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Riparian buffers in tropical agriculture: Scientific support, effectiveness and directions for policy
Author(s) -
Luke Sarah H.,
Slade Eleanor M.,
Gray Claudia L.,
Annammala Kogila V.,
Drewer Julia,
Williamson Joseph,
Agama Agnes L.,
Ationg Miklin,
Mitchell Simon L.,
Vairappan Charles S.,
Struebig Matthew J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of applied ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.503
H-Index - 181
eISSN - 1365-2664
pISSN - 0021-8901
DOI - 10.1111/1365-2664.13280
Subject(s) - riparian zone , riparian buffer , biodiversity , riparian forest , context (archaeology) , environmental science , ecosystem , agriculture , geography , agroforestry , environmental resource management , habitat , ecology , biology , archaeology
There is a weak evidence base supporting the effective management of riparian ecosystems within tropical agriculture. Policies to protect riparian buffers—strips of non‐cultivated land alongside waterways—are vague and vary greatly between countries. From a rapid evidence appraisal, we find that riparian buffers are beneficial to hydrology, water quality, biodiversity and some ecosystem functions in tropical landscapes. However, effects on connectivity, carbon storage and emissions reduction remain understudied. Riparian functions are mediated by buffer width and habitat quality, but explicit threshold recommendations are rare. Policy implications . A one‐size fits all width criterion, commonly applied, will be insufficient to provide all riparian functions in all circumstances. Context‐specific guidelines for allocating, restoring and managing riparian buffers are necessary to minimise continued degradation of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in tropical agriculture.