Ecological Restoration and Rehabilitation: Standards and Case Studies from Europe and China

Abstract

A range of European Directives or National legislation/ policies and implementation programmes have led to an actual demand for river restoration tools and techniques. The drivers of restoration practices for freshwater ecosystem restoration in Europe will be presented. The Water Framework Directive and other water-related directives improved water protection and also promoted: (1) the development of a dynamic, world-leading water sector that includes 9000 active SMEs and provides almost 500 000 full-time equivalent jobs in Europe; (2) the stimulation for green and blue growth and to become more resource efficient - e.g. water management technologies are at the heart of eco-innovation. Many of the provisioning, regulatory, and cultural services can be enhanced through development of water resources (e.g. large-scale dams can increase agricultural production by creating local water availability); however, there are often off-setting losses or trade-offs between these service categories, such as loss of downstream water quantity and impacts on aquatic food chain and other agricultural areas. Case studies of the application of the legislative framework from Europe will be presented. Joint cooperation projects previously developed between China and Europe were addressed.