Advancing freshwater restoration

My Projects

Wetlands and Blue Carbon. Comprehensively lay out the EU’s GHG inventorying process on wetlands, map and identify patterns of and drivers behind land-use changes in these habitats and describe the state-of-play on measures and initiatives enhancing carbon sequestration via blue carbon, to contribute to understanding the full potential of Blue Carbon at the EU level. 

Methodology for identifying renewable energy acceleration areas. Design a comprehensive framework to guide identification of areas for deployment of solar and wind energy, assessment of environmental impacts and identification of mitigation measures, with a view to avoiding and reducing impacts.

Compliance assessment of the 3rd River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) under the WFD. Support the assessment of the quality of RBMPs for the period 2021 – 2027 compared to the Water Framework Directive expectations and the status / progress reports by each Member State in the previous planning cycle.

Reconnecting riverine habitats across a five-country UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Restore a large multi-functional landscape that benefits nature, climate resilience and people, and establish a restoration task force that brings together key sectors (nature, agriculture, forestry and water) to catalyse recovery across the wider landscape and to promote the Biosphere reserve as a replicable model of inclusive restoration and sustainable development. 

Identification of indicators to measure benefits of river restoration. Develop key parameters to assess and monitor economic, ecologic and societal benefits that river restoration provides.

Keeping Balkan rivers free flowing. Mainstream river protection and nature conservation in the region through awareness raising and advocacy campaigns for sustainable hydropower development and integrated water resources management, development of policy recommendations to create enabling legislative frameworks, and engage with stakeholders to facilitate dialogue and transparency of decision making.

• Key project facts
  • EU Directives Implementation: Supported the transposition and effective implementation of EU environmental directives, focusing on key legislation such as the Water Framework Directive, Nature Directives, and horizontal policies like Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). These efforts ensured alignment with EU standards for environmental protection and sustainable management.
  • Freshwater Ecosystem Protection and Restoration: Contributed to the protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems through initiatives such as the designation of Biosphere Reserves and the restoration of ecosystems within protected areas. These projects aimed to preserve biodiversity and enhance the resilience of freshwater habitats.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including decision-makers, management authorities, and local communities, to actively support and participate in nature restoration and protection efforts. This collaborative approach ensured that solutions were grounded in local needs and supported by all relevant parties.
• What impact did these projects have on biodiversity, if any?
  • Enabling Sustainable Management: By setting legal and regulatory conditions, these projects helped create framework for sustainable management of freshwater resources and ecosystems.
  • Improved Habitat and Ecosystem Status: The restoration and protection efforts significantly improved the status of habitats and ecosystems. These initiatives supported local biodiversity by enhancing habitat quality, reducing threats to species, and promoting healthier ecosystems. Additionally, the restoration of ecosystem functions, such as water purification and flood regulation, helped increase the provision of critical ecosystem services.
• What work challenges did you face and what approach did you take to solve them?
  • Lack of Awareness: One of the main challenges was the lack of awareness among wider stakeholders, particularly regarding the perceived benefits of restoration efforts. To address this, I focused on extensive education and awareness-raising that emphasized the tangible benefits local communities could gain from protecting or restoring nature. By framing these initiatives in terms of direct, visible improvements—such as better water quality, enhanced local biodiversity, or increased livelihoods—stakeholders were more likely to engage and support the efforts.
  • Varying Legal Conditions: Another challenge was the differing legal conditions for engaging in restoration projects across countries. Understanding the regulatory landscape early on was crucial. In some cases, specific restoration activities could only be carried out by designated entities, which required obtaining permits and ensuring their involvement. To overcome this, I adopted a careful and thorough planning approach, ensuring that legal requirements were met and all necessary stakeholders were onboard before starting fieldwork.
• What lessons learned are transferable to other places/projects?
  
  • Early and Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement: One key lesson is the importance of engaging stakeholders at all levels as early as possible. Ensuring that everyone is informed and has an opportunity to contribute is crucial. Implementing a process of co-creation not only helps build buy-in from all parties but also fosters long-term commitment from management authorities and local communities. This is essential for ensuring the sustainability of the project beyond the restoration phase, with local communities ultimately becoming stewards of the project.
  • Mindset Shift for Nature Protection: Protecting and restoring nature often requires a shift in mindset, which is a gradual process. Engaging stakeholders early and keeping them involved throughout the entire project is vital for facilitating this change. Patience and ongoing dialogue are essential to help stakeholders fully embrace the importance of nature restoration.
  • Transparency, Honesty, and Humility in Engagement: When working with stakeholders, it’s crucial to be transparent, honest, and humble. Actively listening to and considering others' opinions—while accepting them where possible—fosters co-creation of solutions, encourages innovation, and builds trust. These principles lead to better collaboration and more effective results in the field.
• What is your biggest barrier and what are you trying to do about it?
  Despite the overwhelming evidence of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, there remains a lack of widespread recognition in society about the fundamental importance of nature. Many still do not fully appreciate that every aspect of our lives—our survival and well-being—depends on the resources that nature provides, such as clean water, air, and healthy soils. To address this, I have focused my efforts on two fronts: Firstly, I support decision-makers in crafting policies that promote a greater appreciation of nature across all sectors of society and the economy. Secondly, I work on developing knowledge, strategies, and practical approaches that will help guide society and the economy toward making this essential transition to a more sustainable, nature-valuing way of living.