions in three areas: practical work in the field, changes in policies, and efforts to involve the public. To successfully restore freshwater on a large scale, all these actions need to work together.

7. It is essential that upscaling entails replication and expansion of current good practices as well as the development of inclusive multiple benefit projects for nature, climate, water as well as society and economy.

8. Mainstreaming restoration requires collaboration and collective action with diverse set of actors. The RSPs highlight the need to build new coalitions and cross-sectoral collaboration as well as strengthen existing networks.

9. Forming multidisciplinary teams that address the biophysical, socioeconomic, legal and financial aspects is critical to the overarching success of RSPs.

10. Adapting plans and measures due to changing conditions (e.g. climate change, land use) is key to ensuring long-term success.

11. A well embedded monitoring strategy and monitoring systemic impacts of freshwater restoration is needed to better understand the impact of restoration on nature, society and the economy. This in turn can lead to better appreciation and support.