SEMIDE contributes to the FutureLakes discussion on financing lake restoration

How can we measure the success of lake restoration, and how can we secure the investment needed to restore these vital ecosystems?

A recent episode of the FutureLakes Podcast, featured by The Freshwater Blog, explores these questions, bringing together scientific and economic perspectives on the future of Europe’s lakes. The episode looks beyond traditional environmental indicators to consider the wider benefits of healthy lakes, including biodiversity, recreation, livelihoods, carbon and economic value.

SEMIDE’s environmental economist Najla Kamergi contributes to the discussion by exploring the concept of lake “bankability” and the role that economic valuation can play in mobilising finance for restoration. Her contribution also raises an important question: how can we put an economic value on nature while ensuring that its broader environmental and societal values are not overlooked?

The episode is part of the FutureLakes project, an EU-funded initiative working to develop innovative approaches to lake restoration, combining nature-based solutions, biodiversity, circular economy approaches, governance and sustainable financing.

🎧 Listen to the episode: What’s a lake worth? Measuring success and funding the future of lake restoration — The Freshwater Blog, 27 August 2026.