Functional and taxonomic plant diversity for riverbank protection works: Bioengineering techniques close to natural banks and beyond hard engineering

Cavaillé, P.; Ducasse, Léon; Breton, Vincent; Dommanget, Fanny; Tabacchi, Eric; Évette, André

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.09.028

Cited by 38 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Hard engineering methods such as riprap, stone masonry, sheet piling, concrete slabs or gabion (stone) baskets have been used for many decades. These methods are effective against erosion, but they have a very strong footprint on the river ecosystem given that they cover the bank for a very long time and prevent the development of plants and habitats [Cavaillé et al, 2015]. This is particularly true in steep slopes of alpine rivers where application of standard methods can lead to substantial oversizing [Recking and Pitlick, 2013].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of fascines for riverbank protection in alpine rivers: Insight from flume experiments

Recking

Piton

Montabonnet

et al. 2019

Ecological Engineering

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We present the results of flume experiments specifically designed to investigate the conditions required for successful bank protection using fascines, considered in the early and critical stage of their installation (no developed root system), in the alpine context. A total of 145 runs were performed with erodible banks, considering different combinations of protection design (no protection, rip-raps, twigs), bed mobility (with or without bedload), discharge (from low to exceptional floods), and bend curvature radius. None of the runs showed any direct fascine grabbing by the flow observed; all destruction was the consequence of bank scouring, erosion and collapse around the structure. In all cases, most destructive effects resulted from water recirculation inside the bank. Thus, we conclude that all measures aiming to reduce water circulations during the first stage of the fascine construction and development are recommended. This include large bend curvature radii (when possible), fining of the filling material, use of antiscouring twigs, optimisation of the programming of the works with consideration of the hydrology (shape of hydrographs) and regular survey of the structure. Our experiments show that anti-scouring twigs have a real protective effect by modifying the local hydraulics and promoting sediment deposition at the bank toe.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of fascines for riverbank protection in alpine rivers: Insight from flume experiments

Recking

Piton

Montabonnet

et al. 2019

Ecological Engineering

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“…For example, on the Isère River in Savoie, river embankments joined with riverbank protection has led to a reduction of 90% of highly disturbed habitats with its specific vegetation (Girel 2010). Compared to civil engineering solutions, however, soil bioengineering techniques enhance local plant diversity (Cavaillé et al, 2015), macro benthic diversity (Cavaillé et al, 2018), habitat quality and multitaxonomic diversity (Janssen et al, 2019). Soil bioengineering also triggers successional dynamics similar to those theoretically found under natural conditions, favouring ecological processes (Tisserant et al, 2020).…”

Section: Case 3: Soil Bioengineering For Riverbank Protectionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Our assessment of soil bioengineering within the biodiversity-employment framework is then based on a large collection of case studies. Furthermore the participation of one of the authors to the assessment of the biodiversity of numerous soil bioengineering works in France, Switzerland or Canada (Cavaillé, Dommanget et al 2013, Cavaillé, Ducasse et al 2015, Janssen, Cavaillé et al 2019, Tisserant, Janssen et al 2020) makes it possible to draw some conclusions and hypotheses to assess the ratings related to biodiversity-friendliness. Soil bioengineering techniques for riverbank protection are nature-based solutions that replicate functioning natural systems with the aim of simultaneously solving erosion issues and fulfilling ecological functions.…”

Section: Case 3: Soil Bioengineering For Riverbank Protectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A biodiversity-employment framework to protect biodiversity

Ruault

Tour

Évette

et al. 2022

Ecological Economics

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Protecting biodiversity matters for the sustainability transition, but nothing yet seems to be able to halt the rate of biodiversity loss. The promotion of green jobs fuels questionable ideas, among which that there are green vs non-green jobs, and that the latter can be progressively replaced by green jobs. The option of developing jobs that could act to offset environmental damage is also attractive. Based on a social-ecological approach and the "strong sustainability" paradigm, the paper develops and tests a three-dimensional framework to highlight the complex and multifaceted relationship between employment growth and biodiversity enhancement. Three case studies are investigated using field expertise: slope revegetation, soil bioengineering and guided nature tours. The framework includes direct impacts of jobs on biodiversity, indirect impacts on biodiversity and ecological feedback on employment growth with two types of insights. First, it serves a reflexive analysis on the way these jobs, supposedly green, support and respond to biodiversity enhancement. Second, it helps tailor policy instruments adapted to each ideal-type of biodiversityemployment relationship towards a low biodiversity impacting economy. It highlights the various possible actionsfrom regulations to communication instrumentsalong with the types of biodiversity-employment relationships they address the best.

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“…Scientific studies on bioengineering structures along rivers mainly focus on methodological aspects, such as structural optimization and construction methods [11]. Some researchers found that succession of biocenose is found correlated with the techniques used in bank stabilization construction by biological investigation data from different structures [12][13][14]. The relationship between the distribution and diversity of plant communities and substrates are examined, but mostly concentrated on highway slopes and fluctuations of reservoir water levels [15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Analysis on Environmental Adaptability of Two Types of Bank Stabilization Structures along the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

Fan

Yang

Li³

et al. 2020

Sustainability

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With the aim to prevent channel incision and migration and provide protection at the riverbank, a series of ecological bank stabilization projects have been carried out in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. In this study, nine ecological bank stabilization areas using two different techniques, Steel mesh gabion (Type 1) and Chain-type bricks (Type 2), were compared in terms of environmental adaptability on the basis of the survey data of vegetation and substrate. There were no significant differences between the two types of dominant species before and after the flood season. Annual or biennial herbaceous plants had clear spatial competitive advantages while perennial herbs had clear temporal competitive advantages. While Type 1 was better than Type 2 in overall vegetation restoration and growth, Type 2 was more sensitive to periodic flood disturbance. Redundancy Analysis was used to determine the main environmental impact factors that caused differences on biotic indices of the two types. The clay content in the substrate was an important factor affecting vegetation cover and diversity for Type 1 while the substrate nutrient composition was important for Type 2. Generally, Type 1 presented stronger environmental adaptability in channel regulation projects.

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Functional and taxonomic plant diversity for riverbank protection works: Bioengineering techniques close to natural banks and beyond hard engineering

Cited by 38 publications

References 53 publications

Design of fascines for riverbank protection in alpine rivers: Insight from flume experiments

Design of fascines for riverbank protection in alpine rivers: Insight from flume experiments

A biodiversity-employment framework to protect biodiversity

Comparative Analysis on Environmental Adaptability of Two Types of Bank Stabilization Structures along the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

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