Floodplains represent some of the most species-rich and endangered ecosystems in Europe. They are also hugely important for storing floodwaters, improving water quality, enhancing riparian landscapes, producing economic goods (such as timber) and supporting recreational pursuits. When, then, have so few schemes to restore a floodplain been put into practice? Whereas river restoration has in recent years become a widely practised form of environmental enhancement, floodplain restoration is under-developed, limited largely to a few, small-scale demonstration sites. This book explores the reasons behind the discrepancy between growing policy interest in floodplains and limited instances of restoration. It presents original, comparative analysis of the shifting policy contexts of floodplain restoration in the EU, Germany, France and England and Wales, illustrating how recent reforms and re-thinking are creating new opportunities for restoring floodplains. Case studies of six schemes to restore floodplains - two from each of the countries studied - demonstrate how these opportunities are being exploited, but also what difficulties are being encountered by project managers. The findings and recommendations of the book are targeted at researchers and professionals engaged in policy development and project implementation at EU, national and local levels in fields relevant to river and floodplain restoration.
