The human side of ecosystem restoration: Identifying community engagement strategies that support the long-term success of European wetland restoration projects

Abstract: European wetlands are highly valuable ecosystems, and their rapid decline renders them a priority for ecosystem restoration efforts. Although successful ecosystem restoration requires the engagement of local communities, little is known about effective community engagement strategies in European wetland restoration projects. By interviewing restoration practitioners, this research explored community engagement strategies used by nine successfully completed EU LIFE-funded wetland restoration projects across eight European countries. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis, guided by a literature-based interdisciplinary set of community engagement principles. The analysis led to the formation of a new conceptual framework for community engagement in European wetland restoration projects, which groups the identified community engagement strategies into six themes: (i) connect with the local community by creating networks, partnerships, personal relationships, ensuring visible leadership, and early and broad stakeholder involvement; (ii) empower the local community by creating a common vision, creating structures for representation and participation, managing power dynamics, and facilitating bottom-up initiatives; (iii) learn from and teach to the local community by adapting to the local context, exchanging knowledge, and building capacity and resources; (iv) integrate restoration activities into the local community by creating locally relevant benefits and local events; (v) demonstrate the success of restoration activities and use focal species for restoration; and (vi) persist in the local community by creating successor projects and committing to long-term collaboration with the local community. Moreover, using the perspectives of restoration practitioners, this research identified the community engagement strategies which were considered most important in supporting the long-term success of European wetland restoration projects. Using theoretical underpinnings, these may build resilience in the social-ecological wetland systems. Overall, these findings may guide practitioners and policymakers to enhance the long-term success of future wetland restoration efforts in Europe and possibly beyond, for the benefit of the planet and its people.