Background The aquatic coastal areas’ management plan of Natura 2000 sites in Cantabria highlights the main risk factors for good conservation status of habitats and species of Community interest in estuaries, and the physical processes that guarantee the ecosystem to develop. As with other estuaries in the EU, an important aspect of these factors are hydromorphological alterations. These can be derived from productive uses (e.g. dykes for agroforestry use); and educational uses (e.g. ethnographic use of tidal mills). The alteration of tidal inundation regimes and the changes in the sedimentary characteristics derived from these pressures favour the spread of invasive alien species (e.g. Baccharis halimifolia), a new threat for biodiversity. Objectives The CONVIVE-LIFE project’s general objective is to improve the conservation status of habitats and species of Community interest by restoring ecological and hydrodynamic functioning. Specifically, the project aims to: Reduce direct pressure on biological diversity, by improving the conservation status of vulnerable estuarine habitats and species of Community interest; Promote the sustainable development of educational, cultural and leisure activities in estuarine systems; Improve estuarine ecological restoration in the Atlantic biogeographical region by promoting a participative planning approach, knowledge management and the dissemination of results; and Improve the conservation status of estuarine marine birds and habitats across the Natura 2000 coastal area of Cantabria, through the design and drafting of an inundation management plan on coastal lagoons (both natural and anthropic). Expected results: Restoration of a favourable conservation status of the coastal salt meadows’ habitats (currently not favourable) across the Natura 2000 sites of Cantabria. The elimination of the invasive alien plant Baccharis halimifolia in Tina Menor, the Capitán estuary, Joyel estuary and Victoria lagoon will allow the marsh areas to be restored and potential habitat for species of the salt meadows habitats to be developed; Improvement of the conservation status of sandbanks’ habitats, mudflats or sand flats not covered with water in low tide, annual pioneering vegetation with Salicornia; and other species from muddy and sandy areas, and grasslands of Spartina; Improvement of the conservation status of marine birds and habitats, placing emphasis on spatula (Platalea leucorodia), grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and purple heron (Ardea purpurea) through the elimination of pressures and the design of a water level management plan; Update of the Community interest species inventory in the Natura 2000 sites in the coastal area of Cantabria that are not integrated and completion of the declaration forms; Restoration of connectivity in the Oyambre estuary site, by removing the dyke that currently restrains tidal flow; and Improvement in the connectivity of the Joyel estuary site, while protecting the Santa Olaja mill.