Advancing freshwater restoration

The IGB is Germany’s largest and one of the world's leading research centers for inland waters. It is also one of the oldest institutions in this field. The IGB collaborates closely with numerous national and international universities, as well as other partners from science and society.

We selected Tomislav Hudina for this interview due to his exemplary contributions to ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation in Croatia. He has played a key role in initiating and scaling up impactful projects, most notably the Dinara back to LIFE project—the country's first large-scale grassland restoration effort—which laid the groundwork for broader application of tested methodologies. His work on the Still Water Revival project further highlights his commitment to participatory restoration by engaging local communities and ensuring long-term care through caretaker programs.

His expertise lies in the development of accessible and scalable methodologies for ecological assessment, crucial for mainstreaming restoration practices. Their focus on creating tools that can be used by non-experts demonstrates a clear vision for empowering stakeholders and ensuring lasting outcomes.