Ecohydrology for implementation of the EU water framework directive

Abstract

Ecohydrology is defined as a sub-discipline of hydrology that focuses on ecological processes occurring within the hydrological cycle and strives to utilise such processes to enhance environmental sustainability. The first step in defining the role of ecohydrology for implementation of the EU water framework directive should be the analysis of the pattern of scientific methodologies that stimulate recent progress in environmental sciences. Such progress has been directly translated into ‘good ecological status' of inland and coastal waters. From the perspective of the evolution of paradigms in environmental sciences during recent decades, three stages can be distinguished. The first two are information (structure states, relationships) and knowledge (through integration of different scientific disciplines, synergies in information can highlight the patterns and processes (e.g. ecohydrology)). The third and most advanced stage of the science is wisdom – the ability to use information and knowledge to develop innovative solutions of environmental problems with consideration of priorities to society. The conceptual framework for transition from the first to the second and third stages is provided by three principles of ecohydrology: hydrological (information on the abiotic structure of a river basin; dynamics of hydrological processes and spatial temporal specifics of anthropogenic impacts); ecological (the potential for basin resilience enhancement); ecotechnological (the use of information and knowledge for the development of new ecological biotechnologies and system solutions). The implicit conclusion is that in order to accelerate cost-efficient implementation of the EU water framework directive, more effort has to be put into the transition from research to interdisciplinary efforts to deepen our knowledge of processes and regulatory mechanisms within ecosystems. Further progress from knowledge to wisdom has to be made by broader involvement of environmental scientists who use foresight methodology for harmonisation technologies, environmental potential and cultural heritage in large-scale projects of environment restoration and sustainable development of infrastructure.