Living European Rivers (LER) Initiative

This document outlines the Living European Rivers initiative, a long-term strategy developed by the World Wide Fund for Nature to transform water management across Europe in response to severe degradation of freshwater ecosystems and rapid biodiversity decline. European rivers face pressures from hydrological alterations, pollution, invasive species and water abstraction, which have significantly reduced freshwater species populations. The initiative seeks to halt this trend by protecting remaining healthy rivers and wetlands, restoring damaged ecosystems and strengthening integrated river basin management. Key implementation approaches include reinforcing the Water Framework Directive, redirecting financial investment towards nature-based solutions, removing barriers such as dams, and increasing public engagement and stakeholder collaboration to enhance climate adaptation, biodiversity recovery and sustainable water governance across Europe.