Riparian buffer length is more influential than width on river water quality: a case study in southern Costa Rica

Brumberg, H., Beirne, C., Broadbent, E. N., Almeyda Zambrano, A. M., Almeyda Zambrano, S. L., Quispe Gil, C. A., Lopez Gutierrez, B., Eplee, R. and Whitworth, A. (2021) Riparian buffer length is more influential than width on river water quality: a case study in southern Costa Rica. Journal of Environmental Management, 286, 112132. (doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112132) (PMID:33621848)

Abstract

Riparian zones are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world, but are at risk due to agricultural expansion and climate change. To maximize return on conservation investment in mixed-use landscapes, it is important to identify the minimum intact riparian forest buffer sizes to conserve riparian ecosystem services. The minimum riparian forest buffer width necessary to maintain tropical river water quality remains unclear, and there is little analysis of effective riparian buffer lengths. Also, in studies on the effect of land use on river water quality globally, there is little standardization in the area where land use is analyzed. Here, these challenges were addressed in the Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica. Water quality parameters and social variables were sampled at 194 locations across the region. For each sample, land use was calculated in nine different riparian buffer sizes and at the sampling location. Riparian forest cover had a positive effect on water quality parameters, while agricultural cover had a negative effect. The longer the length of the buffer considered, the greater the relative support for influencing water quality (1000 m > 500 m > 100 m). All buffer widths yielded similar support within each length class. These results indicate that length of riparian forest buffers, not width, drives their ability to conserve water quality. While wide and long riparian forests are ideal to maximize the protection of river water quality and other ecosystem services, in landscapes where that is impractical, the 15-m-wide riparian forest buffers that are supported by Costa Rican legislation could improve water quality, providing that they are at least 500 m long. The results also indicate the importance of methodological standardization in studies that monitor land use effects on water quality. The authors propose that studies in similar regions analyze land use in riparian zones 15-m-wide by 1000 m upstream. Conserving and restoring narrow, long riparian forest buffers could provide a rapid, economical management approach to balance agricultural production and water quality protection.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Whitworth, Dr Andrew
• Authors: Brumberg, H., Beirne, C., Broadbent, E. N., Almeyda Zambrano, A. M., Almeyda Zambrano, S. L., Quispe Gil, C. A., Lopez Gutierrez, B., Eplee, R., and Whitworth, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Management
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0301-4797
• ISSN (Online): 1095-8630
• Published Online: 20 February 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Journal of Environmental Management 286: 112132
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy