People and plants working paper 5. UNESCO, Paris Wolf JHD, Konings

CJF (2001) Toward the sustainable harvesting of epiphytic bromeliads: a pilot study from highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. Biol Conserv 101:23–31CrossRef”
“Introduction Riparian ecosystems are highly diversified, dynamic and complex biophysical terrestrial ecosystems (Miller 2002; Naiman et al. 2005). These systems are transitional zones between aquatic and upland terrestrial environments with a linear spatial configuration. Riparian ecosystems contain a high and unique number of plant Regorafenib manufacturer species (Sabo et al. 2005), adapted to disturbance (e.g., floods, drought) (Lyon and Gross 2005; Malanson 1993), in a restricted area of land (Lyon and Gross 2005; Malanson 1993). Riparian ecosystems also provide aquatic, water-land interface and terrestrial habitats for animal species, as well as drinking water for upland BI 10773 order animals (Brookshire et al. 2002; Hilty and Merenlender 2004; Iverson et al. 2001; Machtans et al. 1996; Matos et al. 2008; Spackman and Hughes 1994; Virgós 2001; Williams et al. 2003). Despite their high biological value, riparian ecosystems have seldom been included in systematic conservation planning (Nel et al. 2009), and are becoming increasingly threatened by human activities

(Salinas et al. 2000) and upland plant encroachment (Huxman et al. 2005), especially in the semi-arid Mediterranean region (Nel et al. 2009). Riparian plant communities in PF299804 manufacturer Mediterranean climates have been impoverished and threatened by human activities (Aguiar et al. 2006; Schnitzler et al. 2007)

such as agriculture (Aguiar and Ferreira 2005; Salinas et al. 2000; Tabacchi et al. 2002), land development for industry or tourism, and transportation infrastructures (Jongman and Pungetti 2003; Scarascia-Mugnozza et al. 2000). These changes led to the loss of unique riparian species (Sabo et al. 2005; Salinas et al. 2000) and likely resulted in woody plant encroachment in the riparian ecosystem (Huxman et al. 2005). Fenbendazole Woody plant encroachment causes major shifts in hydrological dynamics by decreasing surface and subsurface flow, which decreases scouring flows, leading to an increase in woody plant survival. This results in higher forest cover along the channel, which intensifies water loss through increased transpiration, and decreases water availability to other plant and wildlife species, and other riparian functions (for a review see Huxman et al. 2005). The impacts of woody plant encroachment on water availability are exacerbated by climate change impacts on riparian areas. Rivers have already been influenced by changing precipitation regimes resulting from climate change (Schröter et al. 2005), especially in areas like the Iberian Peninsula which have become more arid.