These underappreciated eco-systems are major workhorses which are under constant threat from humans, especially on farms or due to development. They offer many benefits, so restoring and protecting them are critical for the following reasons.

Bank Stabilization

Riparian borders help stabilize the banks of waterways with their roots helping to hold soil in place, even during major flooding or rain events. Their foliage can also help reduce the impact of erosion, even capturing some of what is washed downstream, and helping to build up certain areas.

Biodiversity Boosting

These are vital habitats which can support as much as 80% in desert eco-systems, even though they make up a relatively small fraction of space in a given region.

Many species nest near waterways, sometimes directly in the bank or in nearby trees. They can function as critical habitat for species like fish, especially when large pieces of wood fall into water, creating nesting and hiding locations for them. 

Riparian ecosystems can also function as wildlife corridors, especially through spaces that have been converted for human development. Similarly they can act as resting spots for migratory species.

Clean Water

Riparian buffers help keep pollutants and excess sediment out of waterways, meaning cleaner water for people and animals who use that water. Reduced pollution helps organisms, who in turn help clean water down stream, such as shellfish, and seagrasses.

"One analysis of multiple studies ... found that buffers in general removed 67% of nitrogen, and wider buffers of at least 50 meters can remove 85%!" - SciShow

Stabilize Water Temperatures

The shade provided by plants, particularly trees helps maintain temperatures that support life. This means more available oxygen in the water. As the climate gets hotter, rivers that have been stripped of their trees can become so warm that fish and other species die off.

Warmer water also translates to faster evaporation, meaning rivers are more likely to run dry during droughts when their banks have been deforested.

Riparian Vegetation

Plants are the key ingredient for healthy and functional riparian zones. They stabilize the banks against all the elements including rain, keep out pollutants, boost the water cycle, reduce the energy of floods which reduces erosion, provide habitat for other wildlife, and so much more.

Colonizers

These are the first species to move into bare ground, for example on freshly dumped sandbars after major flood events. They begin the stabilization process and provide shelter for the stabilizers to move in.

Stabilizers

These plants have deeper roots and 

Where to Restore

Resources & Guides

Europe

Scotland

• SEPA's Engineering in the Water Environment Good Practice Guide, Riparian Vegetation Management "This document is one of a series of good practice guides produced by SEPA to help people involved in the selection of sustainable engineering solutions that minimize harm to the water environment. This Guide provides guidance on the establishment and sustainable management of vegetation in the riparian zone of rivers, lochs and wetlands for the benefit of the environment and people."

North America

Tools & Apps

North America

USA

Minnesota

• Path to the River Tool 

North America

Canada

• Freshwater Conservation Canada "is a charitable conservation organization whose mission is to conserve, protect, and restore Canada’s freshwater ecosystems and coldwater resources for current and future generations."

USA

Minnesota

• The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization "works to protect and improve water quality, habitat and natural resources in an urban watershed that drains directly into the Mississippi River. We are a joint-powers local government unit and one of approximately three dozen watershed organizations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area."

Oceana

Australia

• Greening Australia: Reef Aid "To improve water quality on the Great Barrier Reef, we are working with landholders, communities and Traditional Owners to rebuild eroding gullies and restore vital coastal wetlands across the catchment."

Maps

North America

USA

• Stormwater Management and Restoration Tracking (SMART) Tool (Interactive) Tool tracks storm water management practices in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed which spans, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia

Grants

North America

USA

Minnesota

• Stewardship Fund Grants "support public efforts to manage stormwater, control pollution, and improve water quality and habitat."

Pennsylvania

• PHS: Trees for Watersheds Grant Program "(formerly TreeVitalize Watersheds), which helps municipalities, nonprofits, and private landowners plant trees along streams, neighboring upland areas, and natural stormwater basins. The result is thousands of trees planted every year in sensitive water protection zones."

Further Reading