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Foreword
conservation of riparian systems. It may not be
feasible to preserve intact the whole system of
which any riparian habitat is a part.
Instead,
managers must strive to conserve the values of
riparian systems by maintaining their vital
processes.
This would mean preserving many
riparian habitats intact, but allowing controlled use
in others.
It gives one cause to wonder that until fifteen years
ago, the term "riparian" was unknown to the
majority of people, laymen and scientists alike.
This is the word that is used to describe our most
valuable and controversial parcels of land, which
are known collectively as wetlands. It is as if there
was a sudden recognition of the existence of
riparian areas and the critical need to study and
conserve these unique ecosystems.
It is estimated that 45 million acres of an original
total of 127 million acres of wetlands have been lost
to commercial development, agriculture and other
uses. Much of the remaining wetlands have been
damaged by pollution, timber cutting, land drainage
and other activities.
The demand for wetland
habita ts continues to increase as does the subtle
degradation of our nation's remaining riparian
ecosystems.
The First North American Riparian Conference held
in Tucson, Arizona on April 16-18, 1985 was a
milestone for the riparian issue.
The overlying
theme "Riparian Ecosystem and Their Management
- Reconciling Conflicting Uses" has brought new
dimension to the international wetlands picture.
Past research efforts have primarily focused on
detailed but single-issued studies of biological or
hydrological factors, biotic diversities, flow rates
and the like. All these factors contribute to make
riparian areas extemely important habitats in any
environment, but their value increases significantly
when you add in man's demand for these resources.
These preceedings deal with the complexities and
contradictions of preservation and use and set the
direction for the future of riparian management.
As a result of the wealth of research and studies
conducted involving riparian ecosystems, managing
agencies and the public are more cognizant of the
value of wetlands.
Building on this awareness,
action should follow.
What is needed is the implementation of a
comprehensive
legislative
mandate
for
the
protection, conservation and rehabilitation of
riparian ecosystems.
Previous efforts have
addressed only pieces of the whole. Legislation
must include all aspects of riparian systems and
address all levels of involvement - federal, state,
local and private - to be effective.
The reconciliation of the many conflicting uses of
riparian ecosystems is the only way to salvage these
extremely finite and decreasing habitats. It is not
enough to preserve them solely for their natural
values, to provide crucial habitat for avian,
mammal and aquatic species and to maintain
undisturbed areas for associated riparian vegetation
to ebb and flourish in response to unmanipulated
rivers and watersheds. These same areas are widely
sought after for the building of homes, industrial
sites and recreational facilities, to hunt, fish and
camp in, to convert to farmlands and raise
livestock, to store water for irrigation, industries
and cities. The goal should be, not total protection
or commercial exploitation, but balance the
The nature of riparian systems means that
jur isdictional boundaries are ignored, therefore
management
decisions
for
these
important
resources must include all landowners and address
all possible impacts.
A focused international
program for protective management of riparian
systems is a necessity. Our riparian lands are too
important a natural resource to ignore.
Bruce Babbitt
Governor of Arizona
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