Executive summary
The Restore4Life Wetland Educational Program establishes the Wet-Edu Tool, an innovative, research-based framework designed to enhance water literacy and community engagement in wetland and floodplain restoration. Aligned with the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters,” this open-access initiative translates complex scientific data into interactive learning experiences across the Danube Basin and broader European regions. Co-created by scientists, educators, and students, the program contains a mapped repository of over 160 European educational projects alongside ten newly designed learning units structured around the inquiry-based 5E instructional model. Brought to life via the interactive online dashboard “Living Floodplains,” the platform consolidates these components into a responsive, gamified digital interface. To ensure long-term regional impact, the project incorporates multi-language translations, educator workshops, and the Floodplain Functions Innovators Contest for schools. Ultimately, the Wet-Edu Program serves as a scalable model for environmental education, combining science and art to empower citizens to actively support sustainable ecosystem stewardship.
