Freshwater rewilding

1.2 Towards wilder waters

Rivers harbour some of the richest biodiversity on earth and provide an array of benefits to people. Healthy, free-flowing rivers that are well-connected with surrounding landscapes offer a wide range of habitats for wildlife species. Such ‘waterscapes’ also help to purify water and reduce the risk of downstream flooding in times of heavy rainfall, and are more resilient to the effects of climate change.

Rewilding means letting nature recover itself. In the context of rivers this means giving them the space and freedom to flow, flood, freeze and even periodically dry out. This means:

• removing artificial structures such as man-made dams, embankments and weirs
• reconnecting rivers to their floodplains, allowing riparian vegetation to naturally regenerate
• supporting the return of wildlife such as water voles, beavers, otters, and aquatic birds.

Some rivers may need a helping hand at first but many can heal themselves, often quickly and effectively.

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Healthy rivers are free-flowing rivers with more space for dynamic, natural processes such as the free flow of water and flooding.