Afforestation
Afforestation is the process of planting trees, either to replace those removed during forest harvesting or as a means of land use conversion.Agricultural practice
Agronomic practices which have the primary purpose of improvements to agriculture can, in some cases, contribute to the functioning of natural water retention measures.Agroecology
FAO describes Agroecology as a transformative pathway towards sustainable food systems based on 13 principles and 10 elements.
Agroforestry
According to the FAO “Agroforestry is the collective term for land-use systems and technologies in which woody perennials (e.g.
Appropriate design of roads and stream crossings
The design and material used in forest road building may have strong impact on erosion risk and water quality in streams.
Artificial groundwater recharge (AGR)
AGR stores large quantities of water in underground aquifers to increase the quantity of groundwater in times of shortage.ﾠ It results in a lowering of run-off from surrounding land, and in an enhanced natural conditionBank
The sloping side of any hollow in the ground, especially when bordering a river.
Basins and ponds
Basins and ponds store surface run-off.ﾠ Detention basins are free from water in dry weather flow conditions but ponds (e.g., retention ponds, flood storage reservoirs, shallow impoundments) contain water in dry weather,Biophysical environment
The biophysical environment is the biotic and abiotic surrounding of an organism or population, and consequently includes the factors that have an influence in their survival, development and evolution.
Biophysical parameter
A biophysical parameter is a measurable characteristic that can help in defining a particular system.Bioretention system
Bioretention systems are vegetated, shallow depressions that temporarily pond stormwater before passing it through a layered profile that commonly includes surface mulch, engineered soil media, and vegetation, often u
Buffer strips and hedges
Buffer strips and hedgerows are natural or semi-natural vegetated features integrated into agricultural and semi-urban landscapes to enhance ecological and hydrological functions.
Channels and Rills
'Hard-edged' conveyance channels to move water between components in a SuDS 'train'.ﾠ Typically narrower than swales, but may also include vegetated aspects. - Based on Stella definitions, adapted by NWRM project expertCoarse woody debris
Coarse woody debris is a key stream habitat feature used by fish and other organisms.Continuous Cover forestry
Continuous cover forestry (CCF) is a broad term encompassing a wide variety of forest management practices. One key feature of is that biomass removal is based either on small clearcuts or selective harvesting.Controlled Drainage
The process of managing the drainage volume and water table elevation by regulating the flow from a surface or subsurface agricultural drainage system.
Early sowing
Early sowing refers to sowing up to six weeks before the normal sowing season.ﾠ This allows for an earlier and quicker development of crops and of a root network that leads to soil protection.ﾠ The period in which the soEconomic cost
Sacrifice associated to the use of available resources to one means instead of another (so that any economic cost is indeed an opportunity cost) or of following one course of action instead of the best available alternatElimination of riverbank protection
The suppression of lateral constraints consists in removing some bank protection in order to enhance lateral connection of the river, diversifying flows (depth, substrate, speed), diversify habitats but also capping flooEnvironmental cost
Negative impacts connected with the actual or potential degradation of natural assets or environmental quality due to economic activities.Equivalent Annual Cost
The cost per year of implementing a NWRM over its entire lifespan. EAC is used when comparing NWRMs of unequal lifespans.Externality
(either positive or negative). Third-party effect or welfare impact, which is both unilateral (i.e. one cannot decide neither whether to suffer it or not nor how much impact to bear), and non-compensated.Filter Strips
Gently sloping vegetated strips of land that provide opportunities for slow conveyance and infiltration. Designed to accept runoff as overland flow from upstream and to slow the progress of this runoff.Financial cost
The (monetary) value of resources deployed for the implementation of any NWRM, which includes upfront capital expenditures, either from new investments or the replacement of assets in past investments; depreciation allow