The 7th Exchange of Experience Workshop (EEW-7) of the INTERREG Europe RIWET project, is taking place on 18–19 March 2026 in Lake Kerkini and the Axios Delta in Greece.

The workshop will bring together nearly 30 representatives from 10 European countries to showcase good practices of how the Common Agricultural Policy and the CAP Strategic Plan can effectively support the protection, conservation, and restoration of wetlands, with a particular focus on the practical implementation of Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition 2 standard (GAEC 2) on peatland and wetland protection. Through field visits, knowledge exchange, and the presentation of good practices from major Greek wetlands, participants will engage with real examples that demonstrate how science, policy, and land and water management can work together to safeguard wetland ecosystems. These practices highlight not only their contribution to biodiversity conservation, water management, and the protection of carbon stocks, but also the importance of long-term collaboration between researchers, managing authorities, and producers.

The workshop is organised by the National Museum of Natural History Goulandris / Greek Biotope-Wetland Centre (NMNHG-EKBY), in the frame of the INTERREG Europe RIWET project “Public and Private Governance Partnership in the Conservation and Restoration of Rivers and Wetlands as Blue-Green Infrastructure”. It builds on the ongoing cooperation between NMNHG-EKBY and the Managing Authority of the CAP Strategic Plan, supporting stakeholders and promoting more sustainable and climate- and wetland resilient good practices for the implementation of GAEC 2 of the Greek CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

Invitation & Preliminary Agenda

More on the INTERREG Europe RIWET project

The 3rd Exchange of Experience Workshop of the INTERREG Europe RIWET project, took place in Valencia in March 2025 and our Valencian partners, the Diputacio de Valencia, LIMNE Foundation and fellow researchers presented to us good practices and lessons on good cooperation and flexible governance schemes that promote the active conservation and restoration of rivers and wetlands.

Cooperation among public services, environmental organizations and land users are key to holistic and continuous restoration efforts

In Valencia, land stewardship projects are widely applied for the Turia River in order to sustainably manage or restore parts of it. Under a land stewardship agreement, public entities like the Diputacio de Valencia and NGO like the LIMNE Foundation or private landowners or farmers, collaborate in order to perform sustainable management or restoration of natural resources with the active participation of local communities. A key example is the “Canya a Canya” project, a public-social partnership for river restoration taking place between LIMNE and the Consorci de La Ribera (Consortium of the River) for the joint management of the Júcar River through nature-based actions, with the participation of an impressive number of 13 municipalities aiming to create a green corridor along the Júcar River. Actions involve conservation and improvement through invasive species management, native vegetation recovery, removal of barriers, transformation of abandoned cultivation area to riverbanks, and margin stabilization. This initiative represents a good example of the necessity of multi-municipality participation in flood risk management and river restoration and cooperation with experienced environmental organizations in order to maximize ecological and societal benefits.

Local partnerships under flexible governance schemes appear also in Greece, with the Operational Groups formed in the context of the Common Agricultural Policy, which facilitate the cooperation among research, practice and the agricultural production for the development of solutions to agricultural challenges in rural areas. These two approaches, land stewardship projects in Valencia and collaborations under the SP CAP in Greece, have a lot to exchange!

Municipality Riba-roja de Túria supports funding for river restoration

Riba-roja de Túria’s Carbon Footprint Compensation Regulation funds environmental restoration by allocating a portion of public contracts to restoration projects. These projects support riverbank restoration and farmland recovery, ensuring continuous ecosystem management. This innovative approach integrates sustainability into municipal procurement, and presents an interesting case of a municipality initiative for funding environmental restoration.

Citizens taking care of river monitoring

“Rivers project” ran by LIMNE Foundation engages citizens in river monitoring using simplified tools and methods, enhancing environmental awareness and participation and supporting communities connect with freshwater ecosystems. This is a great initiative showing how environmental organizations could promote education and citizen engagement for river and wetland protection.

From rice paddies to wetland

The Municipality of Algemesí initiated the restoration of a wetland within rice paddies near the Albufera lagoon, creating the Samaruc lagoon to support the endemic Samaruc fish. Initially met with scepticism, local farmers gradually embraced the project and saw its benefits, as the wetland became a “biodiversity island” enhancing the regional ecosystem.

Wetlands offer agricultural benefits, such as supporting biodiversity and sequestering carbon, services for which they are to be preserved according to commitments of the Strategic Plan of CAP policy in Greece. The successful example of the Samaruc lagoon demonstrates the importance of bold actions for restoration, especially under the new Nature Restoration Law.

The Greek Biotope-Wetland Centre of the National History Museum Goulandris and the Management Authority of the Greek Strategic Plan of CAP 2023-2027, are working together in the context of the RIWET INTERREG Europe project, to further specify the implementation of the new Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition 2 (GAEC 2) which calls for the protection of wetlands and peatlands in agricultural land as carbon sinks.

