The Urban River Syndrome: Achieving Sustainability Against a Backdrop of Accelerating Change

Agroforestry Contributions to Urban River Rehabilitation

The context of urban rivers is one of pollution of their courses, the degradation of riparian habitats, the loss of biodiversity, and the marginalization of the human populations that live next to them. Due to urban growth, the hydrological dynamics in entire basins and the hydromorphology of rivers are changing. This situation increases flooding, decreases the availability of water for human use, and disconnects the rivers from the dynamics of the city. Agroforestry is the integration of cultural, wild, and domesticated diversity with use, conservation, and restoration objectives. These practices in cities can contribute to addressing the problems mentioned. We analyze agroforestry practices and the socio-ecological contributions to urban river rehabilitation. We review 37 experiences worldwide. Agroforestry practices included in the review are trees and hedgerows; wetland agroforestry; aquatic, botanical, edible, educational, and rain gardens; bioswales; green parking lots; food forestry; vegetation in alleys and streets; vertical terrace walls, among others. Agroforestry contributes to efforts to solve urban river problems, improve water quality and access, restore riparian habitats, enhance river hydromorphology, support local economies, and create a river culture. We emphasize promoting multi-relational people–river interactions based on theoretical and practical frameworks that integrate diverse disciplines, perspectives, and experiences.