REFORM newsletter No 3 - June 2013

  1. Welcome editorial by the REFORM Coordinator
    REFORM Coordinator Tom Buijse briefly introduces the contents of the third newsletter of the project.
    Read more
  2. REFORM Stakeholder Workshop on River Restoration, Brussels
    On 26-27 February 2013, the REFORM project organised a technical and interactive Stakeholder Workshop on River Restoration in Brussels. The REFORM stakeholder workshop provided a very good model of early two-way communication between an EU research project and water managers.
    Read more
  3. Multi-purpose river restoration, An interview with Huib J. de Vriend
    Prof. Huib de Vriend, director of the EcoShape Foundation, shares his views on multi-purpose river restoration, the re-establishment of the natural dynamics of river systems and the need of a large-scale perspective to river restoration.
    Read more
  4. Eco-hydromorphological restoration in the first River Basin Management Plans
    This article details the results of a comparative analysis of the Member States’ River Basin Management Plans, the Programmes of Measures and already implemented restoration projects. The analysis provides new insights on the types of the planned hydromorphological measures bearing in mind existing relevant knowledge, knowledge gaps, and potential ecological effects.
    Read more
  5. Setting the stage for hydromorphological assessment: delineating spatial units
    This article addresses the work in REFORM on the development of a spatial hierarchical framework to assess hydromorphology in rivers. Emphasis is given here on the delineation of spatial units, using the example of lowland river in the UK.
    Read more
  6. Measuring success of river restoration actions: the role of end-points and benchmarking
    Despite large economic investments in what has been called the “restoration economy”, many practitioners do not follow a systematic approach for planning restoration projects. REFORM work package 5 strives to develop a protocol for benchmarking and setting specific and measurable targets for restoration and mitigation. This knowledge will help to identify restorations that are efficient and cost effective, supporting the overall success of these activities.
    Read more
  7. REFORM wiki now online
    How can river managers find knowledge and know-how for the design and implementation of river restoration projects? Useful information is scattered over specialized scientific publications, often mono-disciplinary, as well as over a myriad of project reports. REFORM’s answer is to structure the access to knowledge and know-how by means of a wiki. The first version was launched at the REFORM Stakeholder Workshop (Brussels, 26-27 February 2013) and is now available online for the general public.
    Read more
  8. The River Drava changes...
    The Austrian River Drava (Danube catchment) and the restoration measures taken to increase flood retention and promote the self-dynamic processes of the river is one of the flagship case studies of REFORM on river restoration.
    Read more
  9. Evaluating Ecosystem Services in Finland
    In April 2013, researchers of REFORM conducted a field survey on the Finnish river Vääräjoki to compare the ecosystem services of restored and unrestored river stretches.
    Read more