An Ecosystem Services Based Approach to Characterising Riparian Forests and Developing Management Solutions
Laen...
Failid
Kuupäev
2026
Kättesaadavus
Ajakirja pealkiri
Ajakirja ISSN
Köite pealkiri
Kirjastaja
Estonian University of Life Sciences
Abstrakt
Riparian forests along river corridors play a important role in sustaining ecosystem services, including water quality regulation, bank stabilization, carbon storage, biodiversity support, and cultural values. Despite their importance, riparian forests are frequently managed using generalized forest typologies that insufficiently reflect their functional roles, spatial heterogeneity, and strong coupling with hydrological processes.
The proposed approach is based on the premise that characterising riparian forests solely by site type or stand structure is insufficient for informed decision-making. Instead, riparian forests are described in terms of their capacity to provide ecosystem services, their sensitivity to disturbance, and their relevance for management interventions. Characterisation is structured along key environmental gradients shaping ecosystem service provision, including hydrological connectivity (flood frequency, groundwater interaction), geomorphological position (river bank, floodplain, terrace), vegetation structure and composition, and land-use legacies. Together, these factors determine the ability of riparian forests to regulate nutrient and sediment fluxes, mitigate flood impacts, maintain habitat continuity, and contribute to climate regulation.
Building on this characterisation, a multi-dimensional framework is introduced that links biophysical attributes to ecosystem service bundles rather than single functions. This enables the identification of riparian forest types that are particularly important for regulating services (e.g. nutrient retention and erosion control), supporting services (e.g. habitat provision and ecological connectivity), or cultural services (e.g. recreation and landscape values). The framework is designed to inform management by highlighting how different riparian forest types require distinct management solutions, ranging from strict protection and passive restoration to adaptive silviculture that maintains structural complexity while sustaining ecosystem service delivery.
The approach is intended to be operational across spatial scales, from individual river reaches to catchment-level planning, and compatible with existing forest inventory, spatial, and hydrological data. By explicitly linking ecosystem service–based characterisation with management options, the framework supports transparent evaluation of trade-offs and synergies among management objectives and helps prioritise areas where riparian forest conservation or restoration delivers the greatest societal benefits.
Kirjeldus
Märksõnad
forest ecosystems, riparian forest, ecosystem services, presentations
Viide
Rebane, S., Vodde, F., & Jõgiste, K. (2026). An Ecosystem Services Based Approach to Characterising Riparian Forests and Developing Management Solutions. Estonian University of Life Sciences. https://doi.org/10.15159/EDS.POS.26.01