Human–River Encounter Sites: Looking for Harmony between Humans and Nature in Cities

Aude Zingraff-Hamed, Mathieu Bonnefond, Sebastien Bonthoux, Nicolas Legay, Sabine Greulich, Amélie Robert, Vincent Rotgé, José Serrano, Yixin Cao, Raita Bala, Alvin Vazha, Rebecca E. Tharme and Karl M. Wantzen
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Aude Zingraff-Hamed: Strategic Landscape Planning and Management, Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Emil-Ramann-Str. 6, 85354 Freising, Germany
Mathieu Bonnefond: Interdisciplinary Research Center Cities, Territories, Environment and Society (UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES), University of Tours, 37204 Tours, France
Sebastien Bonthoux: Interdisciplinary Research Center Cities, Territories, Environment and Society (UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES), University of Tours, 37204 Tours, France
Nicolas Legay: Interdisciplinary Research Center Cities, Territories, Environment and Society (UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES), University of Tours, 37204 Tours, France
Sabine Greulich: Interdisciplinary Research Center Cities, Territories, Environment and Society (UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES), University of Tours, 37204 Tours, France
Amélie Robert: Interdisciplinary Research Center Cities, Territories, Environment and Society (UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES), University of Tours, 37204 Tours, France
Vincent Rotgé: Interdisciplinary Research Center Cities, Territories, Environment and Society (UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES), University of Tours, 37204 Tours, France
José Serrano: Interdisciplinary Research Center Cities, Territories, Environment and Society (UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES), University of Tours, 37204 Tours, France
Yixin Cao: Interdisciplinary Research Center Cities, Territories, Environment and Society (UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES), University of Tours, 37204 Tours, France
Raita Bala: POLYTECH Tours, 64 Avenue Jean Portalis, 37200 Tours, France
Alvin Vazha: Interdisciplinary Research Center Cities, Territories, Environment and Society (UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES), University of Tours, 37204 Tours, France
Rebecca E. Tharme: LE STUDIUM Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies, Orléans & Tours, and CITERES, CNRS, University of Tours, 37204 Tours, France
Karl M. Wantzen: Interdisciplinary Research Center Cities, Territories, Environment and Society (UMR CNRS 7324 CITERES), University of Tours, 37204 Tours, France

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-20

Abstract: Human welfare depends on the health of nature. Decades of ill-conceived management practices caused a decline in the quality of human life, as well as in biological and cultural diversity. Simultaneously, they increased social and ecological risks. For instance, mismanagement of urban rivers jeopardizes their ecological health and ability to provide ecosystem services. While demands for responsible urban riverscape design that fulfill both human and ecosystem needs are increasing, explicit recommendations to achieve these ambitious goals are still lacking. We present a first attempt of a conceptualization of Human–River Encounter Sites for urban rivers that targets reconciliation between humans and nature within urban river corridors. It builds upon the River Culture Concept with literature reviews and experiences from river restoration projects. We identify six tenets that are important to develop guidelines for Human–River Encounter Sites: health, safety, functionality, accessibility, collaboration, and awareness. This paper presents how these tenets can collectively help to harmonize the needs of citizens and biota, and to mitigate the current urban river crisis. This contribution feeds the debate on sustainable socio-ecological management of urban rivers and provides guidelines for the implementation of future urban river restorations and management efforts.

Keywords: urban river; socio-ecological system; river culture; human–river relationship; river restoration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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