Citizen Science Driving Change in Lake Restoration: Insights from FutureLakes

Citizen Science (CS) is proving to be a transformative force in lake restoration, empowering communities to actively contribute to research and policy through hands-on engagement. Within the FutureLakes project, citizen involvement becomes a catalyst for environmental awareness, shared responsibility, and data-driven decision-making. By linking people directly to the monitoring and restoration of lakes, CS helps bridge the gap between science and society—turning observation into collective action.

The FutureLakes Citizen Science Catalogue builds on the pillars of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” — reducing pollution, restoring biodiversity, and enhancing the blue economy — providing a structured tool to guide community participation across Europe’s Demo Basins. Based on solid scientific review of over 170 lake-related initiatives, the catalogue compiles 26 descriptors grouped under six main criteria, offering an innovative way to compare and select the most suitable CS scheme depending on local needs, resources, and maturity levels.
 
This structured approach ensures that engagement strategies remain adaptable yet evidence-based, supporting each basin’s ecological and social context. The catalogue helps practitioners identify initiatives that align with local priorities — from water quality monitoring to biodiversity restoration or blue-green economic opportunities — ensuring that every activity contributes meaningfully to sustainable lake governance.

Findings highlight that most existing CS efforts target pollution reduction, followed by biodiversity conservation, reflecting community concern for visible environmental issues. Yet, growing attention to the blue economy marks a promising shift toward circular and resilient lake management. FutureLakes demonstrates how well-designed Citizen Science tools can transform lake restoration into a shared societal mission — one where every observation counts toward a healthier, more resilient aquatic future