RESTORIVER Final Conference Brings Together Experts Working on Climate Resilience and River Restoration

The final conference of the RESTORIVER project took place on 9-10 June in Ruse, Bulgaria, under the theme “Climate Resilience in Urban Areas.” The event brought together experts, policymakers, and practitioners from across the Danube Region to present the project's achievements and discuss the future of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in climate adaptation and freshwater ecosystem restoration.

Over the past two and a half years, RESTORIVER has developed and tested measures aimed at restoring river side-arms, wetlands, and floodplains while improving natural water retention in the landscape. Pilot actions implemented in Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia demonstrated a variety of approaches that benefit both nature and local communities.

Among the showcased examples were the rain garden in West Park “Prista” in Ruse, measures to improve water circulation in Zagreb’s Maksimir Park, wetland management activities at Lake Zaghen in Romania, and side-arm restoration efforts in Serbia and Slovakia. In Érd, Hungary, a participatory planning process helped identify opportunities for improving water retention in floodplain areas and laid the foundation for future interventions.

The conference brought a very interesting panel discussion featuring representatives from EUSDR, Danube Parks, FAO, the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), WWF Ukraine, Romanian Waters, and other organizations. The discussion focused on both the opportunities and challenges of integrating Nature-based Solutions into climate adaptation policies and practice.

Explore the RESTORIVER StoryMap through the following link.

While financial, regulatory, and capacity-related barriers remain significant, participants highlighted numerous successful examples of implementation and stressed the need for stronger cooperation among public authorities, experts, conservation organizations, and local communities. The discussions underscored that successful nature-based interventions require long-term commitment, supportive policies, sustainable financing, and cross-sector collaboration.

One of the key outcomes presented at the conference was the interactive RESTORIVER StoryMap, which showcases the project's pilot actions, benefits, and lessons learned through maps, photographs, and practical examples. The StoryMap serves as a valuable resource for practitioners and decision-makers interested in replicating similar solutions across the region.

Although RESTORIVER officially comes to an end after two and a half years of work, its legacy continues through the knowledge, partnerships, and practical experience generated by the project.