Preface
Introduction.
Part I General characteristics
1. Definition and variability of riparian forests andfloodplain forests.
Common characteristics: defining elements.
Factors of variability.
The variability of riparian forests in metropolitan France.
Conclusion.
Bibliographical references.
2. Functions and ecosystem services associated with riverineforests.
Panel of associated functions and services.
Conditions for the fulfilment of these functions.
Conclusion.
Bibliographical references.
3. Vulnerability of riverine forests to global change.
Response of riparian forest species and individuals to wateravailability.
Up scaling, a major challenge.
Impact of climate change and river changes on wateravailability.
Community changes.
How will riverine forests function in the future?
Bibliographical references.
4. Assessment, monitoring and mapping of riparian forestsand floodplain forests.
Overview of assessment and monitoring approaches.
Spatial characterisation by remote sensing.
Conclusion.
Bibliographical references.
Part II Physical, biological and social dimensions
5. River dynamics and riverine forests along major rivers
Some hydromorphological concepts
Interactions between hydrogeomorphological processes andvegetation dynamics.
The spatial organisation of floodplain forests
Evolution of river channels and alluvial plains of majorrivers
Conclusion
Bibliographical references
6. Forest succession in an alluvial context: characteristicsand mechanisms
Types of succession and general characteristics
General characteristics of the different stages ofsuccession and associated mechanisms.
Successions in alluvial and riparian environments.
Integrating succession processes into management: what ispossible at the site level.
Bibliographical references.
7. The fauna of riparian forests and floodplain forests.
Special features of riverine forests for biodiversity.
Role for invertebrates.
Role for fish, amphibians and reptiles.
Role for birds.
Role for mammals.
Recommendations for the management and biodiversityconservation.
Bibliographical references.
8. Biotic health problems affecting riverine forest trees.
Contextualisation of riparian forests.
Diseases found in rivers.
Other diseases affecting riverine forest species.
Recommendations for combating harmful diseases in riverineforests.
Bibliographical references.
9. Forest genetic resources in riverine forests.
Why are forest genetic resources and their diversityimportant?
Definition and benefits.
FGR conservation programmes.
Regulatory framework for the use of genetic resources:different possible scenarios.
Conclusion.
Bibliographical references.
10. Landscape perception and social uses of riverineforests, examples from the Loire and Garonne rivers
Perceiving riverine forests: a diversity of situations.
The geo-historical construction of the riverine landscapesof the Garonne and Loire rivers
Perception of the riverine forests of the Garonne and Loirerivers.
Uses and perceptions of riverbanks and urban riverineforests, example of the Loire river in Blois.
Conclusion.
Bibliographical references
Part III Issues, debates and management
11. Ecological restoration of riverbanks and riparianforests.
What is ecological restoration?
Ecological restoration of riverine environments.
Plant engineering to restore riparian environments.
Restoration of heavily invaded riverine environments.
Conclusion.
Bibliographical references.
12. Intervene or let nature take its course?
What role for differentiated and non-systematic managementin the day-to-day management of riparian forests in France?
From overexploitation to rewilding in alluvial environments.
Conclusion.
Bibliographical references.
13. Role and management of dead and floating wood on landand in water
Production and mobility of floating wood in rivers
Effect of dead wood on aquatic environments
Effect of floating wood on human issues
Management of dead and floating wood in rivers
Conclusion.
Bibliographical references.
14. Poplar plantations, between societal and environmentalissues.
Poplar plantations in the Centre-Val de Loire region.
National perspective.
Conclusion.
Bibliographical references.
15. Riparian forests, an ‘unidentified legal entity’?Summary review of regulations that could potentially ensure their protection.
Riparian forests, an ‘unidentified legal entity’.
Indirect protection of riparian forests through the channel.
Indirect protection through the riverbank.
Protection through the ‘habitats, species, managed or protectedareas’ entry.
Conclusion.
Part IV Targeted knowledge
Fact sheet 1. Epiphytic bryophytes on trees in riverineforests: comparison of native and introduced species.
Fact sheet 2. Fungi: indicators of the impact of climatechange on riverine forests.
Fact sheet 3. Contributions of the National Forest Inventoryto knowledge of riverine forests.
Fact sheet 4. Ancient forests: a rare heritage in thealluvial valleys of Champagne.
Fact sheet 5. Frapval: Ancient forests and riverine forestsin the small valleys of Puisaye.
Fact sheet 6. The Loire Valley World Heritage Site:primarily a cultural landscape.
Part V Tools and indicators
Fact sheet 7. Knowledge of the ecology of riverine foresttrees: French forest flora.
Fact sheet 8. Role of dendromicrohabitats in the assessmentand conservation of riverine forest biodiversity.
Sheet 9. Monitoring floodplain forests in the Loire ValleyNature Reserve
Sheet 10. The riparian forest biodiversity and connectivityindex.
Sheet 11. RipaScan, a tool for assessing riparian ecologicalfunctions.
Sheet 12. New tools to assist in the management offloodplain forests in the middle Loire.
Part VI Feedback on management strategies and measures
Sheet 13. Strategy for adapting alluvial forests to climatechange: Natur’Adapt in the Val de Sully.
Sheet 14. Integration of riparian forests into actionprogrammes for rivers in Wallonia.
Sheet 15. Passive ecological restoration of riparianforests: principle, monitoring and effects.
Fact sheet 16. Differentiated management of riparian forestsin the Leguer watershed.
Fact sheet 17. The contribution of a forestry structure toadvising on riparian afforestation in Artois-Picardy.
Fact sheet 18. Planting of wooded strips in the Nievrebasin: challenges for local authorities and perception by the agriculturalcommunity.
Fact sheet 19. Sheep grazing as a tool for controlling boxelder in the Île du Girard Reserve.
Fact sheet 20. Raising awareness of the heritage value andreintroduction of wild black poplar in the Saône basin.
Fact sheet 21. Natural riparian models and riverbankrestoration in Montreal.
Part VII Feedback on active restoration projects
Fact sheet 22. Restoration of riparian forests in urbanareas: example on the Saône river in the Lyon metropolitan area.
Fact sheet 23. Restoring the functionality of riverineforests along the Rhône river, between reactivation of natural processes andrevegetation.
Fact sheet 24. Restoration of alluvial environments on theDordogne: the former Gaule gravel pit.
Fact sheet 25. Restoring the alluvial functioning of theRohrschollen Island Nature Reserve, Strasbourg.
Fact sheet 26. 3rd correction of the Rhone. Anticipatorymeasure on the Clous Islands, Switzerland
Fact sheet 27. Reconstitution of riparian forest in an urbanenvironment subject to flooding: the lower Yzeron
Fact sheet 28. Ecological restoration of the Leysse inChambery as part of the securing of flood defence systems
General conclusion
Afterword.
List of authors
