The Characteristics of Riparian Buffer Studies

Abstract

Riparian buffers are vegetated areas along water bodies that serve an array of functions, ranging from water quality protection, soil erosion control, to species preservation. The establishment and maintenance of riparian buffers have been an important environmental management practice in the United States since the 1970’s. Emerging along with this practice is a body of knowledge about riparian buffers. In this article, over 500 articles published in the past three decades are reviewed, substantiating this still evolving field of inquiry, which we shall designate as riparian buffer studies. Among the major findings of the literature review are (1) the literature starts to emerge with greater frequency in the 1980’s, grows in depth and scope throughout the 1990’s, and continues to the present date; (2) publications surveyed fall into three broad thematic categories that relate to the functions, performance, and policies of riparian buffers, respectively; (3) a large percentage of the publications (over 80%) address issues across thematic categories; (4) this convergence of thematic categories may suggest not only the interwoven nature of the various aspects of riparian buffers, but also the need for a holistic approach to riparian buffer studies; (5) geospatial information technology plays an integral role in the evolution of riparian buffer studies; (6) emerging themes for riparian buffer studies include optimization of benefits, wildlife research, ecosystem restoration, headwater stream functions, economics, restoration, performance, policy, active management, and disturbance ecology, just to name a few.

Keywords: A holistic approach, buffer function, buffer performance, buffer policy, geospatial information technology, optimization of buffer benefits, riparian buffers, riparian buffer studies