The Freshwater Blog

MERLIN Podcast EP.13 – Sharing cutting-edge information on freshwater restoration in the MERLIN Academy In this podcast we take a tour of the MERLIN Academy, an online platform which offers free resources and training to support researchers, practitioners and policy makers in applying cutting-edge fr…

🐟 Want to learn about cutting-edge concepts and approaches for freshwater restoration?

📻 Tune into the new @merlin-project.bsky.social podcast on their free, open-access Academy to find out more.

freshwaterblog.net/2025/11/19/m...

Ukranian river restoration project during wartime wins major award The Bilyi River after the removal of an obsolete dam. Image: Danube-Carpathian Programme Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has brought death and destruction not only to towns and cities, but als…

🌊 "Even in the most challenging times, people can unite to let rivers flow freely again."

🐟 A river restoration project in Ukraine has been awarded the 2024 Dam Removal Award after successfully removing three dams and reconnecting 200km of rivers.

freshwaterblog.net/2025/11/04/u...

How to find grant funding for your freshwater restoration project Image: Cottonbro Studio | Pexels Creative Commons As the need to restore Europe’s freshwaters becomes ever more pressing, so too does the demand for funding to support ambitious restoration project…

🌊 As the need to restore Europe’s freshwaters becomes ever more pressing, so too does the demand for funding to support ambitious restoration projects.

🤝 A new @merlin-project.bsky.social publication guides you through the grant funding landscape.

freshwaterblog.net/2025/10/22/h...

In our next webinar, the EU-funded project @futurelakes.bsky.social will be introduced. This project builds upon MERLIN, adapting and refining many of the component building blocks needed to enable successful freshwater restoration.

📅 𝗡𝗼𝘃 𝟯, 𝟭𝟱:𝟬𝟬-𝟭𝟲:𝟬𝟬 𝗖𝗘𝗧
✍️ project-merlin.eu/webinars.html

How can water-friendly farming be mainstreamed in Europe? Image: May Peng | Pexels Creative Commons Freshwater protection and restoration should be at the heart of how farming is managed in Europe, according to new recommendations. Reshaping the Common Ag…

🌊 Freshwater protection and restoration should be at the heart of how farming is managed in Europe, according to @merlin-project.bsky.social

🚜 Reshaping the Common Agricultural Policy to support freshwater ecosystems through water-friendly farming is key

freshwaterblog.net/2025/10/08/h...

Cabinet of Freshwater Curiosities: Lake Titicaca ‘scrotum’ frog adapted to the high life Image: Petr Hamerník | Wikimedia Creative Commons If you’re a long-time follower of the Freshwater Blog, you might remember our Cabinet of Freshwater Curiosities project from more than a decade ago…

🐸 This month's entry into the Cabinet of Freshwater Curiosities is a real one-off!

freshwaterblog.net/2025/09/18/c...

Free online training on engaging people and policy-makers in freshwater restoration is launched Image: MERLIN A free new online learning module offers a wealth of information around bringing people and nature together in freshwater restoration. The module is part of the open-access Academy cr…

🐟 A free new online learning module offers a wealth of information around bringing people and nature together in freshwater restoration

🤝 The @merlin-project.bsky.social module introduces key ideas around stakeholder engagement and governance in freshwaters

freshwaterblog.net/2025/09/03/f...

Free online training on engaging people and policy-makers in freshwater restoration is launched Image: MERLIN A free new online learning module offers a wealth of information around bringing people and nature together in freshwater restoration. The module is part of the open-access Academy cr…

🐟 A free new online learning module offers a wealth of information around bringing people and nature together in freshwater restoration

🤝 The @merlin-project.bsky.social module introduces key ideas around stakeholder engagement and governance in freshwaters

freshwaterblog.net/2025/09/03/f...

MERLIN Podcast EP.12 – How nature-based solutions can support people and nature in freshwater restoration Image: Tom Fisk | Pexels Creative Commons Harnessing the potential of natural processes in freshwater restoration can create significant ecological, social and economic benefits, according to a maj…

🌊 The new @merlin-project.bsky.social podcast explores how nature-based solutions can help support people and nature through freshwater restoration

📻 Tune in here!

freshwaterblog.net/2025/08/22/m...

