Reporting on implementation results from MERLIN restoration case studies (03/2026)

Key messages:

1. Large-scale delivery: MERLIN restored 9,524 ha, 121 km of rivers, and removed 11 barriers across 16 case studies.

2. Targets exceeded overall: Despite local shortfalls, total restoration overshot plans by +107% (land) and +74% (rivers).

3. Adaptation drives success: Frequent technical, administrative, and external obstacles were overcome through adaptive management.

4. Broad impact coverage: 129 Green Deal indicators were applied across all criteria, dominated by environmental outcomes.

5. Early positive effects: ~70% of indicators already show positive impacts or trends within the project timeframe.

6. Substantial monitoring continuity: Over half of all indicators will continue to be monitored beyond MERLIN, with remaining gaps mainly linked to capacity constraints.

7. EU funding backbone with emerging leverage effects: EU funding (including MERLIN) underpins most projects and has begun to catalyse complementary investment in selected cases.

8. People matter most: Trust, engagement, and organisational capacity consistently emerged as the key success factors.

9. MERLIN enabled how restoration happens: Its strongest impact was building skills, partnerships, and adaptive practice, not redefining goals or budgets.