From Public Policies to Projects

"This chapter examines how a new paradigm has emerged in the form of public policies that aim to restore quality or “renature” rivers. The shift from a utilitarian approach to the river to a more ecological one has taken more than 50 years and includes different aspects, from flood and pollution control to river barrier removal, and riverbed and habitat restoration. Our aim is to observe how these public policies are implemented worldwide by means of local restoration projects, in order to assess the real impact of the paradigm shift. To what extent can certain levers be decisive in making river restoration possible? With this in mind, we examine the factors (regulatory frameworks, funding mechanisms, and governance systems) that form the framework of the project, from its inception to its realization or rejection. These factors vary depending on the country and condition the implementation of an operation. Although these factors are fundamental, they do not explain why some projects are carried out and others not. Our last step is to analyze, by means of case studies, the underlying reasons for accepting or rejecting restoration projects. Acceptance and consensus lie at the very center of the success of the new paradigm." (source editeur)