MERLIN Podcast EP.12 – How nature-based solutions can support people and nature in freshwater restoration Image: Tom Fisk | Pexels Creative Commons Harnessing the potential of natural processes in freshwater restoration can create significant ecological, social and economic benefits, according to a maj…

🌊 The new @merlin-project.bsky.social podcast explores how nature-based solutions can help support people and nature through freshwater restoration

📻 Tune in here!

freshwaterblog.net/2025/08/22/m...

Migratory freshwater fish working group launches key conservation initiatives Migratory fish populations have declined sharply in the last fifty years. Image: Petteri Hautamaa – WWF Finland | World Fish Migration Day /// A guest blog by Zeb Hogan and Monni Böhm What do Lake …

🐟 How do we best protect our migratory fish populations?

🐠 A group of experts got together recently to plan the route ahead for their global conservation and restoration.

freshwaterblog.net/2025/08/05/m...

Cabinet of Freshwater Curiosities: tiny freshwater insect is the ‘loudest animal on Earth’ The lesser water boatman: the “loudest animal on Earth”. Image: ExaVolt | Wikipedia Creative Commons If you’re a long-time follower of the Freshwater Blog, you might remember our Cabine…

🪲 Micronecta scholtzi is a common European freshwater insect that produces a peculiar courtship song by rubbing its penis along its abdomen.

🌊 The sound can reach an incredible 99.2 db... the same as a car horn, power tool or passing train!

freshwaterblog.net/2025/07/24/c...

Mapping the value of freshwater restoration Image: Sasa Peterkovic | Pexels Creative Commons We live in an age of ecosystem restoration. Across the world, communities and policy makers are seeking to help guide degraded or destroyed ecosyste…

🌊 Restoring freshwater biodiversity helps generate multiple benefits to people

🤝 A new @merlin-project.bsky.social study explores how freshwater restoration supports ecosystem services

freshwaterblog.net/2025/07/11/m...

🎙️ 𝗘𝗣.𝟭𝟭 – 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 is out now!

A nice piece in the @freshwaterblog.bsky.social on our recent #beaver study.

Nature-based solutions help support people and nature in freshwater restoration Nature-based solutions help boost natural processes to support both people and nature. Image: MERLIN Harnessing the potential of natural processes in freshwater restoration can create significant e…

🌊 Harnessing the potential of natural processes in freshwater restoration can create significant ecological, social and economic benefits, according to a major new @merlin-project.bsky.social report.

freshwaterblog.net/2025/06/25/n...

MERLIN Podcast EP.11 – Communicating why freshwater restoration is vital Restoring our natural ecosystems is a task that is never really finished: science progresses; governments change; technology advances; society shifts; funding pots appear and disappear. And all the…

📻 We hear from four inspirational young scientists from @merlin-project.bsky.social who are helping restore Europe’s freshwaters.

🌊 The thread that runs throughout is the need for good communication in fostering positive change for the future.

freshwaterblog.net/2025/05/26/m...

Beaver populations help boost insect biodiversity in streams Beavers are valuable ecosystem engineers. Image: Daniil Komov | Pexels Creative Commons Beavers create diverse new habitats in stream ecosystems which significantly boost biodiversity, according to…

🪲 Beavers create diverse new habitats in stream ecosystems which significantly boost biodiversity, according to a new study in Germany.

🌊 Beaver reintroduction can be a valuable nature-based solution, the authors suggest.

@danielheringude.bsky.social

freshwaterblog.net/2025/06/12/b...

MERLIN Podcast EP.11 – Communicating why freshwater restoration is vital Restoring our natural ecosystems is a task that is never really finished: science progresses; governments change; technology advances; society shifts; funding pots appear and disappear. And all the…

📻 We hear from four inspirational young scientists from @merlin-project.bsky.social who are helping restore Europe’s freshwaters.

🌊 The thread that runs throughout is the need for good communication in fostering positive change for the future.

freshwaterblog.net/2025/05/26/m...

Overcoming barriers and leveraging opportunities to scale up landscape‐scale restoration in Europe Stepping up ecosystem restoration is critical to achieving pressing policy targets, but as well as significant benefits, there are also multiple challenges particularly associated with restoring at l....

