SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT AND ROBUST TARGETING OF RIPARIAN BUFFER ZONES
The SMARTER_BufferZ project aims to ensure optimal targeting and management of riparian buffers for the effective management of Irish rivers.
SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT AND ROBUST TARGETING OF RIPARIAN BUFFER ZONES
Riparian buffer zones are patches of land adjacent to rivers, streams and drains, removed from intensive production.
These areas provide a variety of environmental and ecological services, including a habitat for biodiversity, enhancing connectivity, alleviating flood threat, greenhouse gas exchanges and recreational services.
Despite their widespread implementation, uncertainties remain in relation to the optimal design, management and cost-effectiveness of riparian buffer zones as a measure to support the delivery of ecosystem services and to enhance the quality of watercourses.
The SMARTER_BufferZ project aims to ensure optimal targeting and management of riparian buffers for the effective management of Irish rivers.
Objectives and tasks
The SMARTER_BufferZ project will:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of targeted riparian management measures to maintain and enhance water quality in Irish rivers.
- Identify factors and develop tools for risks associated with inefficiently sited or designed buffers that do not optimise benefits, particularly for water quality and ecological condition.
- Make recommendations for actions from basic strategies widely implemented, to more specific requirements according to site circumstances, both physical and habitat aspects, at the correct spatial extent.
SMARTER_BufferZ will contribute to environmental policy and to improved management of agricultural and surface water landscapes in Ireland.
Project team
Principal Investigator:
- Daire Ó hUallacháin, Teagasc ESLU Johnstown Castle, Wexford.
Project Partners:
- Per-Erik Mellander, Teagasc ESLU Johnstown Castle, Wexford.
- Simon Parker, Teagasc ESLU Johnstown Castle, Wexford.
- Fabiola Costa, Teagasc ESLU Johnstown Castle, Wexford.
- Marc Stutter, James Hutton Institute
- Nikki Baggaley, James Hutton Institute
- Allan Lilly, James Hutton Institute
- Mark Wilkinson, James Hutton Institute
- Andrea Baggio, James Hutton Institute
Further information:
@smarter_Bufferz
This project is funded under the EPA Research Programme 2014-2020. The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. It is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, which has the statutory function of co-ordinating and promoting environmental research.