Background The project area around the river Enns (district of Liezen, Styria, Austria) covers a total area of 4 177 ha and consists of three Natura 2000 sites featuring a number of important habitats and species. The Enns meanders from one side of the river valley to the other, which has led to the development of valley bogs and alluvial forests along the river course. Between 1863 and 1879, considerable regulation measures were carried out, cutting off most of the oxbows. As a consequence, numerous back waters slowly deteriorated. Today, the residual back waters with alluvial forests and Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior, as well as the numerous straw meadows with Phragmition, Magnocaricion or Molinion communities that have developed in the former riverbed sections, are counted among the most valuable habitats for rare and endangered animal and plant species. However, flood control measures and the subsequent deepening of the riverbed resulted in the disconnection of the river from the adjacent landscape and its tributary brooks, the decrease of alluvial forests and the loss of the river’s dynamic development processes. As a result of succession, degradation and/or lowering of the groundwater table, many of the habitats developed through the formerly dynamic flow of the Enns are endangered. Objectives The main objective of the project is to reduce the threats to the area around the river Enns by introducing through regulatory measures on valuable habitats in the river valley. Specifically, the project aims to: Secure remaining “Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa und Fraxinus excelsior“through re-connection to the river dynamic; Develop new alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior through the transformation of allochthonous forests and the development of alluvial habitat types on agricultural land through integration of these areas into the river dynamics; and Improve the conditions of remaining peat land habitats and orchid meadows in the river valley. Other endangered habitats and species will profit from these actions: natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type vegetation, included in Annex I of the Habitats Directive; the Annex II Habitats Directive-listed species otter (Lutra lutra), lamprey (Eudontomyzon spp.) and European bullhead (Cottus gobio); and the Annex I Birds Directive listed kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), grey-faced woodpecker (Picus canus), black stork (Ciconia nigra) and little crake (Porzana parva). Other endangered species expected to benefit include the common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius) and grayling (Thymallus thymallus). Reconnecting the alluvial zones with the dynamics of the Enns river will also restore and enhance aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial habitats and restore typical river-morphological structures. Expected results • Development of new alluvial forests and ecological enhancement/securing of existing vegetation typical of floodplains on 18.7 ha; • Establishment of side-channels (branches) to initiate characteristic side-channel structures on 2 120 m; • Riverbed widening to initiate dynamic river processes on 600 m; • Partial removal of bank protections to initiate dynamic river processes on 590 m; • Restoration of tributary brooks and the establishment of river continuum on 860 m; • Establishment/enhancement of floodplain pools to improve the environment for amphibians on 11 km² of land; • Enlargement of the Natura 2000 area by 3.4 ha; • The organisation of a national LIFE platform; and • Dissemination activities to raise public awareness about Natura 2000 and the importance of dynamic river flows and alluvial habitats: these will include a regularly updated website, project leaflets, press conferences, information boards and a 20-minute film.