Restoring Oceans and Waters in European Regions

ROWER delivers place-based and people-centred Restoration solutions across 13 case study areas in all Lighthouse basins. We combine a practitioner-led innovative Blueprint for Restoration actions, a Digital Twin built from existing EU assets and a Scalability Plan to turn proven Restoration and Protection methods into operational decisions for authorities. By the project end, 15 research organisations will, in close cooperation with 18 competent authorities and management organisations as project-partners, and engaging with >200 stakeholders, test and validate Restoration in >5,000 km² of marine, coastal, estuarine and riparian systems; publish the Blueprint; run ≥15 Digital Twin simulations; analyse ≥10 scalability scenarios, and produce >50 FAIR datasets and services. Authorities will be able to use the Digital Twin to screen options, compare cost effectiveness, stress test climate risks and generate evidence for WFD/MSFD reporting and permitting. Citizen science and living labs support monitoring and uptake. A Long-Term Sustainability and Governance Framework links results to investment pathways (LIFE, ERDF, regional funds and blended finance) for durable deployment. The outcomes are more coherent Protection and Restoration, increased ecosystem services and replication across 12 NUTS 2 regions and beyond.