update Updated
category Biodiversity preservation EURO-INBO News
The 22nd International EURO-INBO Conference, to be held in Parma (Italy) from 19 to 23 May 2025, will devote its session 5 to a central issue for the future of aquatic ecosystems: restoring the free flow of rivers, in direct connection with the objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the European strategy for biodiversity by 2030.
The aim is ambitious: to restore at least 25,000 km of rivers by 2030, in particular by removing obsolete obstacles, reconnecting rivers to their floodplains and rehabilitating wetlands. A free-flowing river, with no artificial barriers, plays a fundamental role in longitudinal connectivity (upstream-downstream), lateral connectivity (with riparian environments), vertical connectivity (between surface and groundwater) and temporal connectivity (seasonal dynamics).
Yet 34% of surface water bodies in Europe are still affected by hydromorphological pressures. There are many technical, social and economic challenges involved in implementing ecological restoration: identifying the obstacles to be prioritised, managing the risk of flooding, preserving local heritage, and maintaining essential infrastructure (shipping, energy, etc.).
Session 5 will highlight best practices, technical tools and participatory mechanisms for restoring ecological continuity while respecting human uses. Particular attention will be paid to the synergies between the WFD and the future European regulation on nature restoration, two complementary legislative frameworks based on monitoring, data collection and multi-actor cooperation (local authorities, Member States, businesses, scientists and citizens).
By encouraging the reconnection of rivers to their natural dynamics, these actions will help to improve the quality of aquatic habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and achieve the objectives of good ecological status set by the WFD.
As a reminder, EURO-INBO 2025 will be held at the invitation of the Po Basin Authority and the Municipality of Parma, and in partnership with the French Office for Biodiversity.