Birds that nest on steep banks, such as sand martins and bee-eaters, are good indicators of the morphological condition of a body of water. Due to their dependence on insects as a food source, they are also good indicators of the ecological condition of the surrounding agricultural area. However, extensive straightening and obstruction of watercourses, as well as sediment retention behind transverse structures, has led to these birds now being found only in very isolated locations in the Alps and their foothills. Successful restoration of watercourses requires creating conditions that promote morphodynamic processes, such as bank erosion, to ensure their long-term survival. The EU Restoration Act increases the scale of the necessary measures and calls for a more thorough examination of existing conflicts of use.
In the ripa bnb project the WWF prepares suitable restoration measures on the Morava River in the Alpine-Carpathian Corridor. As a basis for this, BOKU is investigating the role of riparian sediments in providing suitable breeding habitats under the more natural conditions of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve and, based on measurements of riverbank erodibility, determines the ‘lifespan’ of steep bank sections and their dependence on external conditions. These models will then be tested in the more alpine conditions of the Lavant River, where a restoration measure has attracted sand martins, before being applied to the Morava floodplains. The WWF is tracking the birds as they search for food in order to draw conclusions about their hunting location preferences. Studia Austria, a research institution, is conducting a comprehensive study of the economic and social effects of bank-nesting-friendly management. Transdisciplinary methods are employed to engage a broad range of stakeholders and identify mutually beneficial solutions in situations that were initially considered conflicts of use.
Meaning of the title ‚ripa bnb‘
The Latin term ‘ripa’ refers to the riverbank; ‘bnb’ is derived from the abbreviation for ‘bank-nesting birds’, i.e. birds that nest on steep banks. The allusion to “bed and breakfast” (also “bnb”) is deliberate: the project focuses both on the steep banks as a habitat (“bed”) and on the surrounding countryside for foraging (“breakfast”). The full English project title is: “Restoring riparian zones in harmony with farming, fostering natural habitats for bank-nesting birds.”
ripa bnb is funded by the Earth System Sciences funding programme of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
