Climate actions
Vegetated and unfertilized buffer zones alongside watercourses can significantly contribute to improving micro-climatic conditions as they act as a shield against overland flow from agricultural fields. A general, multi-purpose, riparian buffer design consists of a strip of grass, shrubs and trees between the normal bank-full water level and the cropland. Riparian Buffer Strips are linear bands of permanent vegetation adjacent to an aquatic ecosystem intended to maintain or improve water quality by trapping and removing various nonpoint source pollutants from both overland and shallow subsurface flow. Buffer strips also provide (additional) habitat for aquatic species and may result in increased recharge of groundwater. Lack of incentive programmes, poorly defined goals, lack of maintenance operations and opposition from landowners.
Establishment and restoration of riparian buffers
Objective
Reducing the run-off of sediments and pollutants reaching the watercourse and increasing groundwater recharge at the same time contributing to reducing vulnerability to floods.
Description
Expected results
Cooling of water body, increased air humidity and temperature stabilisation, and water retention.
Result indicators
Decreasing air temperature [°C]
Involved actors
Local stakeholders involved in the use and management of watercourses.
Expected timeline for action
Best practices
Criticalities
Scope of the action
Type of proposed actions
Sector of action
Climate impacts
Implementation scale