Advancing freshwater restoration

A recent EcoAdvance (Horizon Europe) Survey showed that that hope is high. 65% of the respondents agreed with the statement: 
“The Nature Restoration Law would make our restoration actions easier through a legal framework,”  and 35% said they did not know or did not think it would.
 
But it is the beginning – and not the end-game.
 
Thus the recent Call to Action from scientists and academics:
Twan Stoffers Florian Altermatt Olena Bilous Florian Borgwardt Tom Buijse Elisabeth Bondar-Kunze Núria Cid Tibor Eros Gertrud Haidvogl Severin Hohensinner Johannes Kowal Tianna Peller Stefan Schmutz Günther Unfer Prof. Dr. Sonja C. Jähnig Thomas Hein Simon Vitecek Damiano Baldan Maria Teresa Ferreira Andrea Funk Leopold Nagelkerke Jakob Neuburg and Gabriel Singer
reviewed the law, and highlighted the uphill road ahead for real progress on river and freshwater restoration to make a real – rather than theoretic real difference on climate change, biodiversity, air and water quality, and reduce the impact of natural disasters. 
 
For the law to have an impact wider than its theoretical framework,  the Call To Action notes 7 pathways that must be built and then used by national and local governments, and communities:

1. DEFINITIONS.  Each country must define a "free flowing river", the types of barriers to be removed and identify preservation/restoration targets. 
2. MULTI-DIMENSIONAL ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK.
   A four dimensional approach of longitudinal, lateral and vertical, and flow within a dendritic river network to help keep focus on longitudinal integrity and connectivity of the river for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
3. HOLISTIC CATCHMENT LEVEL THINKING/PLANNING. 
   It's not enough to just look on a local basis --  research and policies will need to be coordinated between governments. 
4. REASSESS current projects in order to prioritize projects that will impact NRL goals, and lower or stop projects that hinder them. 
5. ENGAGE THE CITIZENS! Professionals have to make sure to involve all levels of government, all stakeholders in local communities.
6. FACE CONFLICT AND FIND SOLUTIONS. Where conflict arises,
   such as when agricultural production or hydropower  or other
   important goals compete with NRL goals—build methods to find
   compromises rather than pushing the conflict under the rug. 
7. MONITOR PROGRESS AND SHARE RESULTS BROADLY.  Design a monitoring database for regular updates and easy for public access; foster transparency and accountability. 

In short, this Call to Action maps out the work ahead– the legal tools necessary to preserve Europe’s rivers are on the books – now comes the hard work of implementation.