On the 19th of March, a technical meeting was organized successfully with researchers from agricultural institutes and universities, during which expert opinion and agricultural practices compatible with wetland and peatland protection were exchanged. In total, 22 participants attended the meeting, including representatives from various services of the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food, which are involved in the GAEC 2 development and implementation.

This represented an initial effort to network experts and public services with the scope of highlighting best practices for wetland protection in agriculture. Next meetings of the project will aim to network farmers, scientists and NGOs, with the scope to inform and raise their awareness on the protection of wetlands in agriculture as well as stimulate discussions on challenges faced in the policy, governance and practitioners’ level.

The 1st Greek Local Event of the project “Wetland4Change – Wetland-based Solutions for Adaptation, Risk Prevention, and Climate Change Mitigation” of the INTERREG EuropeMed cross-border program was successfully held on Tuesday, November 5th, at the premises of Kinimatotheatro of the Municipality of Irakleia. The event aimed to inform attendees about the goals, actions, and expected outcomes of the project, as well as to initiate a dialogue with stakeholders involved in the conservation, management, and promotion of wetland resources and in the design and implementation of adaptation and mitigation measures for climate change.

The event was organized by the Goulandris Natural History Museum/Greek Biotope-Wetland Centre (GNHM-EKBY) in collaboration with the Municipality of Irakleia, the Regional Unit of Serres, and the Special Management Service of the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027. Over 50 participants attended from various services of the Municipality of Irakleia (Department of Environment and Green, Technical Service, Civil Protection Service, Department of Tourism, Social Protection), the Regional Unit of Serres (Subdirectorate of Technical Works, Civil Protection), the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia-Thrace (Water Directorate, Directorate of Rural Affairs, Directorate of Environment and Spatial Planning), Management Unit of Protected Areas of Central Macedonia-NECCA, the Property Service of Serres, the Greek Buffalo Breeders Association, farmers, ecotourism professionals. Teachers, and students from primary and secondary schools in the area also attended.

In the first part of the event, the GNHM-EKBY presented the project and its actions with emphasis on the ecosystem services of carbon storage and mitigation of floods impacts that are provided by wetlands, and highlighted the need for the adoption of nature-based solutions and measures for the conservation and restoration of wetlands.

The second part of the event focused on dialogue and the exchange of opinions on the following thematic areas: a) Prospects and challenges for projects related to nature-based water retention and wetland restoration, b) Measures and provisions for wetlands in the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027 (CAP Strategic Plan), and c) Prospects and challenges for wetland promotion and tourism.

Overall, the multi-dimensional value of Kerkini Lake and of the wetlands of the Strymon River catchment for climate change, was highlighted. The need for flood protection was recognized as a major issue, with a general consensus that wetland conservation and restoration should be promoted as a nature-based solution alongside flood control infrastructure. Special mention was made on the conservation and restoration of old riverbeds, as well as on the need for the implementation of mountainous water management projects.

In the thematic section on mandatory measures for wetlands in the CAP Strategic Plan (i.e. wetlands as carbon sinks, water bodies, and landscape elements), it became clear that further and more targeted information for farmers is required, in collaboration with the relevant services of the Municipality and the Region. The need for restoration of wetland areas around Kerkini Lake was also emphasized, as well as their potential use for grazing, particularly of buffaloes, with mutual benefits for the National Park and buffalo breeders, as grazing in wetlands is considered a compatible agricultural use for carbon storage.

In the third thematic discussion, the recreational value of Kerkini Lake and the wider area was emphasized, both for the local residents and visitors from Greece and abroad. The tourism services provided focusing largely on Kerkini Lake, depend directly and crucially on the preservation of biodiversity and the landscape, as well as on the conservation and restoration of smaller wetlands within the Strymon catchment, as they, together with Kerkini Lake, form a valuable network supporting wildlife. Furthermore, special tourist groups, such as birdwatchers, researchers, wildlife photographers, and others, have expressed particular interest in projects that promote the conservation and restoration of wetlands and nature in general.

Finally, through the discussion, it was pointed out that ambiguities regarding the legal protection of wetlands complicate the work of services in the planning and monitoring of conservation and restoration measures.

The fruitful dialogue and exchange of opinions at this 1st Local Event of the project, set the basis for the development of collaborations and synergies for better planning and taking-up of wetland-based solutions to address the climate crisis. The 2nd Local Event on the progress of the project will take place in June 2025.

