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Basic Evaluation Units and Physical Structural Integrality in Riparian Zone Evaluation
Published in Yeqiao Wang, Wetlands and Habitats, 2020
Bolin Fu, Yeqiao Wang, Ying Li
Riparian zones are narrow strips of land located along the banks of rivers, streams, and water networks. Riparian zones are widely acknowledged as an ecological transition zone of material and energy exchange between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (USDI Bureau of Land Management. Riparian Area Management, 1998; Tang et al., 2014). Riparian zones can provide a range of ecosystem functions and services, for example, bank stabilization and protection, water purification, reservoirs of biodiversity, wetland products, as well as recreation and tourism (Bennett & Simon, 2004; Ghermandi, et al., 2009; Hruby, 2009). Riparian zones are also a focus of human activities, such as urban expansion, agriculture, mining, grazing, erosion, and point- and non-point-source pollutions (Dixon et al., 2006; Ivits et al., 2009; Ranalli & Macalady, 2010). It is essential that riparian zones are managed appropriately to avoid degradation and damage that have become increasingly evident (Munné et al., 2003; Jansen et al., 2005; Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China, 2010; Chen et al., 2012; Fernández et al., 2014).
Forest Management Impacts on Undrained Peatlands in North America
Published in Carl C. Trettin, Martin F. Jurgensen, David F. Grigal, Margaret R. Gale, John K. Jeglum, Northern Forested Wetlands, 2018
The occurrence of streams and lakes within peatlands presents special management considerations, just as they do in mineral soil systems and upland forests. In most undrained peatlands, there is not a dense drainage system, and in fact often there is not a well-defined channel or watershed boundary. Streams flowing through such peatlands and lakes occurring within watershed boundaries should receive special attention by managers. Jeglum and Kennington (1993) recommend a “terrain-adapted” strip-cut approach for black spruce management that allows for irregular strips to be left along streams, lakes, wetlands, and other landscape features as desired by managers. Protection of such riparian zones along streams and lakes can benefit fish and wildlife and aquatic ecosystems in general. Furthermore, such practices are being required as parts of Best Management Practices adopted by many states, aimed at reducing loading of sediment, nutrient, and other pollutants into water bodies.
Water, ecosystems, and biodiversity
Published in François Guerquin, Ahmed Tarek, Mi Hua, Tetsuya Ikeda, Vedat Özbilen, Marlies Schuttelaar, World Water actions, 2010
François Guerquin, Ahmed Tarek, Mi Hua, Tetsuya Ikeda, Vedat Özbilen, Marlies Schuttelaar
Recommendation of the Second World Water Forum. To achieve a sustainable society that cares for its resources, the Second World Water Forum proposed a fundamentally new approach to using, developing, and conserving water resources— participatory ecosystem-based catchment management. This approach requires that we “learn to care” about our water world. The Vision for Water and Nature (IUCN 2000, p. 20) explains the meaning of participatory ecosystem-based catchment management: The interdependencies between land, water and segments of human society require NGOs, governments, local groups, private companies and donors, in consultation with stakeholders, to jointly develop and implement an ecosystem-based catchment management approach in order to sustainably manage water resources. The augmenting pressure of increasing water demand and resulting conflicts, together with the greater variability and uncertainty in global environmental and hydroclimatological conditions, underlines the urgency of establishing such an approach. The notion of participatory ecosystem-based catchment management incorporates the opportunities and limitations provided by ecosystems, societies and economies, rather than relying on conventional single-use, top-down planning and management. In terms of nature conservation, this approach promotes the protection and rehabilitation of upper catchments, rivers, lakes, groundwater reserves, riparian zones, wetlands, floodplains, and coastal areas.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in riparian soils of the middle reach of Huaihe River: A typical coal mining area in China
Published in Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal, 2023
Zijiao Yuan, Shenghui Shi, Xiaoguo Wu, Qing Wang, Shanshan Wang, Zhijian Fan
Riparian zones refer to various aquatic-terrestrial transition areas such as river banks, lakeshores, and coasts. As a buffer area between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, it has many important environmental functions such as water purification by intercepting and controlling various pollutants in the surface runoff, water and soil conservation, restoration of aquatic ecosystems, flood storage, and drought prevention (Liu et al. 2016; Pavlovic et al. 2016). Meanwhile, the riparian zone is an open system and may be easily affected by anthropogenic activities upstream or on adjacent uplands. Most of the intercepted contaminants can be degraded or removed through bioaccumulation and transformation, but some pollutants cannot be biodegraded and may remain in the riparian zone for a long time, causing deleterious effects to the riparian ecosystem.
Using native fish in eco-genotoxic assessment of heavy metal contamination pollution arising from nearby large Brazilian rivers
Published in Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 2023
Carine de Mendonça Francisco, Luiz Alfredo Pavanin, Sandra Morelli, João Vitor M. Bravo, Boscolli Barbosa Pereira
The integrated analysis results between biological and physicochemical indicators followed by spatial assessment enabled us to understand the effects of contamination in the studied areas. As illustrated at Figure 3, agricultural land-use determined environmental impacts including pollution of water sources and reduction of the riparian forest. In addition, agricultural land-use promoted ecotoxicity and genotoxicity in native species. In particular, areas largely occupied by agriculture (with fragmented preservation) exhibited higher levels of Cu contaminations in water and, inversely, geographic regions more preserved presented lower levels of Cu contamination within water sources (Figure 3; Table 4). Therefore, it was postulated that the combination of unsustainable agricultural practices and lower levels of vegetation preserved nearby water sources and hence reinforcing the need to support environmental legislation effectively. The degradation of riparian forests associated with intensive agriculture activities resulted in high surface runoff, soil erosion, and reduced sediment trapping, inputting pollutants into the aquatic ecosystem (Matono et al. 2019).
Influences of a debris flow disaster chain on buildings in remote rural areas, Southwest China
Published in Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, 2022
Lu Zeng, Yonggang Ge, Jiangang Chen, Fenghuan Su, Huayong Chen, Wanyu Zhao, Guangwu Si
Forested riparian buffers along rivers can dissipate flood energy, reduce flood velocity, change flow direction, and enhance bank stability. Vegetation zones along a river can reduce the risk of flood erosion and alter the energy of floods horizontally and vertically, as shown in Figure 9. Revetment engineering increases the safety of vegetation zones, and the collocation of plants enhances the landscape effect of vegetation zones. Riparian vegetation zones can disperse the water flow and regulate the kinetic energy of floods, thus reducing the direct impact force of floods on buildings. They may also intercept driftwood and stones carried by floods, reduce discharge through trees and prevent direct impacts to buildings. Figure 8(d) shows that a large number of trees were distributed in area VI, and the trees’ blockage effect was very prominent in the flood disaster. Six buildings were distributed in the area before the disaster, while after the disaster, two buildings within the protection range of the vegetation zone were not damaged. However, the buildings that were not protected by the vegetation zone were severely damaged, and the upstream faces of the buildings were badly damaged via both foundation erosion and wall collapse. A highway located between the river and a village can not only alter the flood direction but also mitigate flood scouring and erosion. Once the highway subgrade is damaged, the buildings located in the upstream area are directly impacted by the flood scouring effect and by the impact effect of objects carried by the flood.