Rivers and river spaces have become landscape elements with an ever widening spectrum of functions. They do not only fulfil drainage and ecological functions, but are also of high meaning for people as economical, social and recreational resources, i.e. as general living spaces.
Since 1991 the Swiss Federal Law on Hydraulic Engineering explicitly calls for combining all flood security measures with ecological revalorisations, i.e. restorations of the river spaces. Of such restoration projects large and numerous ones are currently carried out or are planned for the near future throughout Switzerland and Europe. But as experience has proven, they are often highly conflictual. The loss of economically used land accompanied by such restorations, the threatened status quo in the aesthetic and ecological quality of the locals' recreational and overall living space and the prevalent top-down planning in this field often arouse resistance. Therefore, suitable participation and communication strategies are key elements for the successful realization of restoration projects.