MERLIN collaborates with local communities, key economic sectors, local water and nature conservation authorities and policy makers to co-develop strategies and win-win solutions for mainstreaming freshwater restoration and the use of Nature-based Solutions (NbS). By mainstreaming we mean normalising NbS from being a niche topic present only in the ecological conservation domain into other domains, establishing them as a broad societal norm. The aim is for NbS to be used, discussed and performed not only by environmental professionals but by a wide range of actors including the public, businesses and politics.

To achieve this, different channels and participation formats must be used to engage with the various actors and learn of their status-quo, their needs and inform them about opportunities and potentials of incorporating nature restoration and NbS into their thinking. In MERLIN this included publishing policy briefs and co-developing mainstreaming strategies with Communities of Practice with individuals and organisations from six key economic sectors (Agriculture, Hydropower, Insurance, Navigation, Peat Extraction, Water Supply and Sanitation), as well as outreach activities to the broader public, through infographics or in-person events.