The Economics of Restoration

River restoration creates jobs while healing ecosystems. Removing dams employs construction workers. Monitoring programs hire recent graduates. Eco-tourism provides sustainable livelihoods. The economics favor restoration over continued degradation.

In the Dordogne Valley, river restoration created 500 jobs while boosting tourism revenue 30%. Former factory workers retrained as river guides. Unemployed youth found work removing invasive species. The lesson: environmental protection and economic development align when done thoughtfully.

"Green jobs are real jobs," emphasizes union leader Michel Dupont. "My members once worked in polluting industries. Now they restore what those industries damaged. Same skills, better purpose. Healing rivers heals communities."