Restoring mussel habitats to strengthen climate resilience in Germany

Key Learnings

• Restoring natural water bodies – well connected to their floodplain and with higher water retention rates in the catchments – supports technical flood protection measures, reduces drought risks, and has a strongly positive effect on nature conservation and quality of life.
• Cooperation: Broad stakeholder participation and a well-informed public are a prerequisite for successful measure implementation. This requires a combination of classic public relations with individual consultancy and close personal contact. The latter is especially time-consuming and depends on long-term continuity of projects.
• Species selection representative for an entire ecosystem: The freshwater pearl mussel is a good indicator of river health due to its sensitivity to habitat quality. Protecting this species requires restoring entire ecosystems, making it an effective way to address multiple environmental objectives and stakeholder interests.

Summary

Climate change is increasing the risk of droughts and severe flood events in Germany, a challenge further exacerbated by historic landscape modifications. These pressures have contributed to the dramatic decline of freshwater pearl mussel populations – sensitive species that act as indicators of healthy river ecosystems. Restoring these populations through a holistic approach not only supports biodiversity but also improves natural water regulation and climate resilience. This adaptation story demonstrates how habitat restoration, stakeholder collaboration, and creative public engagement can drive climate adaptation by enhancing ecosystem services and flood resilience. Communicating these broader benefits is key to building lasting support for nature-based solutions.

Contact

Dr. Marco Denic

Landschaftspflegeverband Passau e.V.

Dr.-Ernst-Derra-Straße 4

94036 Passau

E-Mail: marco [dot] deniclandkreis-passau [dot] de

Phone: +49 851 379 386 16