Short and sharp piece on the opportunities and challenges of landscape-scale restoration: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

It addresses five key topics related to scaling up restoration efforts in Europe:

👷‍♀️ implementation
👥 stakeholder engagement
📍local economies
💰 financing
🔎 monitoring

The latest #DamRemovalEurope report reveals that 2024 was another record-breaking year for dam removals, with 542 barriers removed across 23 European countries! Finland, France, and Spain led the way. Read more here: damremoval.eu/wp-content/u...

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰-𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 (PPPs) can play a vital role in scaling and financing Nature-based Solutions. In our new report, you can read how PPPs for the #SDGs work, and how to design and implement them for both SDGs and #NbS: project-merlin.eu/files/merlin...

Finance, monitoring and people: planning the ambitious restoration of Europe’s ecosystems Four EU restoration projects offer insights to help mainstream ecosystem restoration across Europe. Image: Björn Austmar Þórsson | Pexels Creative Commons Last year, Europe adopted an ambitious new…

🌿 Last year, Europe adopted an ambitious new law committing to restore its degraded ecosystems.

📄 Four major EU restoration projects offer advice for countries planning how to implement it.

🌊 Three key themes: financing, monitoring and people.

freshwaterblog.net/2025/05/09/f...

Finance, monitoring and people: planning the ambitious restoration of Europe’s ecosystems Four EU restoration projects offer insights to help mainstream ecosystem restoration across Europe. Image: Björn Austmar Þórsson | Pexels Creative Commons Last year, Europe adopted an ambitious new…

🌿 Last year, Europe adopted an ambitious new law committing to restore its degraded ecosystems.

📄 Four major EU restoration projects offer advice for countries planning how to implement it.

🌊 Three key themes: financing, monitoring and people.

freshwaterblog.net/2025/05/09/f...

Cabinet of Freshwater Curiosities: artistic riverine insects create colourful cases from unusual materials A caddis larvae case built from colourful artificial materials. Image: Gerhard Laukötter If you’re a long-time follower of the Freshwater Blog, you might remember our Cabinet of Freshwater Cu…

🌊 Today we revisit our Cabinet of Freshwater Curiosities series...

🦗 Find out about the amazing world of caddisfly cases made from an array of unusual and colourful materials.

freshwaterblog.net/2025/05/01/c...

Cabinet of Freshwater Curiosities: artistic riverine insects create colourful cases from unusual materials A caddis larvae case built from colourful artificial materials. Image: Gerhard Laukötter If you’re a long-time follower of the Freshwater Blog, you might remember our Cabinet of Freshwater Cu…

🌊 Today we revisit our Cabinet of Freshwater Curiosities series...

🦗 Find out about the amazing world of caddisfly cases made from an array of unusual and colourful materials.

freshwaterblog.net/2025/05/01/c...

Can private finance help support ambitious European freshwater restoration? A new publication highlights how private finance can help support freshwater restoration. Image: George Frewat | Pexels Creative Commons New sources of funding are needed to meet the needs a growin…

💸 New sources of funding are needed to meet the needs a growing ecosystem restoration movement in Europe, according to a newly published report by @merlin-project.bsky.social

freshwaterblog.net/2025/04/22/c...

🌊 In particular, ambitious restoration initiatives which help bring Europe’s freshwaters back to life require financial support from both private and public sources in order to fulfil their potential.

Can private finance help support ambitious European freshwater restoration? A new publication highlights how private finance can help support freshwater restoration. Image: George Frewat | Pexels Creative Commons New sources of funding are needed to meet the needs a growin…

💸 New sources of funding are needed to meet the needs a growing ecosystem restoration movement in Europe, according to a newly published report by @merlin-project.bsky.social

freshwaterblog.net/2025/04/22/c...

Can nature-based solutions help ‘green’ European economies? Wildflowers bloom on the banks of the Emscher River in Germany. Such nature-based solutions to ecosystem restoration can bring numerous benefits to both people and nature. Image: MERLIN As the ongo…

🌿 A new set of strategies explore how European economies could embrace nature-based solutions

🤝 The @merlin-project.bsky.social worked closely with agriculture, hydropower, insurance, peat extraction, navigation and water supply and sanitation sectors

freshwaterblog.net/2025/03/14/c...