Advancing action: engaging stakeholders for catchment-scale impact

How do you turn landowners into champions for river and wetland restoration? This was the challenge addressed in Helsinki, Finland this May, where project partners and experts from Estonia, Latvia, Sweden and Finland gathered to share updates, exchange strategies, and step into the field together as part of the Interreg Baltic Catchment Officer Project (BaltCOP).

Organized by the WWF Baltic Sea Programme and supported by WWF Finland, the in-person workshop focused on one of the most important, but often most complex, aspects of restoration: how to engage landowners and stakeholders to initiate action. Catchment-based restoration is essential for tackling nutrient runoff and improving water quality because it addresses problems across the entire river system – not just isolated parts. The BaltCOP project ultimately aims to develop and scale the catchment approach to accelerate restoration efforts and help create a healthier Baltic Sea. 

The workshop marked a key milestone in the three-year, EU-funded project as it approaches the end of its first full year of implementation. It offered an important opportunity to reflect, strengthen collaboration and to learn from WWF Finland’s extensive experience in engaging landowners at catchment level. Although not an official project partner, WWF Finland’s involvement is instrumental in bridging beyond BaltCOP’s core network, bringing in valuable external expertise to broaden the project’s reach and impact.

Strengthening impact through shared experience

Day 1 brought together around 20 participants for a full-day programme of presentations, discussions, and breakout sessions. Focused deep dives into communications, policy and finance sharpened tools and approaches across the project. Key discussions focused on: identifying who the target landowners are and what motivates them, how to best structure and develop a toolkit for catchment officers, how to strengthen national and regional advocacy for the catchment officer model, and ways to improve budgeting and reporting practices. 

Partner updates set the stage for shared learning. A number of exciting project activities from the first half of 2025 were highlighted:  

• LBTU hosted a national stakeholder meeting to define the catchment officer role in Latvia and also developing a digital tool for constructed wetland calculations and began monitoring in the pilot site.
• PDF organized two successful stakeholder events in Latvia, including a World Wetlands Day celebration for the general public and produced extensive wetland-related communication materials.
• ELF arranged an informative stakeholder meeting for Estonian landowners, officials and environmental experts, and advanced planning and technical design for one of three pilot sites. 
• NVVF produced a brochure on the catchment officer approach in Sweden, began work on a holistic catchment management plan and started planning for video production about the pilot sites.
• WWF Baltic Sea Programme, as project lead, focused on project management, partner support and producing communications guidelines and materials for national and regional use.

Learning from the Finnish experience

Key to the knowledge-sharing was WWF Finland’s valuable lessons from over a decade of wetland restoration. Since 2008, WWF Finland has implemented more than 60 water retention sites, and in more recent years have utilized a catchment-level approach grounded in local relationships and strong networks. 

Their grassroots approach focuses on co-designing solutions with landowners, often sparked by issues like flooding or an interest in hunting. According to Conservation Officer Viivi Kaasonen, even small wetlands – while limited in water quality impact – have proven to serve as visible examples that inspire others to act. Word-of-mouth and personal relationships have been more effective than formal outreach, showing that locally grounded, flexible support is key to scaling restoration. One thing was clear, however: building trust takes time. 

In the field: restoration in practice

The second day of the workshop took participants to two river catchments in Western Uusimaa, about an hour outside of Helsinki. The field visit offered a close-up look at real-world examples of wetland construction and stream restoration in the Siuntionjoki and Inkoonjoki river systems.

In the Siuntionjoki river catchment, the group toured the Billskogbäcken two-stage channel – one of Finland’s longest, stretching around four kilometers. The two-stage design helps slow water flow, reduce erosion, and improve biodiversity.

In the Inkoonjoki catchment, the group visited two restored wetlands – and had the opportunity to speak with the local landowner behind the initiative. When asked to share his perspective on engaging landowners, he emphasized the importance of contacting advisory services to reach the right people, especially those farmers open to try new things. In some cases, he noted, restoring a wetland makes more economic sense than continuing to farm the land – pointing to the importance of framing restoration not just as environmental, but practical.

Looking ahead

As BaltCOP enters its second year, activities are clearly ramping up. The workshop in Helsinki was more than just another check-in – it marked a step forward in how the project partners work together and with others. 

“Workshops and field trips like these are possibly the most important part of a project like BaltCOP. It is when we meet in person that we truly start exchanging knowledge and begin to actually understand each others’ challenges,” says Mats Johansson, BaltCOP Programme Manager from WWF Baltic Sea Programme. 

By sharing practical strategies for landowner engagement and learning from WWF Finland’s long-standing experience, the project sharpened its collective approach. The workshop also reinforced the value of trust and collaboration – not just with landowners, but across borders, roles and organizations – to turn a few pilot activities into lasting impact.

About the BaltCOP project: