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Securing biodiversity, functional integrity and ecosystem services in DRYing rivER networks

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

New strategies to map, study and manage drying rivers

Rivers are among the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems but also the most threatened by human activities. For instance, more than half of the world’s river networks are running dry. The EU-funded DRYvER project will collect, analyse and model data from nine case studies in Europe and South America. It will create a novel global meta-system approach that incorporates hydrology, ecology, biogeochemistry and socio-economics. Bringing together a multidisciplinary team of experts, the project will develop strategies to mitigate climate change effects on drying river networks and aid their adaptation mechanisms, defining new tools and guidelines. The findings will contribute to meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming.

Objective

River networks are among Earth’s most threatened hot-spots of biodiversity and provide key ecosystem services (e.g. supply drinking water and food, climate regulation) essential to sustaining human well-being. Climate change and increased human water use are causing more rivers and streams to dry, with devastating impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Currently, over half the global river network consist of drying channels and these are expanding dramatically. However, drying river networks (DRNs) have received little attention from scientists and policy makers, and the public is unaware of their importance. Consequently, there is no effective integrated biodiversity conservation or ecosystem management strategy of DRNs facing climate change.
A multidisciplinary team of 25 experts from 11 countries in Europe, South America, China and the USA will build on EU efforts to investigate how climate change, through changes in flow regimes and water use, has cascading impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services of DRNs. DRYvER (DRYing riVER networks) will gather and upscale empirical and modelling data from nine focal DRNs (case studies) in the EU and CELAC to develop a meta-system framework applicable to Europe and worldwide. It will also generate crucial knowledge-based strategies, tools and guidelines for cost-effective adaptive management of DRNs. Working closely with stakeholders and end-users, DRYvER will co-develop strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change effects in DRNs, integrating hydrological, ecological (including nature-based solutions), socio-economic and policy perspectives. The end results of DRYvER will contribute to reaching the objectives of the Paris Agreement and place Europe at the forefront of research on climate change.

Fields of science

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Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

H2020-LC-CLA-2018-2019-2020

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Sub call

H2020-LC-CLA-2019-2

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT
Net EU contribution
€ 1 193 230,00
Address
147 rue de l'universite
75007 Paris
France

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Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (24)

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Last update: 28 August 2023

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/869226

European Union, 2023