GM10.2 | Geomorphic, ecological & hydrological riverscape restoration and management in a changing climate
EDI
Geomorphic, ecological & hydrological riverscape restoration and management in a changing climate
Co-organized by BG8/HS13
Convener: Lina Polvi Sjöberg | Co-conveners: Richard Mason, Alan Puttock, Gemma Harvey

The United Nations has designated the 2020s as the decade of ecosystem restoration. In addition to existing regulations from the Water Framework Directive, the EU has recently adopted a nature restoration regulation aiming to restore 20% of EUs degraded ecosystems by 2030. Restoration of streams, rivers and their catchments is particularly important, as these are amongst the most threatened habitats globally, impacted by a cascade of pressures, including direct modification, catchment landuse, and climate change. Furthermore, restoration of riverscapes and their catchments are becoming increasingly important to dampen the effects of altered hydroclimatic regimes, yet more challenging to restore a moving target with altered flow and sediment regimes and habitat conditions. Our scientific understanding of riverscape restoration is challenged by the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of river processes and the lack of long-term, large-scale monitoring. In this session we wish to highlight a broad range of research that moves our understanding of riverscape management forward, in particular novel studies focusing on building river resilience to a changing climate. We also encourage submissions focused on any aspect of river management from different disciplines, including geomorphology, hydrology, and ecology. We hope to initiate discussion among an interdisciplinary group of researchers of how to take into account a changing climatic baseline in future river restoration and evaluation of restoration success.

The United Nations has designated the 2020s as the decade of ecosystem restoration. In addition to existing regulations from the Water Framework Directive, the EU has recently adopted a nature restoration regulation aiming to restore 20% of EUs degraded ecosystems by 2030. Restoration of streams, rivers and their catchments is particularly important, as these are amongst the most threatened habitats globally, impacted by a cascade of pressures, including direct modification, catchment landuse, and climate change. Furthermore, restoration of riverscapes and their catchments are becoming increasingly important to dampen the effects of altered hydroclimatic regimes, yet more challenging to restore a moving target with altered flow and sediment regimes and habitat conditions. Our scientific understanding of riverscape restoration is challenged by the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of river processes and the lack of long-term, large-scale monitoring. In this session we wish to highlight a broad range of research that moves our understanding of riverscape management forward, in particular novel studies focusing on building river resilience to a changing climate. We also encourage submissions focused on any aspect of river management from different disciplines, including geomorphology, hydrology, and ecology. We hope to initiate discussion among an interdisciplinary group of researchers of how to take into account a changing climatic baseline in future river restoration and evaluation of restoration success.