Revitalization of urban rivers: critical analysis of case studies.
Keywords:
Urban rivers, River restauration, ecosystem services, Environmental recovery, Nature-Based SolutionsAbstract
Urbanization processes have been responsible for the occupation and degradation of watercourse banks to meet various human needs. The resulting impacts on originally provided ecosystem services include water quality degradation, siltation, biodiversity reduction, eutrophication, among others. Urban river revitalization projects emerge as alternatives to preserve, conserve and restore watersheds. This study aims to review the terminology and technologies used in urban river revitalization projects and compare them with proposals for revitalization of the Brás River, in Florianópolis, and the Marambaia River, in Balneário Camboriú, in the state of Santa Catarina. These proposals focus on sanitation improvements, with actions to depollute water, and the installation of urban infrastructure for leisure and commerce. However, it was observed that the proposals neglect the gains and losses of ecosystem services, as well as ecological complexity, failing to implement Nature-Based Solutions. Prioritizing urban aesthetics and hydraulic aspects at the expense of ecosystem services may result in the loss of biodiversity and climate resilience, reinforcing the need for a systemic approach to urban basins management.
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