We invite you to the 3rd International Conference “Resilient Oder – River Ecosystem Restoration in Light of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR),” which will take place in Wrocław on the Oder River on June 9th, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please save the date in your calendars. A detailed program and registration form will be available soon.
The ecological disaster on the Oder in 2022, which led to mass fish kills and a serious disruption of the river ecosystem, has become one of the most serious warning signs regarding the condition of major rivers in Central Europe. It demonstrated how vulnerable transformed and weakened river systems are, and how urgent the need is for measures to increase their resilience to environmental pressures, climate change and unpredictable ecological events.
In June 2024, the European Union adopted the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), which introduces the EU’s first-ever legally binding targets for the restoration of degraded ecosystems. This is a response to the alarming state of Europe’s natural environment – currently over 80% of habitats are in poor condition, and the ongoing degradation of ecosystems affects not only biodiversity but also environmental and economic security. The NRR introduces legally binding nature restoration targets, including the restoration of the functioning of rivers, wetlands and other key ecosystems, to reverse this trend and increase the resilience of the environment.
In this context, the Oder River serves as a particularly important example of a river where the implementation of the regulation’s objectives – such as restoring natural processes, improving water quality and rebuilding biodiversity – could be crucial to preventing similar crises in the future. At the same time, for many institutions, local authorities and river users, the question remains as to what the implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation means in practice and what specific actions it may bring about at the level of river basins and rivers. The discussion on the Oder therefore provides a good opportunity to take a closer look – to understand the challenges, opportunities and directions of change that may shape the future of this river in the coming years.
The ‘A Resilient Oder ’ conference is an international Polish-Czech-German event focusing on the Oder, featuring invited guests from the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany, as well as from European Union institutions. This is the third edition of the conference, held every two years. The meeting provides a space for the exchange of information, debate and joint planning of actions for the River Oder from a cross-border perspective.
In 2026, the conference will focus on practical measures aimed at restoring the natural potential of the Oder Valley and river basin, and strengthening the resilience of the Oder ecosystem to climate change (including droughts and floods). We are focusing primarily on the role of free-flowing rivers as a prerequisite for the restoration of the natural environment and improved safety. The conference also aims to build bridges between scientists, professionals, decision-makers and civil society through the exchange of good practices, the identification of obstacles, and the identification of priorities and directions for international cooperation between Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany.
The conference will take place on 9th of June 2026, from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. The programme includes, among other things:
Challenges facing the Oder ecosystem – the latest report from the Leibniz Institute for Aquatic Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) on the state of the Oder following the environmental disaster.
What are free-flowing rivers – why are they important for nature restoration in Europe, and when can a river or a section of a river be considered free-flowing under the Nature Restoration Law? What measures – apart from removing barriers – are needed to achieve this goal?
Work on national nature restoration plans in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic and what this means for the Odra river basin – current progress on the National Nature Restoration Plans, prospects and challenges for their implementation in the Oder river basin
Free-flowing rivers in European policy – synergies between the Nature Restoration Regulation and other EU instruments, and the challenges of international cooperation in the Oder river basin.
Examples of good practices relevant to the planning and implementation of NRR objectives for rivers – from planning to on-the-ground implementation
The conference will conclude with a discussion involving experts on the questions: How to translate the regulation into real-world restoration on the ground? How to foster the involvement and acceptance of local communities for free-flowing rivers in the context of the challenge of restoring Europe’s natural resources?
Representatives of institutions and organisations involved in nature conservation, water management, spatial planning and climate change adaptation from the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany will be invited to attend. We expect experts, water managers, planners, local government officials, naturalists, water users, civil society organisations and activists to take part in the debate.
Simultaneous translation will be provided at the conference in the following languages: Polish / Czech / German.
The conference is organized by the EkoRozwoju Foundation in cooperation with the association Arnika from the Czech Republic and BUND from Germany, with funding from the project “Strengthening international cooperation and civil participation in the protection of the Oder River”, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUKN) as part of the EURENI (European Environment Initiative) program.
