Are Non-Perennial Rivers Considered as Valuable and Worthy of Conservation as Perennial Rivers?

Abstract

Non-perennial rivers, watercourses that cease to flow at some point in time and space, are widespread globally but often lack effective protections. Although it is thought that these ecosystems are undervalued by society, empirical studies exploring people’s perceptions of non-perennial rivers are uncommon. We carried out an image-based survey at three U.S. universities to measure students’ perception of riverscapes according to seven characteristics: aesthetics, naturalness, habitat for biodiversity, habitat for fish, need of human intervention, importance for human well-being, and conservation value. Our results showed that non-perennial rivers are generally considered less valuable and worthy of conservation than their perennial counterparts. Furthermore, several factors influenced peoples’ perception of non-perennial rivers, including where they live, their educational history, how often they visit rivers, their leisure activities, and whether they live close to a river. Our findings suggested the need to improve people’s perceptions of non-perennial rivers as a step toward increased protection for these ecosystems. This current challenge demands combined actions by researchers from diverse disciplines and professionals working from different perspectives, including policymakers and educators.

Conservation and Management of Isolated Pools in Temporary Rivers

“…For example, swimming in IPs can be less attractive if water quality decreases with time [5], or the loss of surface flow can reduce toxic sequestration [4]. Despite all these ecosystem services, however, the social perception of IPs and their conservation value is much lower than that of the flowing phase or perennial rivers, and partly higher than that of dry riverbeds [142].…”

Human–River Encounter Sites: Looking for Harmony between Humans and Nature in Cities

“…Recreational interest is supported by various studies in different cultural and geographical contexts (i.e., Belgium, Turkey, southern China, Japan). Indeed, the value that residents assign to river areas increases after the conversion of this area into a space that favors multiple uses, such as walking, cycling, or quiet contemplation [123][124][125][126]. It has been demonstrated that such life experiences improve the ecological awareness in favor of river ecosystems [110].…”

What Do Students Know about Rivers and Their Management? Analysis by Educational Stages and Territories

“…Similarly, Ruiz-Villanueva et al [11] showed that people living near the Pyrenees mountains had a more positive perception about the presence of dead wood within river channels than those living in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, which has been associated with the good conservation of the rivers and forests of the Pyrenees region. In this vein, Rodríguez Lozano et al [10] found that students' perception of non-perennial streams differed between US states (Washington, California, and Arizona). More While fish were recognized as inhabitants of rivers by all educational levels, the percentage of respondents who also recognized plants, insects, and vertebrates increased with educational level.…”

“…In fact, rivers are still frequently perceived as water channels that flow into the sea, despite current scientific knowledge [9]. Similarly, the value of the diversity of existing river ecosystems is rarely recognized [10], as well as the biotic and abiotic elements needed for their conservation [11,12].…”