Riparian Buffers as a Critical Landscape Feature: Insights for Riverscape Conservation and Policy Renovations
Riparian zones are critical for functional integrity of riverscapes and conservation of riverscape biodiversity. The synergism of intermediate flood-induced disturbances, moist microclimates, constant nutrient influx, high productivity, and resource heterogeneity make riparian zones disproportionate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/3/172 |
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| author | Michael P. Graziano Amanda K. Deguire Thilina D. Surasinghe |
| author_facet | Michael P. Graziano Amanda K. Deguire Thilina D. Surasinghe |
| author_sort | Michael P. Graziano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Riparian zones are critical for functional integrity of riverscapes and conservation of riverscape biodiversity. The synergism of intermediate flood-induced disturbances, moist microclimates, constant nutrient influx, high productivity, and resource heterogeneity make riparian zones disproportionately rich in biodiversity. Riparian vegetation intercepts surface-runoff, filters pollutants, and supplies woody debris as well as coarse particulate organic matter (e.g., leaf litter) to the stream channel. Riparian zones provide critical habitat and climatic refugia for wildlife. Numerous conservation applications have been implemented for riparian-buffer conservation. Although fixed-width buffers have been widely applied as a conservation measure, the effectiveness of these fixed buffer widths is debatable. As an alternative to fixed-width buffers, we suggest adoption of variable buffer widths, which include multiple tiers that vary in habitat structure and ecological function, with each tier subjected to variable management interventions and land-use restrictions. The riparian-buffer design we proposed can be delineated throughout the watershed, harmonizes with the riverscape concept, thus, a prudent approach to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem functions at variable spatial extents. We posit remodeling existing conservation policies to include riparian buffers into a broader conservation framework as a keystone structure of the riverscape. Watershed-scale riparian conservation is compatible with landscape-scale conservation of fluvial systems, freshwater protected-area networks, and aligns with enhancing environmental resilience to global change. Sustainable multiple-use strategies can be retrofitted into watershed-scale buffer reservations and may harmonize socio-economic goals with those of biodiversity conservation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:56:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b365b2baa78145faaf47702db8d42edd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:56:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-b365b2baa78145faaf47702db8d42edd2023-11-24T00:57:03ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182022-02-0114317210.3390/d14030172Riparian Buffers as a Critical Landscape Feature: Insights for Riverscape Conservation and Policy RenovationsMichael P. Graziano0Amanda K. Deguire1Thilina D. Surasinghe2Department of Biological Sciences, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 02324, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 02324, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 02324, USARiparian zones are critical for functional integrity of riverscapes and conservation of riverscape biodiversity. The synergism of intermediate flood-induced disturbances, moist microclimates, constant nutrient influx, high productivity, and resource heterogeneity make riparian zones disproportionately rich in biodiversity. Riparian vegetation intercepts surface-runoff, filters pollutants, and supplies woody debris as well as coarse particulate organic matter (e.g., leaf litter) to the stream channel. Riparian zones provide critical habitat and climatic refugia for wildlife. Numerous conservation applications have been implemented for riparian-buffer conservation. Although fixed-width buffers have been widely applied as a conservation measure, the effectiveness of these fixed buffer widths is debatable. As an alternative to fixed-width buffers, we suggest adoption of variable buffer widths, which include multiple tiers that vary in habitat structure and ecological function, with each tier subjected to variable management interventions and land-use restrictions. The riparian-buffer design we proposed can be delineated throughout the watershed, harmonizes with the riverscape concept, thus, a prudent approach to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem functions at variable spatial extents. We posit remodeling existing conservation policies to include riparian buffers into a broader conservation framework as a keystone structure of the riverscape. Watershed-scale riparian conservation is compatible with landscape-scale conservation of fluvial systems, freshwater protected-area networks, and aligns with enhancing environmental resilience to global change. Sustainable multiple-use strategies can be retrofitted into watershed-scale buffer reservations and may harmonize socio-economic goals with those of biodiversity conservation.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/3/172riparian zonesriparian buffersstreamsriversriverscapeswatersheds |
| spellingShingle | Michael P. Graziano Amanda K. Deguire Thilina D. Surasinghe Riparian Buffers as a Critical Landscape Feature: Insights for Riverscape Conservation and Policy Renovations Diversity riparian zones riparian buffers streams rivers riverscapes watersheds |
| title | Riparian Buffers as a Critical Landscape Feature: Insights for Riverscape Conservation and Policy Renovations |
| title_full | Riparian Buffers as a Critical Landscape Feature: Insights for Riverscape Conservation and Policy Renovations |
| title_fullStr | Riparian Buffers as a Critical Landscape Feature: Insights for Riverscape Conservation and Policy Renovations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Riparian Buffers as a Critical Landscape Feature: Insights for Riverscape Conservation and Policy Renovations |
| title_short | Riparian Buffers as a Critical Landscape Feature: Insights for Riverscape Conservation and Policy Renovations |
| title_sort | riparian buffers as a critical landscape feature insights for riverscape conservation and policy renovations |
| topic | riparian zones riparian buffers streams rivers riverscapes watersheds |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/3/172 |
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