View of the Mississippi River from Perot State Park

International Conference on Rivers and Civilization:
Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Major River Basins


La Crosse, Wisconsin USA
June 25-28, 2006

HOST AND PRESENTER INSTITUTIONS
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Home Page National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium Home Page

CONFERENCE SPEAKER

Christer Nilsson (Umea University, Sweden): Landscape Ecology of Large Rivers: Human Modifications and Management of Floodplains and Watersheds. (Abstract)

photo of Christer Nilsson Christer Nilsson is a Professor of Landscape Ecology at Umea University, Sweden. His primary work is devoted to the landscape ecology of rivers, especially land-water interactions, effects of human impacts, management and restoration.  Professor Nilsson has published more than 100 papers, and nine PhD theses have been produced under his supervision. He is a subject-matter editor of the journals Ecological Applications; Journal of Ecology; Ecosystems; Ecology & Society; and Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. He serves as Chair of the Section of Spatial and Landscape Ecology in the Faculty of 1000 and is a member of the Scientific Steering Committee for the Global Water Systems Project.
http://www.eg.umu.se/river/ripecol.html

Abstract: Large rivers are highly dynamic and diverse landscape complexes that integrate watershed processes at the scale of continents. Large rivers foster species-rich and productive biota and vital human cultures. Large rivers also belong among those ecosystems that have been most adversely affected by human intervention, including structural modification of river channels, and alterations of flow regime and water quality. In many parts of the world, human societies use most of the rivers' available freshwater, mostly for agriculture, leading to deterioration of riverine ecosystems and drawbacks to human cultures. Increasing water demands and climate changes imply that many rivers will face dramatic, future increases or decreases in water availability. Some rivers are the targets of restoration efforts to ameliorate their ability to provide ecosystem goods and services. However, balancing the water needs of human societies and riverine ecosystems on a global scale is an immense challenge. This paper will provide a general overview of the development and current status of the landscape ecology of large rivers. It will give consideration to human modifications and management of riverine floodplains and watersheds and their effects on ecosystems. It will also discuss salient issues pertaining to policy and public involvement in landscape management and conservation of riverine ecosystems.