Advancing freshwater restoration

Leonidas Svardakas was selected as a Recreating Freshwater Showcase because he lead a restoration project in Greece. The project aimed to improve the conservation status of two endangered native fish species (Squalius keadicus and Pelasgus laconicus), both listed by the IUCN. The project focused on four main actions: (1) creating summer refugia to counteract river drying due to severe seasonal water abstraction, (2) eradicating invasive Gambusia holbrooki populations, (3) translocating native fish to safe habitats, and (4) establishing an ex situ backup population at the institute's facilities in Athens. He highlighted that while the ecological methods were scientifically sound, the project underestimated the complexity of social and institutional dynamics. Lack of engagement from local authorities and poor stakeholder cooperation—exemplified by the conflict with the farmer—were major obstacles. He emphasized that successful freshwater restoration requires not only technical expertise but also collaboration with social scientists to improve stakeholder communication, gain local support, and integrate socioeconomic realities into project design. As a lessons learned, Leonidas stressed the need for more flexible project planning, and recommended to incorporate socio-economic expertise from the outset to navigate local governance challenges and public perception. While the project had mixed success, it provided valuable experience and clear directions for improving the integration of ecological and social dimensions in future freshwater conservation initiatives.

Marina Petrić was selected as a Recreating Freshwater Showcase because she played a key role in a transboundary freshwater restoration project within one of Europe’s most ambitious ecological initiatives—the Amazon of Europe in the Mura–Drava–Danube Biosphere Reserve. Her work at WWF Adria involves coordinating complex restoration efforts across national borders, institutions, and ecosystems, making her perspective highly relevant for understanding the challenges and opportunities of large-scale, integrated river restoration. 

Her interview provided valuable insights into: 

• Practical restoration measures, such as side-channel reconnection and floodplain forest restoration; 
• The importance of institutional cooperation and the difficulties of working across multiple countries with differing regulations and priorities; 
• The role of the Restoration Task Force as a platform for stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange; 
• Lessons in adaptability, persistence, and stakeholder diplomacy in the face of institutional and logistical challenges. 

Overall, her contribution highlighted both the technical complexity and social dynamics of successful freshwater restoration, offering important lessons for practitioners working in multi-level governance contexts.