Search results

Brazil possesses the largest freshwater resources worldwide. However, it is already facing severe water problems due to an adverse distribution of water availability and demand, which becomes especially apparent in the densely populated Southeast. This area is home to 75 % of Brazil's population and the location of two of the world's largest megacities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Their regional water demands serve various purposes, including drinking water, agricultural and industrial water, and hydropower supply for the metropole regions. At the same time, the region belongs to the Atlantic rainforest, the Mata Atlântica. The remaining patches of the pristine Mata Atlântica biome host worldwide outstanding biodiversity, which depends on the unique hydro-climatic conditions of the region. Nevertheless, little is known about the ecohydrological processes and dynamics in the region and their alteration under climate change. This, however, is an essential requirement for making informed decisions in river basin management that aims at safeguarding water-related ecosystem functions and services to simulate processes at different spatial and temporal scales. This dissertation contributes to the understanding of ecohydrological process dynamics in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. It creates a crucial prerequisite for science-based environmental planning and knowledge-based river basin management. The results indicate major challenges for water-resources management in the Southeastern Mata Atlântica for the upcoming decades. The methods and tools developed and used in this work can be easily applied and transferred to sub-tropical and tropical regions worldwide. They allow planning and mitigation for future climate, land-use, and management changes to sustain water-related ecosystem functions and services and preserve the beauty of unique biomes, such as the Mata Atlântica.

Brazil possesses the largest freshwater resources worldwide. However, it is already facing severe water problems due to an adverse distribution of water availability and demand, which becomes especially apparent in the densely populated Southeast. This area is home to 75 % of Brazil's population and the location of two of the world's largest megacities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Their regional water demands serve various purposes, including drinking water, agricultural and industrial water, and hydropower supply for the metropole regions. At the same time, the region belongs to the Atlantic rainforest, the Mata Atlântica. The remaining patches of the pristine Mata Atlântica biome host worldwide outstanding biodiversity, which depends on the unique hydro-climatic conditions of the region. Nevertheless, little is known about the ecohydrological processes and dynamics in the region and their alteration under climate change. This, however, is an essential requirement for making informed decisions in river basin management that aims at safeguarding water-related ecosystem functions and services to simulate processes at different spatial and temporal scales. This dissertation contributes to the understanding of ecohydrological process dynamics in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. It creates a crucial prerequisite for science-based environmental planning and knowledge-based river basin management. The results indicate major challenges for water-resources management in the Southeastern Mata Atlântica for the upcoming decades. The methods and tools developed and used in this work can be easily applied and transferred to sub-tropical and tropical regions worldwide. They allow planning and mitigation for future climate, land-use, and management changes to sustain water-related ecosystem functions and services and preserve the beauty of unique biomes, such as the Mata Atlântica.

River networks are among Earth's most threatened hot-spots of biodiversity and provide key ecosystem services (e.g., supply drinking water and food, climate regulation) essential to sustaining human well-being. Climate change and increased human water use are causing more rivers and streams to dry, with devastating impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Currently, more than a half of the global river networks consist of drying channels, and these are expanding dramatically. However, drying river networks (DRNs) have received little attention from scientists and policy makers, and the public is unaware of their importance. Consequently, there is no effective integrated biodiversity conservation or ecosystem management strategy of DRNs.A multidisciplinary team of 25 experts from 11 countries in Europe, South America, China and the USA will build on EU efforts to assess the cascading effects of climate change on biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services of DRNs through changes in flow regimes and water use. DRYvER (DRYing riVER networks) will gather and upscale empirical and modelling data from nine focal DRNs (case studies) in Europe (EU) and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to develop a meta-system framework applicable to Europe and worldwide. It will also generate crucial knowledge-based strategies, tools and guidelines for economically-efficient adaptive management of DRNs. Working closely with stakeholders and end-users, DRYvER will co-develop strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts in DRNs, integrating hydrological, ecological (including nature-based solutions), socio-economic and policy perspectives. The end results of DRYvER will contribute to reaching the objectives of the Paris Agreement and placing Europe at the forefront of research on climate change.

River networks are among Earth's most threatened hot-spots of biodiversity and provide key ecosystem services (e.g., supply drinking water and food, climate regulation) essential to sustaining human well-being. Climate change and increased human water use are causing more rivers and streams to dry, with devastating impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Currently, more than a half of the global river networks consist of drying channels, and these are expanding dramatically. However, drying river networks (DRNs) have received little attention from scientists and policy makers, and the public is unaware of their importance. Consequently, there is no effective integrated biodiversity conservation or ecosystem management strategy of DRNs.A multidisciplinary team of 25 experts from 11 countries in Europe, South America, China and the USA will build on EU efforts to assess the cascading effects of climate change on biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services of DRNs through changes in flow regimes and water use. DRYvER (DRYing riVER networks) will gather and upscale empirical and modelling data from nine focal DRNs (case studies) in Europe (EU) and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to develop a meta-system framework applicable to Europe and worldwide. It will also generate crucial knowledge-based strategies, tools and guidelines for economically-efficient adaptive management of DRNs. Working closely with stakeholders and end-users, DRYvER will co-develop strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts in DRNs, integrating hydrological, ecological (including nature-based solutions), socio-economic and policy perspectives. The end results of DRYvER will contribute to reaching the objectives of the Paris Agreement and placing Europe at the forefront of research on climate change.