Rivers

Over centuries rivers have been heavily altered by human activities like straightening, dam construction, and pollution. River restoration aims to restore the natural process and function of a healthy river ecosystem. This can include the removal of barriers, the widening of floodplains, reconnecting rivers to wetlands, restoring vegetation along the riverbanks, and removing alien invasive plants.

Reconnecting rivers to floodplains and improving flow patterns are crucial in reducing downstream flooding and droughts that impacts communities and agriculture. This is particularly important with increasingly extreme weather and glacier melting caused by climate change.

Rivers are also vital in maintaining water quality. Restoring rivers removes pollutants, reduces runoff and enhances natural filtration processes, in turn ensuring cleaner water that benefits communities and wildlife.

Despite only accounting for only 0.007% of the planet’s freshwater, rivers are also home to almost 10% of all animal species, including a third of all invertebrate and over half of all known fish species. By restoring river health, we also support the recovery of endangered species and enhance biodiversity.

Planting native plant species and stabilizing riverbanks through restoration efforts reduces soil erosion, protecting both the river ecosystem and adjacent agricultural or urban land. Vegetation along riverbanks can also store carbon, helping to mitigate climate change. Rivers also play a crucial role in regulating the carbon cycle, transporting 200 megatons of carbon from the land to the sea every year.

Rivers provide a wide range of social benefits, fostering community well-being and health. They offer recreational opportunities such as fishing, boating, swimming, and walking along riverbanks, which promote physical and mental health. Rivers also play a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of people who depend on natural resources, providing essential access to fish and freshwater.

In addition, rivers often hold cultural and historical significance, serving as gathering places and inspiring artistic, spiritual, and cultural traditions. In urban environments, rivers are offering natural beauty and spaces for relaxation, which can strengthen community ties and enhance the quality of life for those living near them.

One of river restoration’s most significant benefits is the protection of physical infrastructure against flood-related damages, protecting communities against the destruction of infrastructure and livelihoods.

Rivers provide substantial infrastructure services that support business activities and the functioning of cities. Healthy rivers help provide clean drinking water—a crucial service in a world where 2 billion people depend on rivers for drinking water. Rivers also act as important routes for transportation. In addition, they support agriculture by providing fertile soil and water for irrigation.

Rivers also offer numerous co-benefits for the economy. They provide vital habitats for fish species, supporting commercial and subsistence fishing. Healthy rivers attract tourists for wildlife observation and outdoor activities, driving eco-tourism and generating income. In addition, river restoration projects create jobs for construction and maintenance, providing new economic opportunities for local communities. Additionally, rivers and their surrounding green spaces can increase property values, benefiting homeowners and generating additional tax revenue for municipalities, further supporting local development and environmental stewardship.

Restoring rivers can lead to significant cost savings and economic benefits by avoiding costly damages and expensive interventions. For example, removing invasive plant species prevents the clogging of waterways, reducing the risk of costly flood damage and disruptions. Re-vegetating riparian buffers and surrounding land minimizes erosion and sediment accumulation in waterways, decreasing the need for expensive dredging while lowering flood risks. Furthermore, restoring floodplains and reconnecting rivers to wetlands increases water retention, thus reducing peak flows during floods and preventing extreme low water levels, which can threaten biodiversity and disrupt shipping.

Rivers are an invaluable natural resource that offer extensive environmental, social, and economic benefits. Here are some river restoration case studies that quantify the costs and benefits of these factors.