Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
entered the river management vocabulary in the
last 20 years (Clark, 2002; Folke, 2002).
The multi-billion euro cost of all the
'programmes of measures' for achieving good
ecological status, (or alternatively 'good ecological
potential' for 'heavily modified water bodies')
in every river basin district in the European
Union is truly awesome. A good example is the
30-year programme to regenerate the economy
and environment of the Emscher catchment
in Germany (Semrau and Hurck, this volume).
The WFD has guidance that is designed to avoid
disproportionate costs of action and as a result
'cost-beneficial' has become the key criterion
for decisions on remedial action, rather than
the 'precautionary principle'. This has profound
implications for the capacity of river scientists to
recommend ever more ambitious improvements
through the WFD. The current political mood
seems to favour ecosystem management; future
crises involving pollution, drought, floods and the
spread of invasive non-native species are likely to
endorse further the need for costly action (Boon,
this volume). However, a prolonged global and
European economic recession may mean that
river management based on holistic principles
is threatened by an inability to pay or by rival
claims of narrowly-defined human welfare. One
logical way forward is for river science to refine
the spatial 'hot spots' philosophy for cost-effective
management
rivers in England and Wales that are designated
under the EC Habitats Directive (Council of
the European Communities, 1992) will yield
long-term benefits in the broadest economic
sense (Mainstone and Holmes, 2010). This long-
term approach, underpinned by strong statutory
requirements, shows the true worth of applying
the precautionary principle rather than simplified,
short-term budgetary judgements which may now
be applied during an era of austerity. The triumph
in securing the ecosystems at the heart of river
management legislation and policy decisions must
not be tarnished by the tragedy of deliberate half
measures to satisfy a traditionally-informed audit
process of environmental improvements.
Reflections on success and
failure
Elsewhere, I have suggested that the current group
of UK river scientists who promote catchment
consciousness within the auspices of the WFD
often specialize in either the 'mantra', the 'metric',
or the 'mania' of freshwater ecosystem health
(Newson, 2011). The gradual integration of various
river sciences has undoubtedly strengthened the
assertion that the catchment is the most effective
scale for reducing human impact. The shift in focus
from channel to catchment science, anticipated in
1990 (Figure 2.1) has therefore materialized, if
somewhat more slowly than expected. However,
a natural reluctance to develop tools (because
every catchment has unique properties) means
that the metrics available to achieve environmental
gains through regulatory and other means are
rudimentary and generally weaker than the
principles which they are meant to support.
The challenge of understanding environmental
science properly is still a valid requirement today.
Adaptive management should improve the chances
of success because it encourages a proactive
'no regrets' approach, rather than the inertia of
inaction caused by uncertainty-induced paralysis.
Harnessing local enthusiasm for healthy rivers is an
important catalyst in this respect; politicians now
speak
at
the
catchment
scale
(Newson,
2010).
A potential gain for environmental protection,
particularly in financially hard times, involves
payment for ecosystem services to sustain and
enhance the natural assets and functioning of
river catchments and their wetlands (Everard,
this volume). Providing and accounting for
environmental, economic and human health
benefits, rather than just the costs of intervention,
must be built into project design and appraisal.
River scientists and practitioners need to advocate
this
strongly
and
support
further
work
on
quantifying
the
benefits
to
society
and
the
environment.
There
is
no
doubt
that
the
considerable
financial
investment,
particularly
by
water
companies,
to
protect
and
improve
enthusiastically
about
local
communities
