MERLIN webinar #14: State of European freshwaters - Restoration needs and potentials

Paulo Branco , Forest Resreach Centre, Associate Laboratory TERRA, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon

Freshwaters cover just 1% of the Earth’s surface, but they provide determinant ecosystems services to humankind. Albeit their value, they are among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide. Europe has been making a large effort towards the restoration of freshwaters through the Water Framework Directive, the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, and the EU Adaptation to Climate Change Strategy.

Participating in the MERLIN project has provided the opportunity to explore and take advantage of EU-wide datasets reporting on freshwater-related habitats, species status and pressure variables. By integrating them into the same spatial resolution using River Restoration Units (R2Us), we were able to evaluate those that are not compliant with the objectives of the Habitats and Water Framework Directives. Moreover, it allowed us to spatially assess which of the R2Us present a higher potential to be restored when taking into consideration the co-benefits for ecosystem services and ease of action.

Results show that throughout Europe freshwater habitats and species are in dire need of adequate restoration actions. Moreover, regions outside highly urbanized areas and without water scarcity seem to offer the greatest potential for restoration co-benefits. Overall, our work under MERLIN will result in a multitude of maps and a relational database, contents that can represent useful instruments to guide large-scale freshwater management decisions across Europe, thus contributing to Knowledge4policy (K4P) and providing evidenced-based support for public policy.