European coastal wetlands datasets and their use in decision-support tools for policy restoration objectives

Ecosystem restoration is a paramount policy priority for this decade, with ambitious global and European targets requiring unprecedented levels of data-driven implementation. Achieving effective and equitable restoration, particularly for coastal wetlands, hinges on spatially explicit socio-ecological information - maps that integrate habitats, ecosystem services, human activities, and pressures to guide prioritization, stakeholder negotiation, and adaptive management. This study, grounded in the RESTORE4Cs initiative, introduces an innovative multi-layered dataset that bridges science and policy for six emblematic European coastal wetlands: Ria de Aveiro (Portugal), Valencian Wetlands (Spain), Camargue (France), Southwest Dutch Delta (Netherlands), Curonian Lagoon (Lithuania), and the Danube Delta (Romania). The dataset consolidates ecological mapping (EUNIS 2021, 2022), human activity and pressure documentation (aligned with EU Habitats Directive, Water Framework Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive), comprehensive ecosystem services mapping (CICES v5.1), alongside robust participatory community and stakeholder data. Altogether, the database encapsulates 97 habitat records, 23,160 activity-pressure associations, and 1,668 ecosystem service records—enabling robust cross-regional analyses and direct integration into evidence-based decision support tools. By illustrating practical pathways for participatory engagement, trade-off negotiation, and cross-scale integration, this research equips scientists, policymakers, practitioners, and communities with the scientific foundation to propel the Nature Restoration Regulation and Biodiversity Strategy 2030 objectives, fortifying Europe’s climate adaptation trajectory. The approach showcased signals a new era for restoration science – where spatially explicit, multi-actor data supports policy, mobilizes citizen stewardship, and accelerates the transformative ambitions of Europe’s restoration decade.