Empowering Romania’s New Generation of Floodplain Restorers
On March 28, 2026, nearly 70 educators and conservationists united at the Balta Mică a Brăilei Natural Park to transform Horizon Europe research into local action, by merging cutting-edge digital tools with hands-on field experience.
A diverse audience of teachers, museologists, NGO representatives, cultural associations, educators, and representatives of the Danube Delta Biosphere Administration, from across Galați, Brăila, and Tulcea united with a shared purpose: to breathe life back into the Danube’s vital ecosystems. By bridging the gap between cutting-edge European research and the heart of the classroom, this collaboration transformed data into inspiration.
Through the synergy of Dr. Gabriela Costea (IGB Berlin), Digital Toolbox developer, and Prof. Mihaela Grecu, lead coordinator for biology teachers, this capacity-building workshop exemplified effective collaboration between formal education structures and research-driven innovation within Horizon Europe projects.
The workshop took place in the Natural Park Balta Mică a Brăilei, where participants were introduced to the educational tool, part of a broader web platform for floodplain and wetland restoration, and actively engaged in testing three educational protocols:
- Digital Mapping of a wetland area – participants mapped the boat route and georeferenced different environmental features using smartphones.
- Carbon Sequestration in floodplain forests – participants measured tree parameters and assessed the role of floodplains in carbon storage and climate mitigation.
- People and Aquatic Ecosystems – participants identified and analysed human pressures and explored sustainable ecosystem management solutions.
These activities took place both during the boat-based fieldwork and in workshop sessions, creating a strong connection between theory and real-world observation. The practical dimension was highly appreciated by participants, who emphasised that the toolbox directly supports one of the key challenges in contemporary education: shifting from knowledge transmission to the development of competencies.
The combination of inquiry-based learning, digital tools, and field experience was seen as particularly valuable for fostering critical thinking, environmental awareness, and active engagement. Some key highlights from the workshop:
- Train-the-Trainer Model: Local ambassadors (teachers, specialists, and students) were prepared via online sessions, such as the “Map Your Wetland” Zoom training, conducted by authors, Prof. Snežana Radulović and Prof. Nusret Dresković from the University of Sarajevo, to lead small-group activities during the event.
- Community of Practice: This cascading knowledge approach built a local network dedicated to aquatic restoration.
- Continuous Improvement: Participants will test the protocols in their own fields and provide feedback to refine the toolbox.
The workshop demonstrated the strong potential of the Living Floodplains Toolbox as an innovative educational framework that translates wetland science into engaging, field-based learning experiences. By combining scientific knowledge, participatory methods, and local capacity building, the initiative contributes to strengthening both environmental education and community involvement in floodplain restoration.
