Wetlands International – European Association and the Italian Center for River Restoration invite you to join a series of webinars explaining methods and challenges of river restoration with a specific focus on improving river connectivity. By sharing evidence of effective restoration approaches we aim to enhance the conditions of European rivers and to foster the implementation of river restoration measures.
The construction of barriers and the alteration of water and sediment flows have caused the disruption of longitudinal continuity in many of Europe’s rivers. This has had severe implications for a number of migratory fish species, such as eel and salmon, and in general for the ecological conditions of rivers and related ecosystem services. Improvement of river connectivity is thus a key challenge for river managers.
Session 1: Water, sediments and biota: why continuity is key for healthy rivers
In this session, the most relevant interactions between water, sediments and biota in river ecosystems will be presented, from an applied perspective. The speaker will offer examples of how those interactions rule river dynamics, and how they affect the ecological functions and ecosystem services provided by river systems. All concepts presented will be linked to present European legal obligations, scientific and technical knowledge, and social expectations along different European regions.