{"id":391325,"date":"2025-12-08T12:48:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T11:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/?p=391325"},"modified":"2025-12-08T16:28:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T15:28:10","slug":"policy-brief-tackling-policy-dilemmas-for-wetland-restoration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/publication\/policy-brief-tackling-policy-dilemmas-for-wetland-restoration\/","title":{"rendered":"Policy brief: tackling policy dilemmas for wetland restoration\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

As Europe accelerates efforts to restore wetlands and riverine ecosystems in line with biodiversity and climate goals, several complex policy dilemmas are emerging. This policy brief explores the key tensions and outlines governance approaches to support effective and inclusive restoration. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

Header photo: Danube Delta by Ivanica Monica from Getty Images <\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n

The EU biodiversity and climate regulations call for a significant scaling up of wetland restoration across the EU. While restoration offers significant long-term benefits for biodiversity, climate resilience, and ecosystem services, its implementation often confronts conflicting objectives embedded in existing legal, financial, and sectoral frameworks. In this policy brief, we discuss dilemmas such as tensions between species protection goals and dynamic ecosystem processes, trade-offs between carbon-focused rewetting and biodiversity needs, and mismatches between restoration incentives and agricultural subsidies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n

Policy options <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

Addressing these dilemmas is essential to ensure restoration efforts are effective, scalable, and socially acceptable. In the policy brief, we propose a few policy option to address these challenges: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n