Let’s work with nature, and not against it!

The #MeetTheProCleanLakesTeam campaign aims to spotlight the people behind the ProCleanLakes project—researchers, innovators, and collaborators working across Europe to restore and protect our freshwater ecosystems. Through short interviews, we share personal insights, motivations, and the unique roles each team member plays in driving forward sustainable water management solutions.

Today, we are pleased to have Maja Ćuže Denona, Conservation Manager at the Public Institution Nature Park Vransko Jezero, with us as part of the #MeetTheProCleanLakesTeam campaign.

In this interview, Maja shares insights into her work, her role in ProCleanLakes, and the importance of protecting and restoring our valuable freshwater ecosystems.

ProCleanLakes Team: Dear Maja, welcome to the #MeetTheProCleanLakesTeam interview series. We are happy to have you with us today. Would you like to introduce yourself and tell us a little about your role in ProCleanLakes?

Maja: I am a biologist, managing the biggest Croatian natural shallow lake, that is also a protected area, Natura 2000 and Ramsar site of international importance, by conservation, maintenance and promotion of natural and cultural values. Vransko Lake serves as a monitoring site within the PCL project. Our extensive historical and current datasets are integral to assessing the impacts of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), providing valuable insights for ongoing and future conservation efforts.

ProCleanLakes Team: What excites you most about working on ProCleanLakes?

Maja: European lakes are increasingly impacted by climate change and human activities. I am eager to collaborate with an international team of scientists and experts to develop effective solutions for the eutrophication challenges facing my site.

ProCleanLakes Team: How does your work contribute to cleaner lakes and sustainable water management?

Maja: By actively engaging in learning and sharing proven solutions at demonstration sites, I contribute to advancing sustainable water management and enhancing the ecological status of the lake I manage. Facilitating knowledge exchange and promoting the replication of effective management practices among sites facing similar environmental challenges is essential for fostering collaborative progress and achieving cleaner, healthier aquatic ecosystems.

ProCleanLakes Team: What are the key challenges in the Vransko lake catchment ?

Maja: A key challenge, and opportunity, in our work is shifting traditional paradigms to collaborate with nature rather than oppose it. This approach enables us to enhance biodiversity while delivering valuable ecosystem services to local communities, making the work both rewarding and impactful.

ProCleanLakes Team:  What’s one thing you hope ProCleanLakes will achieve by the end?

Maja: I hope ProCleanLakes will inspire site managers across Europe by demonstrating practical, scalable solutions that can be readily adopted to restore and protect lakes, fostering a widespread positive impact on freshwater ecosystems.

We would like to sincerely thank Maja Ćuže Denona for this interview as part of the #MeetTheProCleanLakesTeam interview series.