The “Atlas of the Hellenic Flora”, the most important work on the flora of Greece of the 21st century, the work of Arne Strid, a leading and dedicated botanist engaged in the study of the flora of our country for almost 60 years, has been published. Arne Strid collaborates with the botanical department of the GNHM and two of his works have been published by the Museum: “Plants of Olympus” and “Wild Flowers of Greece”, the latter embellished with paintings by N. Goulandris.

This enormous work (both in scientific value and size: 3 volumes, 2131 pages) is dedicated to two real ladies and pioneers of the Goulandris Natural History Museum: Niki Goulandris, founder of the Museum, and the most important Greek botanical collector Elli Stamatiadou, who was the heart and soul of the Botanical Department of the Museum for years.

Specifically, on the dedications page, Strid mentions: “To Niki Goulandris and Elli Stamatiadou for their outstanding contribution to Greek botany”.

In addition, the Herbarium of the Goulandris Natural History Museum (internationally registered with the acronym ATH) is mentioned among the major botanical collections on which this work was based.

About Mrs. Elli, as her close ones and associates used to call her, he writes: “The late Elli Stamatiadou of the Goulandris Natural History Museum was the most important botanical collector of the period 1967-2005, with multiple discoveries to her credit. Her numerous, carefully prepared, and annotated specimens (stored in the ATH Herbarium) remain an important source of data for future studies of the Greek flora. I always fondly remember our outings together”.

Arne closes the introduction of his book: “I hope this Atlas will provide a basis for future studies of the Greek biodiversity, and a means of repaying a part of my debt to this great country.” His debt has certainly been repaid to the fullest and more; now it is upon those who work with the environment of our unique country to continue his legacy.

LIFE RENATA “Roadmap for the alignment of EMERALD network establishment and management to NATURA 2000 standards in Moldova” is a project co-financed by the European Union, LIFE Programme, aiming at supporting the Republic of Moldova in advancing the establishment and management of the Emerald Network of protected sites and to move closer to the EU standards for the conservation of habitats and species, by providing support in legal, technical and operational level.

The project started in February 2024 and is expected to be completed in two (2) years.

Adaptation to climate change impacts constitutes a key challenge in the Euro-Med territory, an area with high vulnerability in drought and flood events. Wetlands stand as allies in our efforts towards climate change mitigation and adaptation. Their good condition entails the provision of significant benefits and services to both nature and people. Thus, it is vital to quantify their benefits and services, and communicate them to decision-makers and practitioners in order to improve take-up and rollout conservation and restoration measures.

The new launched INTERREG Euro-MED project “Wetlands-based solutions for climate change adaptation, risk prevention and mitigation – Wetland4change” focuses on two crucial regulating services of wetlands: carbon sequestration and flood regulation. Carbon sequestration is a wetland ecosystem service that contributes to mitigating the impacts of greenhouse gases from climate change, as wetlands contribute to their absorption from the atmosphere, while flood regulation is a critical ecosystem service of wetlands that contributes to the mitigation of impacts of floods and increase our resilience in future extreme rainfall events.

For this, Wetland4Change aims to test and validate transferable solutions in 5 Mediterranean countries, based on wetland conservation and restoration measures and good practices, in order to accelerate the capacities of wetland managers and of policy makers to cope with the climate change impacts at local and transnational level as well. The project is carried out by the Faculty of Ecology and Landscape Architecture of the Forestry University in Bulgaria (leader), the Goulandris Natural History Museum / Greek Biotope – Wetland Centre in Greece, the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology of the University of Valencia in Spain, the Tour du Valat Research Institute in France, the Mediterranean Sea and Coast Foundation (MedSEA) in Italy, and the European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis of the University of Malaga (ETC-UMA) in Spain.

The Goulandris Natural History Museum / Greek Biotope – Wetland Centre will address three policy levels through its associated partners: the Municipality of Irakleia, the Regional Unit of Serres, and the Managing Authority of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027 of Greece. Lake Kerkini, one of the 10 Greek Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance, along with more than 80 smaller wetlands in the broader catchment area of the Strymon River, represents the case study for Greece. The role of wetland ecosystems in flood regulation and carbon sequestration will be tested and validated. Particularly for the latter, technical and governance aspects will be explored as regards the implementation of the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition for wetland protection (GAEC 2), of the new CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, in close collaboration with its Managing Authority. Based on the results, a comprehensive plan of wetland-based solutions and best practices will be proposed, which can be adopted by competent authorities leveraging the significant services offered by wetlands in the region.

The project kick off meeting took place on April 3 and 4, 2024, in Sofia, Bulgaria, attended by researchers from GNHM/EKBY and representatives from the Municipality of Irakleia and the Regional Unit of Serres, on behalf of Greek participation. Participants had the opportunity to present their study area and discuss methodologies and data to be used in the project’s subsequent phases. The project will last for three years, with all results expected by September 2026.