A Holistic Catchment‐Scale Framework to Guide Flood and Drought Mitigation Towards Improved Biodiversity Conservation and Human Wellbeing

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, vol. 12

Abstract

ABSTRACT As climatic extremity intensifies, a fundamental rethink is needed to promote the sustainable use of freshwater resources. Both floods and droughts, including water scarcity, are exacerbating declines in river biodiversity and ecosystem services, with consequences for both people and nature. Although this is a global challenge, densely populated regions such as Europe, East Asia and North‐America, as well as the regions most affected by climate change, are particularly vulnerable. To date mitigation measures have mainly focused on individual, local‐scale targets, often neglecting hydrological connectivity within catchments and interactions among hydrology, biodiversity, climate change and human wellbeing. A comprehensive approach is needed to improve water infiltration, retention and groundwater recharge, thereby mitigating the impacts of heavy rainfall and floods as well as droughts and water scarcity. We propose a holistic catchment‐scale framework that combines mitigation measures including conventional civil engineering methods, nature‐based solutions and biodiversity conservation actions. This framework integrates legislation, substantial funding and a governance structure that transcends administrative and discipline boundaries, enabling coordinated actions across multiple spatial and temporal scales. It necessitates the collaboration of local and regional stakeholders including citizens, scientists and practitioners. A holistic vision for the sustainable management of freshwater resources could have synergistic effects that support biodiversity and mitigate climate change within functional ecosystems that deliver benefits to people.

Authors 12

1. Phillip Joschka Haubrock corresponding

   Gulf University for Science & Technology · Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt/M · University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice · South Bohemia research center of aquaculture and biodiversity of hydrocenoses

   Affiliation as printed

   CAMB, Center for Applied Mathematics and Bioinformatics Gulf University for Science and Technology Kuwait

   Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses University of South Bohemia in České Budejovice Vodňany Czech Republic

   Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt Department of River Ecology and Conservation Gelnhausen Germany

   Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses University of South Bohemia in České Budejovice Vodňany Czech Republic

   Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt, Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Gelnhausen, Germany

2. Rachel Stubbington

   Nottingham Trent University

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Science and Technology Nottingham Trent University Nottingham UK

   School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

3. Nicola Fohrer

   Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

   Affiliation as printed

   Department Hydrology and Water Resources Management Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, CAU Kiel Germany

   Department Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, CAU, Kiel, Germany

4. Henner Hollert

   Goethe University Frankfurt · LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics · Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology

   Affiliation as printed

   Department Environmental Media Related Ecotoxicology Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME Schmallenberg Germany

   Faculty of Biological Sciences Goethe University Frankfurt Frankfurt Germany

   LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE‐TBG) Frankfurt Germany

   Department Environmental Media Related Ecotoxicology, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Schmallenberg, Germany

   Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany

   LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt, Germany

5. Sonja C. Jähnig

   Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

   Affiliation as printed

   Geography Department Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany

   Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, IGB Berlin Germany

   Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, IGB, Berlin, Germany

6. Bruno Merz

   University of Potsdam · GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Environmental Sciences and Geography University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany

   Section Hydrology GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences Potsdam Germany

   Institute for Environmental Sciences and Geography, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

   Section Hydrology, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany

7. Claudia Pahl‐Wostl

   Osnabrück University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Environmental Systems, Research University of Osnabrück Osnabrück Germany

8. Holger Schüttrumpf Aachen Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany

   Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

9. Doerthe Tetzlaff

   Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

   Affiliation as printed

   Geography Department Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany

   Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, IGB Berlin Germany

   Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, IGB, Berlin, Germany

10. Karsten Wesche

    German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research · Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz · International University Institute (IHI) Zittau · Technische Universität Dresden

    Affiliation as printed

    Botany Department Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz Görlitz Germany

    German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research – iDiv – Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany

    International Institute Zittau TUD Dresden University of Technology Zittau Germany

    International Institute Zittau, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Zittau, Germany

11. Klement Tockner

    Goethe University Frankfurt · Senckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Biological Sciences Goethe University Frankfurt Frankfurt Germany

    Senckenberg‐Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research Frankfurt Germany

    Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany

    Senckenberg-Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research, Frankfurt, Germany

12. Peter Haase corresponding

    Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt/M · University of Duisburg-Essen

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Biology Universität Duisburg‐Essen Essen Germany

    Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt Department of River Ecology and Conservation Gelnhausen Germany

    Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt, Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Gelnhausen, Germany