Demonstrating best practice in restoration

MERLIN learns from 18 best-practice case-study in terms of innovative restoration measures, types of governance and financing frameworks. Within these case studies, MERLIN explores social, economic and environmental success factors, generating a blueprint for the wide-spread implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) suited for replication in various contexts. To showcase restoration in the entire spectrum of freshwater-related ecosystems, MERLIN comprises case studies in three realms: small streams, large transboundary rivers, and peatlands and wetlands.

The case studies all include demonstration sites, where restoration had already been performed before the start of MERLIN, and implementation sites, where restoration was implemented within MERLIN (except CS7b and CS 10, where no measures were implemented within MERLIN). The case studies meticulously tracked and optimised their strategies, involved local stakeholders, monitored outcomes and impacts, and developed plans how to maintain and upscale restoration efforts and societal transformation in their regions.

These outcomes provide methodologies and evidence to guide future projects and funding programmes.

Resources


Dive deeper into our case studies and check out their background and videos or interviews about the case.

Case Study Portal

Check out a summary of the findings from the case studies’ impact assessment.

Case Study Assessment

Read or download each case studies’ factsheet.

Case Study Factsheets

Read all deliverables from Work Package 1 “Demonstration”, including a new monitoring framework, demonstrations of the effectiveness of restoration/NbS and impact assessments of the case studies.

Deliverables WP1

Read all deliverables from Work Package 2 “Implementation” showcasing implementation and optimisation plans of the case studies and their strategies for regional upscaling of restoration.

Deliverables WP2