Floodplain biodiversity and restauration 2: integrated natural science and socio-economic approaches to catchment flow management

Objective

Problems to be solved
This proposal seeks to contribute to enhancement of the ecological quality of riparian ecosystems in Europe through the development of water allocation guidelines. It will achieve this by combining expertise in the natural and social sciences to investigate the flow needs of riparian species, floodplain vegetation impacts on water levels, and institutional structures for decision making in river basin flow management.
Scientific objectives and approach
The research involves four linked objectives:
Objective l: To develop scientific guidelines for the application of river flow prescriptions which benefit floodplain ecosystems while maintaining acceptable levels of flood control.
Objective 2: To quantify aspects of the relationships between hydrological inputs to a floodplain and plant response measured in terms of water consumption, growth and the diversity of regeneration strategies.
Objective 3: To investigate the flow resistance associated with woody riparian vegetation using field studies and mathematical modelling.
Objective 4: To investigate and compare the effectiveness of selected institutional arrangements for restoring floodplain environments at different spatial scales and in different national/local settings.
Expected impacts
It is expected that the research will contribute to the development of water management practices that are sensitive to the ecological needs of riparian ecosystems. This will be assisted by the production of a manual of best practice based on natural science information. Some of this information will be generated within the project. In addition, the project will assess the institutional capacity to resolve problems of environmental degradation (particularly in floodplain environments), while respecting the diverse demands on water use, in the context of the Water Framework Directive.

Programme(s)

• FP5-EESD - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Energy, environment and sustainable development, 1998-2002"

Topic(s)

• 1.1.4.-1. - Key action Sustainable Management and Quality of Water

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

University of Cambridge

Address

Downing Place
CB2 3EN Cambridge
United Kingdom

Participants (4)

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE

France

Address

29 Rue J. Marvig
31055 Toulouse

 

UNIVERSITE JOSEPH FOURIER - GRENOBLE 1

France

Address

2233,Rue De La Piscine 2233 Domaine Universitaire
38041 Grenoble

 

UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE

Canada

Address

4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, Alberta
T1K 3M4 Lethbridge - Alberta

 

UNIVERSITY OF UMEAA

Sweden

Address

Uminova Science Park
901 87 Umeaa