Reconciling ecological goals and flood protection – is that even possible? Yes, it is possible and this is exactly where IRIS comes in.

By 2025, revitalisation measures will be implemented on various rivers in 8 pilot areas. The measures will improve the ecological quality of Austrian rivers while at the same time promoting flood protection. In a future-oriented planning process, IRIS develops sustainable, long-term strategies instead of short- term, small-scale ad hoc solutions.

Strategies and measures that combine ecological goals with flood protection are extremely important. This is because many Austrian rivers are currently not in good condition and not even half of the rivers currently fulfil the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive. In other European countries, too, many rivers are in a rather poor state and the decline in biodiversity is a major problem everywhere. Especially the heavy regulation of many rivers and the operation of power plants often result in ecological goals being overlooked.

The findings from the IRIS project are therefore not only important for Austria. They can also help to promote sustainable river management and healthy river landscapes for people and nature in other countries. The main aim of the IRIS Bulletin is to promote international exchange and knowledge transfer. By distributing the bulletin at international meetings and conferences, experts and river managers from all over Europe and beyond are informed about the findings of the IRIS project.