Difference between revisions of "How does my river work?"

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[[File:Base_structure_wiki_box_1.PNG|thumb|400px|right|How does my river work?]]
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[[File:Base_structure_wiki_box_1.PNG|thumb|400px|right|link=What's_in_this_wiki?|What's in this wiki? Click image to return to the overview of river basin management plan.]]
  
To systematically know how your river works is of great importance for achieving success in river restoration and should be the first step in the restoration process. This type of information is rather timeless as it describes the nature of your river system, which can be used in any future river basin management plan.<br />
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Knowing how a river works is essential for achieving success in river restoration. It should be the first step in any restoration process, and the basis for any future river basin management plan. Important aspects are hydromorphology (river characterization), the role of vegetation, and ecosystem services.<br />
 
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For "How your river works?" three main sections are important, namely:<br />
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* Ecosystem structure
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* Ecosystem functioning
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* Ecosystem services
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=== Ecosystem structure ===
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=== [[:Category:River_Characterisation|Hydromorphology]] ===
Describing the ecosystem structure, or the characterisation of your river system, is the basic requirement for effective restoration. We developed the [[:Category:River_Characterisation|Multi-scale Hierarchical Framework]] for systematically describing your river and catchment. We give an overview of the method and show example cases studies in which the framework is applied.<br />
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Systematic hydromorphological characterization of a river helps in understanding how rivers respond to pressures and measures at different scales in time and space. REFORM developed [[Introduction_to_characterisation:_Multi-scale_Hierarchical_Framework|multi-scale hierarchical framework]] for this. We give an overview of the method and show example case studies in which the framework is applied.<br />
 
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=== Ecosystem functioning ===
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=== [[Role_of_vegetation|Role of vegetation]] ===
In addition to the ecosystem structure, the "Ecosystem functioning" is important. REFORM focuses on the influence that hydromorphology has on plant and animal habitat. This section focuses especially on the reciprocal relation of hydromorphology and water plants. Understanding this relation is a major factor in the success or failure of restoration projects.<br />
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Vegetation does not just depend on hydromorphology. It influences hydromorphology too and plays an active role in shaping a river. This section focuses on the reciprocal relations between hydromorphology and vegetation. Understanding these relations can be a major factor in the success or failure of restoration projects.<br />
 
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=== Ecosystem services ===
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=== [[:Category:Ecosystem_Services|Ecosystem services]] ===
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A river forms an ecosystem that can be made suitable for many human uses. We call these uses “ecosystem services” as they are provided by the ecosystem. This section describes REFORM's results to valuate the services in a river system so we can assess the effects of river restoration on the services provided.
 
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Latest revision as of 13:03, 18 December 2018

What's in this wiki? Click image to return to the overview of river basin management plan.

Knowing how a river works is essential for achieving success in river restoration. It should be the first step in any restoration process, and the basis for any future river basin management plan. Important aspects are hydromorphology (river characterization), the role of vegetation, and ecosystem services.

Hydromorphology

Systematic hydromorphological characterization of a river helps in understanding how rivers respond to pressures and measures at different scales in time and space. REFORM developed a multi-scale hierarchical framework for this. We give an overview of the method and show example case studies in which the framework is applied.

Role of vegetation

Vegetation does not just depend on hydromorphology. It influences hydromorphology too and plays an active role in shaping a river. This section focuses on the reciprocal relations between hydromorphology and vegetation. Understanding these relations can be a major factor in the success or failure of restoration projects.

Ecosystem services

A river forms an ecosystem that can be made suitable for many human uses. We call these uses “ecosystem services” as they are provided by the ecosystem. This section describes REFORM's results to valuate the services in a river system so we can assess the effects of river restoration on the services provided.