River ecosystems throughout Europe have been severely impacted by engineering projects for flood protection, navigation, water supply and hydroelectricity. It is estimated that less than 20% of Europe’s rivers and floodplains are in their natural state and many species have been lost. The role of river restoration, often promoting ‘soft’ engineering solutions, as a tool to reserve some of the problems associated with damage to these ecosystems has grown considerably in recent decades, particularly at the local level. The aim of river restoration is to re-establish self-sustaining environments and to restore complete ecosystems. Applying sustainable river restoration serves both the Habitats Directive and the Water Framework Directive at several levels. River restoration at the local level aims to create and improve habitat conditions for key species; at regional level supports the Natura 2000 network; and across Europe can improve the entire ecological status of river basins. River restoration can also assist with adaptation to climate change by strengthening ecological networks and providing climate space. River restoration activities also play a crucial role in developing best practice approaches for flood risk management, especially through flood storage, serving the interests of the EU Floods Directive (2007/60/EC). The overall river restoration effort is hindered, however, not by a lack of expertise at the local level but by a lack of opportunities for sharing best practice and knowledge. Addressing this gap in knowledge transfer is the main aim of the RESTORE project.