Projects
Water

New perspectives for the ecological restoration of streams and rivers

The project investigates the social and cultural values of water bodies in order to better integrate social perspectives into future renaturation projects. 

What impact the ecological restoration of waterways has on people is a subject that has rarely been studied till now. It stands to reason that renaturalized waterways are more attractive for many social groups – such as local residents or people taking a walk – than a body of water that has been channeled. ISOE is studying this social-ecological issue in cooperation with the Senckenberg Research Institute. First the research team is conducting a qualitative survey at three sections of the Nidda, Rodau and Gersprenz rivers in Germany; then, in a second step, it is conducting telephone interviews about several river sections in the German states of Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia. The researchers are surveying what animals and plants people have observed, whether and how the local population spends its recreational time at the renaturalized river sections, or how they experience the landscape. In order to capture these social and cultural values which ecosystems offer society, reference is made to the concept of ecosystem services. The goal is to improve the way social perceptions and evaluations are integrated into future restoration project

Project partners

  • Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Department of Riverine Ecology and Nature Conservancy Research (overall project management)
  • University Duisburg-Essen, Faculty for Biology

Funding

Kurt-Lange-Foundation, Sparkassen Foundation Gelnhausen, Hessian Nature Protection Foundation (Stiftung Hessischer Naturschutz), German Environment Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt)

Publications

Deffner, Jutta/Peter Haase (2018): The societal relevance of river restoration. Ecology and Society 23 (4), 35

Birzle-Harder, Barbara/Jutta Deffner/Peter Haase (2014): Renaturierungsmaßnahmen an Fließgewässern: Wahrnehmung durch Bewohner anliegender Gemeinden. Ergebnisse einer empirischen Studie. ISOE-Studientexte, 23. Frankfurt am Main: ISOE - Institut für sozial-ökologische Forschung

Contact:

Dr. Jutta Deffner

Head of Research Unit Sustainable Society Go to Profile
Projectteam:

Project Infos

Started:
Expires:
Research Units:
Water
Focustopic 2025

Water —

What impact does climate change have on our water resources? Is water scarcity also a threat in Germany? What challenges does the water industry face?

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