Multifunctional floodplain management and biodiversity effects: a knowledge synthesis for six European countries

Schindler, Stefan, O’Neill, Fionnuala H., Biró, Marianna, Damm, Christian, Gasso, Viktor, Kanka, Robert, van der Sluis, Theo, Krug, Andreas, Lauwaars, Sophie G., Sebesvari, Zita, Pusch, Martin, Baranovsky, Boris, Ehlert, Thomas, Neukirchen, Bernd, Martin, James R., Euller, Katrin, Mauerhofer, Volker and Wrbka, Thomas, (2016). Multifunctional floodplain management and biodiversity effects: a knowledge synthesis for six European countries. Biodiversity and Conservation, 25(7), 1349-1382

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Schindler, Stefan
    O’Neill, Fionnuala H.
    Biró, Marianna
    Damm, Christian
    Gasso, Viktor
    Kanka, Robert
    van der Sluis, Theo
    Krug, Andreas
    Lauwaars, Sophie G.
    Sebesvari, Zita
    Pusch, Martin
    Baranovsky, Boris
    Ehlert, Thomas
    Neukirchen, Bernd
    Martin, James R.
    Euller, Katrin
    Mauerhofer, Volker
    Wrbka, Thomas
    Title Multifunctional floodplain management and biodiversity effects: a knowledge synthesis for six European countries
    Appearing in Biodiversity and Conservation
    Volume 25
    Issue No. 7
    Publication Date 2016-06
    Place of Publication Leiden
    Publisher Springer Netherlands
    Start page 1349
    End page 1382
    Language eng
    Abstract Floodplain ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots and supply multiple ecosystem services. At the same time they are often prone to human pressures that increasingly impact their intactness. Multifunctional floodplain management can be defined as a management approach aimed at a balanced supply of multiple ecosystem services that serve the needs of the local residents, but also those of off-site populations that are directly or indirectly impacted by floodplain management and policies. Multifunctional floodplain management has been recently proposed as a key concept to reconcile biodiversity and ecosystem services with the various human pressures and their driving forces. In this paper we present biophysics and management history of floodplains and review recent multifunctional management approaches and evidence for their biodiversity effects for the six European countries Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary and the Ukraine. Multifunctional use of floodplains is an increasingly important strategy in some countries, for instance in the Netherlands and Hungary, and management of floodplains goes hand in hand with sustainable economic activities resulting in flood safety and biodiversity conservation. As a result, biodiversity is increasing in some of the areas where multifunctional floodplain management approaches are implemented. We conclude that for efficient use of management resources and ecosystem services, consensual solutions need to be realized and biodiversity needs to be mainstreamed into management activities to maximize ecosystem service provision and potential human benefits. Multifunctionality is more successful where a broad range of stakeholders with diverse expertise and interests are involved in all stages of planning and implementation.
    Keyword Flood plains
    Ecosystem services
    River regulation
    Copyright Holder The Authors
    Copyright Year 2016
    Copyright type Creative commons
    ISSN 09603115
    DOI 10.1007/s10531-016-1129-3
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    Created: Fri, 01 Jul 2016, 21:37:06 JST