Synergies between freshwater aquaculture and riparian forest restoration for ecosystem health

Abstract

Freshwater aquaculture and riparian forest restoration are complementary strategies that can improve ecosystem health, enhance biodiversity, and encourage sustainable land and water management. Combining aquaculture with the rehabilitation of riparian forests creates synergies that can enhance water quality, improve fish habitat, and restore ecological processes in degraded landscapes. Through riparian buffers, naturally occurring filtration processes are enhanced in freshwater aquaculture systems, and restored riparian forests can provide important habitats for aquatic life, reduce soil erosion, and stabilize streambanks. These synergies also enhance carbon sequestration and support the sustainability of aquatic and terrestrial systems in the face of climate change. Nonetheless, the balance between aquaculture and riparian area restoration must be carefully managed to ensure that nutrient runoff, disease transmission, and invasive species are managed. The proposed approach appears to be a promising solution to attaining sustainable ecosystem management that would allow supporting ecological and economic objectives, which can help restore freshwater ecosystems and the surrounding landscape.