The Torne River International Watershed LIFE

Introduction

TRIWA LIFE is a Swedish-Finnish effort to improve the conditions of riverine ecosystems in the whole international catchment area of River Torne NATURA 2000 site (40,157 km²). The main rivers are among the largest free-flowing rivers of Europe. The overall aim is to improve conservation status for species and habitats of the Habitats Directive and reach good ecological status according to the WFD.

Objectives and Actions

This will be achieved through an ecosystem approach with these specific objectives and connected actions:

1. Restore River Habitats
   Restore 103 hectares of 3210 and 3260 river habitats historically channelized for floating timber, to a natural-like status with a particular purpose to improve their quality as habitats of target species:

   • Freshwater pearl mussel (1029)
   • Atlantic salmon (1106)
   • Otter (1355)
   • Bullhead (6965)
   • Green snaketail (1037)
     The hydromorphological parameters of the WFD will reach good status.

2. Enhance Ecological Connectivity
   Enhance ecological connectivity of target habitats and populations of target species living in the Torne River Natura 2000 area by removing 399 anthropogenic migration barriers along more than 3,366 km of tributary river and stream continuum. This will help reach good status for the WFD connectivity parameter and create a blue infrastructure of significant scale. TRIWA LIFE alone will reach more than 13% of the EU target that at least 25,000 km of rivers will be restored into free-flowing rivers by 2030.

3. Improve Water Quality and Hydrological Regime
   Improve water quality and hydrological regime through catchment restoration work in 2,521 hectares of wetland that was historically ditched for forestry use and from plugging 262 leaking ditches.

4. Minimise Negative Impact
   Minimise negative impact of the project actions by developing a Greener Best Practice for restoration projects, reducing GHG emissions by at least 63% compared to baseline, and collaborating with other large actors on Green Public Procurement to accelerate green transition in the region.

Contribution to Policy

TRIWA contributes to the intervention area "Space for Nature" and the policy priorities 1 and 2.