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University of Southampton Research Repository ePrints Soton Copyright © and Moral Rights for this thesis are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full thesis title", University of Southampton, name of the University School or Department, PhD Thesis, pagination http://eprints.soton.ac.uk UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS School of Geography A geomorphological framework for providing ecosystem services in lowland rivers by Simon Hunter Thesis for the degree of Masters of Philosophy November 2011 i UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON ABSTRACT FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS Masters of Philosophy A GEOMORPHOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR PROVIDING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN LOWLAND RIVERS by Simon Hunter The publication of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA, 2005) has generated widespread scientific debate regarding the importance of linkages between ecosystems and human well-being. An ecosystem services approach has presented many challenges during its early stages of development; fundamentally the ability to classify and value an ecosystem and its services. By its complex nature, ecosystem service research requires an interdisciplinary approach. The thesis focuses on the role of „geomorphology‟ as a means to providing a framework for delivering ecosystem services in lowland rivers. The framework introduces a reach-scale analysis of how geomorphological functions (GF) help provide a platform for bio-physical interactions that deliver multiple ecosystem services in lowland rivers. The analysis will assess the influence of geomorphological functions (GF) in providing ecosystem services. Understanding the links between „ecosystem services‟ and the functioning of ecosystems to human welfare is critical for a wide range of decision-making contexts (Fisher et al., 2008). River restoration provides a useful and practical technique for placing monetary costs to the functions that characterise geomorphologically diverse rivers, whilst allowing for a spatial understanding on how physical characteristics impact the delivery of multiple ecosystem services. Case studies help reveal other direct and indirect benefits associated with riverine environments. ii Table of Contents Abstract....................................................................................................................................... ii Table of contents......................................................................................................................... iii List of figures.............................................................................................................................. vi List of tables................................................................................................................................ x Declaration of authorship............................................................................................................ xiv 1.0.Introduction____________________________________________________________ 1 1.1. Lowland river ecosystems.................................................................................................... 3 1.2. Riverine ecosystem degradation........................................................................................... 4 1.2.1. An overview of the human role in changing channels......................................... 4 1.2.2. Morphological impacts.......................................................................................... 5 1.2.3. Water quality impacts............................................................................................ 8 1.2.4. The impact of land-use change.............................................................................. 8 1.3. Approaches to ecosystem management............................................................................... 15 1.3.1. The role of river restoration in ecosystem management....................................... 16 1.4. Resource exploitation and sustainable development............................................................ 20 1.5. Approaches to ecosystem classification............................................................................... 22 1.6. Ecosystem service classification: Problems and uncertainties............................................. 28 1.6.1. Existing ecosystem service classifications............................................................ 28 1.7. Valuing nature...................................................................................................................... 34 1.7.1. Non-market services.............................................................................................. 37 1.7.2. Valuing nature: Case study.................................................................................... 42 2.0. Aims and objectives______________________________________________________ 49 2.1. Aims..................................................................................................................................... 49 2.2. Objectives............................................................................................................................. 50 2.3. The requirement for a „geomorphological framework‟ for providing ecosystem services in lowland rivers.......................................................................................................................... 52 2.3.1. Multiple ecosystem service: Platte River restoration case study.......................... 54 2.4. A „geomorphological framework‟ for providing ecosystem services in lowland rivers...... 62 2.4.1. Geomorphological Functions (GF) and their characteristics................................ 64 iii 2.4.1a. Geomorphological Form........................................................................... 64 2.4.1b. Influencing Characteristics....................................................................... 70 2.4.1c. Connectivity.............................................................................................. 71 2.4.2. Geomorphological Functions (GF) and the delivery of Final Ecosystem Services (FES) in lowland rivers.......................................................................................................................... 73 2.4.3. „Geomorphological slider‟ concept....................................................................... 87 2.4.4. Restoring geomorphological functions................................................................. 89 3.0. Methodology____________________________________________________________ 92 3.1. Valuing geomorphological functions................................................................................... 92 3.1.1. Restoring GF......................................................................................................... 93 3.2. Indirect values willingness to accept government funding for GF and riverine FES.......... 95 3.2.1. Indirect value survey for lowland riverine ecosystems......................................... 97 3.3. Benefits of FES.................................................................................................................... 103 3.3.1. Calculating the benefits that stem from FES........................................................ 104 3.4. Calculating the total benefit stemming from FES that is derived from GF......................... 108 4.0. Results_________________________________________________________________ 109 4.1. The New Forest indirect value survey.................................................................................. 109 4.1.1. Respondents‟ river type choice............................................................................ 111 4.1.2. Respondents‟ „willingness to accept government funding‟ for their desired river type.......................................................................................................................... 116 4.1.3. Respondents‟ rank order of importance; FES...................................................... 119 4.1.4. „Willingness to accept government funding‟ – Percentage ratings for FES........ 126 4.1.5. Summary of the indirect data............................................................................... 134 4.2. Restoration survey – Defining the values of GF.................................................................. 136 4.2.1. Direct cost of restoration...................................................................................... 136 4.2.2. Restoration of GF; Delivering FES...................................................................... 138 4.3. Hypothetical cost example: Reconnecting a channelised reach with its floodplain............. 140 4.3.1. Summary of GF and the delivery of reach scale FES.......................................... 157 4.3.2. Reach-scale benefits............................................................................................. 158 iv 4.4. New Forest case study – A