Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) include many terrestrial and aquatic systems with high biodiversity and important ecosystem services. The need for protection of these systems has recently received increasing recognition in many regions, including the European Union (EU), as pressures on groundwater are increasing due to increased consumption in agriculture and intensive land use. A key issue is to provide legislative frameworks that safeguard the ecosystem services these systems provide. This paper reviews European legislation and present methods for theoretical frameworks, and hydrological and ecological observations of GDEs. Insights into the current state of research are provided and gaps in scientific knowledge identified. Different restoration and protection measures, such as buffer zones, are presented and evaluated. Recommendations are given for the future protection of GDEs. Future research should focus on nationally important GDE sites to establish conceptual models describing the individual and interactive impacts of multiple stressors on the hydrological and ecological functioning of GDEs. Proactive management is required to protect GDEs from contamination, for example by using extended buffer zones and careful land use planning in the groundwater capture zone.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
May 19 2014
Protection of groundwater dependent ecosystems: current policies and future management options
Bjørn Kløve;
Bjørn Kløve
*
aUniversity of Oulu, 90014, Finland
bBioforsk – Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, Frederik A. Dahls vei 20, N-1432 Ås, Norway
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Matteo Balderacchi;
Matteo Balderacchi
cUniversità Cattolica del Sacro Cuore –Istituto di Chimica Agraria ed Ambientale – via Emilia Parmense, 84 – 29122 Piacenza, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Alexandra Gemitzi;
Alexandra Gemitzi
dDepartment of Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, Greece
Search for other works by this author on:
Sarah Hendry;
Sarah Hendry
eUniversity of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
Jens Kværner;
Jens Kværner
bBioforsk – Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, Frederik A. Dahls vei 20, N-1432 Ås, Norway
Search for other works by this author on:
Timo Muotka;
Timo Muotka
aUniversity of Oulu, 90014, Finland
Search for other works by this author on:
Elena Preda
Elena Preda
fUniversity of Bucharest - Splaiul Independentei 91-95, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Policy (2014) 16 (6): 1070–1086.
Article history
Received:
January 10 2014
Accepted:
April 09 2014
Citation
Bjørn Kløve, Matteo Balderacchi, Alexandra Gemitzi, Sarah Hendry, Jens Kværner, Timo Muotka, Elena Preda; Protection of groundwater dependent ecosystems: current policies and future management options. Water Policy 1 December 2014; 16 (6): 1070–1086. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2014.014
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
eBook
Pay-Per-View Access
$38.00