INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

HORIZON EUROPE

Restore4Life

Restoration of wetland complexes as life supporting systems in the Danube Basin - Restore4Life

About the project

More than 70% of wetlands in the Danube basin have been lost, and the remaining wetlands are threatened by human activities. In this context, Restore4Life aims to demonstrate the multiple socio-economic benefits of comprehensive wetland and floodplain restoration in the Danube basin. The project develops blue-green infrastructure that enhances the region’s resilience to climate change and supports its mitigation. Project implementation includes restoration at four sites and monitoring at six additional sites, demonstrating how the improvement of key ecosystem services (water retention, pollution reduction, carbon sequestration, tourism, and habitat protection) creates socio-economic synergies and fosters sustainable development.

Objectives

Project activities are focused on re-establishing lateral connectivity in river corridors, which is crucial for establishing ecological balance. The Restore4Life Wetland Reconstruction Accelerator is also being developed, a tool for timely, integrated floodplain management at new levels of societal engagement. To define tailored and advanced objectives and techniques, as well as comprehensive restoration plans, the accelerator uses tested indicators, advanced monitoring, and decision support systems.

Citizens and local communities are engaged through a knowledge-sharing platform, citizen science initiatives, and mobile applications, strengthening their connection with aquatic ecosystems. The project also offers business-adapted handbooks and restoration plans that enable the efficient replication of restoration activities in the region.

Watch the project film

Consortium

The project is led by the University of Bucharest, in cooperation with 30 institutions from 14 European countries: Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, Greece, and Slovakia. Each partner brings their unique expertise to the consortium to achieve the project’s goals.