Lakes, rivers and wetlands are among the world’s most threatened ecosystems. Restoring them is essential for protecting aquatic life, improving water quality and building ecosystems that can withstand growing pressures.

That’s why FERRO will be presented at COP17, the UN Biodiversity Conference, taking place in Yerevan, Armenia, between 19-30 October 2026. The conference brings together governments, scientists, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, businesses and other stakeholders to review progress on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and step up efforts to meet its targets by 2030.

FERRO’s work speaks directly to two of those targets: restoring degraded ecosystems and reducing pollution to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity. The project develops and tests lake restoration approaches that tackle nutrient pollution and eutrophication at the source. Rather than treating nutrients only as a problem, FERRO recovers them as resources that can be reused as agricultural fertilisers, while helping freshwater ecosystems recover naturally. 

By combining scientific research, innovative restoration technologies and collaboration across regions, FERRO is turning research into practical solutions for healthier lakes. 

Our project partner, Karsten Rinke (UFZ), will present the project at COP17 on 26 October in the Blue Zone, and on 28 October in the Green Zone, which is open to the public.  Bringing FERRO to COP17 is an opportunity to connect research with policy and practice, and to share knowledge that can help reverse freshwater degradation and support biodiversity recovery. 

Read more about FERRO’s freshwater restoration efforts at its Demonstration sites.