Slowing the flow for climate resilience in human-dominated riverine landscapes

Abstract

Riverine landscapes in many ways represent the birthplace of intensive human settlement and development (Gregory, 2006). This long, ubiquitous and continually changing relationship continues to the present day. Considering the infrastructure associated with this high level of development (dams, diversions, roads, railways, farms, commercial and residential structures) is essential in the context of riverine landscape resilience. However, in spite of a heavy human footprint, almost all large river basins comprise a complex mosaic of highly and minimally developed land and water, generally distributed non-randomly throughout these landscapes and hydrologically connected at multiple scales. Incorporating this heterogeneity can help support approaches that maintain ecosystem services and natural resource values whilst protecting key infrastructure and goes to the essence of resilient riverine landscapes in the face of major environmental change.

Citation

Nislow, Keith H.; Magilligan, Francis J.; Saleeba, Mason; Palmer, Richard E. 2024. Slowing the flow for climate resilience in human-dominated riverine landscapes. In: Thoms, M.; Fuller, I., eds. Resilience and riverine landscapes. Cambridge, MA: Elsevier: 545–568. Chapter 26.