River Restoration and Biodiversity; Nature-based Solutions for Restoring the Rivers of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
Topics: How to do River Restoration, Habitat & Biodiversity, Nature-based Solutions, Flood & Drought management,
Regions: Greater Europe, Global, Published: 31-01-2020 , ISBN: 978-0-902701-16-18 , Authors: Stephen Addy, Susan Cooksley, Nikki Dodd, Kerry Waylen, Jenni Stockan, Anja BYg and Kirsty Holstead CREW reference: CRW2014/10
Well-planned river restoration may benefit physical habitat and biodiversity in the short term, but realising the full benefits takes longer particularly at large (catchment) scales. Restoration techniques that encourage natural processes and help rivers to recover by themselves are recommended.
The document provides the blueprint for how to move ahead with river restoration and nature based solutions.
The key messages are:
- Healthy rivers are important for people and nature, but much historic damage has caused serious problems that now need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
- River restoration is important for achieving biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
- Working with nature allows us to achieve many otherwise conflicting objectives.
- River restoration, working with natural processes and natural flood management, is a cost-effective response to changing climate.