Mitigating riparian buffer zone degradation through policy interventions and learnings from best practices
Abstract Riparian buffer zones (RBZs) play a critical role in safeguarding the ecological health of river systems, particularly in small Indian rivers heavily impacted by human activities. This study addresses the critical gap in RBZ management for small Indian rivers by developing an adaptive frame...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Discover Environment |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00288-6 |
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| Summary: | Abstract Riparian buffer zones (RBZs) play a critical role in safeguarding the ecological health of river systems, particularly in small Indian rivers heavily impacted by human activities. This study addresses the critical gap in RBZ management for small Indian rivers by developing an adaptive framework that moves beyond one-size-fits-all approaches. Through systematic analysis of 225 sources including academic literature, policy documents, and technical reports, we assessed the effectiveness of existing buffer configurations against multiple ecological functions in varied landscapes. Our findings reveal that conventional fixed-width policies fail to address the complex interplay between buffer effectiveness and site-specific characteristics in India’s diverse riparian ecosystems. The study’s primary innovation lies in its context-sensitive approach to buffer design, which calibrates protection measures according to specific environmental conditions and conservation objectives. We propose a context-specific adaptive framework for riparian buffer zone management, featuring a tiered system of minimum widths (ranging from 10 to 30 m for erosion control to 30–100 m for comprehensive nutrient retention) with built-in adjustment factors for slope gradient, soil properties, vegetation structure, and surrounding land use. This framework, presented as a decision-support model, enables evidence-based decision-making that balances ecological protection with socioeconomic considerations, particularly in densely populated watersheds where land availability is constrained. By explicitly linking RBZ management strategies to relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the study bridges local environmental management with global sustainability initiatives. The resulting decision-support model offers practical implementation pathways not only for Indian river systems but potentially for similar ecological contexts throughout Asia where riparian management faces comparable challenges. |
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| ISSN: | 2731-9431 |