Background Efforts to preserve the Nationalpark Gesäuse date back to the beginning of the 20th century. The area is now classified as a category II national park, in line with the criteria of the IUCN. The project area focussed on 10 300 ha, encompassing two Natura 2000 sites, and home to an impressive 25 habitats of European importance. Seven of the 25 are listed as priority habitats in the EU Habitats Directive. One such habitat, "Bushes with dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo) and Rhododendron hirsutum", accounts for around 14% of the project area alone. Some 16 bird species listed on Annex I of the Bird's Directive are resident in the area. Brown bears (Ursus actor) have also been observed regularly, albeit in small numbers, since 2003. The Gesäuse and its adjacent areas have the potential to be an important trans-regional corridor for large migrating species. Major threats to the habitats and species in the area stem from regulation of water courses, intensive forestry practices, tourism, traffic and abandonment or intensified use of mountain pastures. Objectives The project aimed to improve the natural habitats surrounding the River Enns and the Johnsbach brook by encouraging the establishment of an ecologically functioning wetland along the water courses and their main tributaries. Species that would benefit from restoration of the river habitats included otter (Lutra lutra), Ukrainian brook lamprey (Eudontomyzon mariae), bullhead (Cottus gobio) and common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). The project also aimed to take important first steps towards the long-term goal of converting the forest from spruce dominated, monoculture forests to natural mixed forests. To preserve mountain pastures and species, such as black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) and yellow bellied toad (Bombina variegata), the project planned to regulate grazing intensity and access to drinking water on mountain pastures in the project area. Overall, the restoration activities would lead to greater connectivity and complexity of the landscape. All activities would be supported by public relations activities, including information panels and brochures. Specially trained wardens would provide visitors with guidance and information on the habitats and wider landscape. Results The project achieved and even exceeded its foreseen targets. It created a new estuary where the River Palten flows into the River Enns. Typical riverine structures such as gravel banks, bank erosion areas and piles of deadwood are developing. Bank reinforcement structures were removed on 500 m of the River Enns. Moreover, a large pond for amphibians was created that is completely cut-off from both rivers to prevent the immigration of fishes. Common frogs (Rana temporaria) and European toads (Bufo bufo) breed here. Ongoing erosion processes as well as flooding will continually modify this project site. The River Johnsbach, a tributary to the River Enns, was restored on a stretch of several kilometres. Here, bank reinforcement structures were removed by the project and the mouth of the river has been ecologically improved. These measures now enable fish migration along the river and the newly developed gravel banks are important habitats for the common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos). Moreover, 306 ha of mainly spruce dominated forests have been converted into natural forests and provide important habitats for endangered species such as black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), Eurasian pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum) and the Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina). Finally, the project carried out a very good publicity programme that resulted in several articles being published in the press and the organisation of a series of events. In addition, a thematic trail with interactive information facilities was created along the River Johnsbach. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section)