The Contribution of Riparian Zone on Urban Ecosystems through Climate Change Urban Adaptation Process

Abstract

The riparian zone plays a crucial role in the development and transformation of cities. This zone dramatically changes cities both ecologically and economically and is one of the cornerstones of the future scenarios of the city. These areas constitute significant emphasis throughout the city by providing wildlife, improving the water quality, reducing flood areas, and creating social activity areas in the city. Besides, it influences land use, transportation, energy efficiency, social life. The riparian zones are one of the most significant components of the cities that mitigate the climate change effects. Because, the existence of water creates microclimatic conditions around the cities and this conserves the heat island effect, greenhouse effect, and also air pollution. The deterioration of the sustainability of this important backbone throughout the city causes an important loss in terms of urban ecosystems. Because it is an important connection of natural life and urban life, and any deterioration causes two important characters to be separated from one another. In this regard, ensuring water management in the city is a crucial issue in terms of urban habitat. In the scope of this study, research was conducted on the contribution of riparian zone to the urban ecosystem and also how the presence of this backbone system in the city transforms the urban areas was discussed.