Riverbank
loss through artificialisation
LB-10
Loss
of Biodiversity
Pressure
1 Indicator
definition and unit of measurement
The
direct destruction of riverbank habitat due to human activities. Unit of
measurement is km lost per year, expressed as a percentage of total river length.
2 Placement
in the framework
5EAP:
Chapter
5: The themes and targets of the programme, section 5.3: Protection of nature
and bio-diversity; section 5.4: Management of water resources.
Agenda
21:
Chapter
15: Conservation of biological diversity, calls for the “conservation of
ecosystems and natural habitats (section 15.5 g).
Chapter
18: Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources: application
of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water
resources.
International
conventions and agreements:
Habitats
Directive 92/43 (May 1992).
UNECE
Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and Lakes
(Helsinki, 17th March 1992).
Ranking:
Core
ranking:
10
(22%)
Policy
Relevance:
10
(2.7)
Analytical
Soundness:
4
(3.1)
Responsiveness:
9
(2.6)
Most
appropriate related state indicators:
Length
of intact riverbank (km).
3 Significance
Purpose:
The
indicator serves as a direct measurement of the loss of riverbank habitat
through human development activity.
Relevance:
The
degree to which changes in this indicator will relate to sustainability will
depend on the region, e.g. dry vs mountainous areas, and on the degree of
dependence on water sources (ground vs surface water). The causes of riverbank
loss should be subject to the environmental impact assessment procedures as
advocated under Agenda 21 Chapter 18.40 (conservation and protection of
wetlands).
Linkages
to other pressure indicators:
LB-3:
Agricultural intensity; LB-6: Changes in traditional land use practice; LB-2:
Wetland loss through drainage; LB-1: Protected area loss, damage/fragmentation.
In
Resource Depletion, RD-1: Water consumption per capita.
Targets:
5EAP:
no further deterioration. Targets could be set for restoration (length, area).
4 Methodological
description and underlying definitions
Underlying
definitions and concepts:
Pesticide
Riverbank loss is the direct destruction of a particular habitat type, related
to both terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem. The indicator can be
disaggregated to measure the damage caused by each sector (industry, transport
etc.).
Measurement
methods:
Change
in natural riverbank habitat length per region or landscape type compared to an
appropriate historical baseline (e.g. 1992).
Limitations
of the indicator:
There
may be problems of current data availability per economic sector.
Alternative
definitions:
Disaggregate
into river or landscape types.
