MARE researchers warn of legislative gaps in the protection of urban rivers in a new publication by Springer Nature
The article “Unveiling the adequacy of existing legislation in protecting urban river ecosystems in the context of One Health,” co-authored by MARE researchers Marcos Dias, Ana Raquel Calapez, and Maria João Feio, was recently published in the scientific journal Springer Nature Link. The study analyzes the effectiveness of current legislation in protecting urban river ecosystems and highlights the need for more specific and integrated policies to safeguard environmental and human health.
As the authors point out in the article, half of the world's population currently lives in cities, which is causing profound changes to the landscape and putting unprecedented pressure on freshwater ecosystems. Increased soil sealing, municipal and industrial discharges, and the elimination of riparian corridors and floodplains are jeopardizing biodiversity and ecosystem services, with direct impacts on environmental and human health.
Although there has been an increase in water-related policies in recent decades, reflecting greater social and political sensitivity to water security, these measures often continue to fail on the ground, failing to deliver practical, efficient, or sufficient results.
The article now published analyzes the international legislative landscape and identifies gaps in existing policies dedicated to the protection of rivers and streams in urban contexts. Although the European Union has important directives, such as the Water Framework Directive, the Habitats Directive, the Environmental Liability Directive, and the recent Nature Restoration Regulation, the authors point out that these standards, although relevant, are often scattered, open to different interpretations, and sometimes conditioned by conflicting interests in urban management.
In this context, the study argues that freshwater ecosystems in cities would benefit from the creation of specific legislation to guide and reinforce the actions of local authorities. Such a framework would protect biodiversity, ensure the proper functioning of ecosystems, and preserve natural riverbanks, riparian zones, and floodplains. These are essential measures to ensure safer, healthier, and more resilient urban environments, valuing the link between robust ecosystems and human well-being, in accordance with the One Health approach.
To access the article, click HERE
Written by Patrícia Carvalho