MERLIN restoration Case Study Assessments

The MERLIN impact monitoring results reported by the 18 case studies for the 13 EU Green Deal criteria were subjected to an aggregated assessment. Additionally, the case studies anticipated impacts aligned with the Nature-based Solution (NbS) objectives by applying a Theory of Change (ToC). Together, the ToC and monitoring constitute integral components of a broader adaptive management strategy that is essential for effective NbS implementation.

The table below presents the monitoring results (visualized by Smiley faces) in relation to the restoration impacts anticipated in the ToCs of the individual case studies. The background colour of the cells corresponds to the Theory of Change categories:

• dark blue indicates a primary restoration goal
• medium blue a secondary goal
• light blue a restoration co-benefit
• white denotes not relevant

Case Study 18 did not provide any information on the Theory of Change.

Note: More information regarding the study sites is provided in Annex 1 of MERLIN Deliverable D1.6 "Manuscript and policy briefing evaluating success of large landscape-scale restoration". For case studies reporting data for a given criterion for more than one implementation site, the respective sites are denoted by lower case letters:

1. Emscher basin-scale DE (CS11)
2. Emscher Lake Phoenix DE (CS11)
3. Emscher flood-basins DE (CS11)
4. Emscher mouth DE (CS11)
5. Riparian buffer strips BE (CS16)
6. Zwalm restoration BE (CS16)

• Read more about the scoring of the monitoring results including an explanation of the Smiley faces
• An example of application of the monitoring results is provided based on the Tisza floodplain rewetting demonstration case study, with interactions across the EU Green Deal Criteria inferred from the results.