The natural capital of floodplains: management, protection and restoration to deliver greater benefits

Lawson, Clare; Rothero, Emma; Gowing, David; Nisbet, Tom; Barsoum, Nadia; Broadmeadow, Samantha and Skinner, Ann (2018). The natural capital of floodplains: management, protection and restoration to deliver greater benefits. The Valuing Nature Programme.

URL: https://valuing-nature.net/FloodplainNC

Abstract

Key Messages
• This review of scientific literature has shown that semi-natural floodplain habitats are a vitally important component of the UK’s natural capital.
• They provide a wider range of goods and services than intensive arable/horticultural crops.
• The dearth of such habitats in functioning floodplains reduces our resilience to floods and drought, reduces the abundance of pollinating insects and natural pest control agents, and reduces the potential for carbon sequestration and water quality improvements.
• Floodplains occupy only 5% of land area in the UK, yet targeted investment here would yield massive savings and gains for society as a whole.

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About

  • Item ORO ID
  • 82789
  • Item Type
  • Other - Research Report (for external body)
  • Project Funding Details
  • Funded Project NameProject IDFunding Body
    The natural capital of floodplains as a function of land use238192NERC
  • Extra Information
  • The Valuing Nature Programme is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, the Economic and Social Research
    Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the
    Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
  • Keywords
  • natural capital; floodplains; floodplain meadows; valuing nature; ecosystem goods and services
  • Academic Unit or School
  • Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) > Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
    Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
  • Copyright Holders
  • © 2018 The Authors, © 2018 Valuing Nature
  • Depositing User
  • Clare Lawson
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)

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