Enhancing multiple ecosystem services: Nature-based measures outperform technical interventions in river management

While rivers and floodplains provide critical ecosystem services such as water purification, flood regulation, and recreational opportunities, they face increasing pressures from anthropogenic activities and climate change. Traditional river management has predominantly relied on technical interventions, which have frequently been associated with reductions in the ability of ecosystems to deliver these critical services. This study aims to provide a robust basis for assessing the potential impacts of technical and nature-based river management measures on ecosystem services in rivers and floodplains. Using a synthesis-of-reviews approach based on PRISMA guidelines findings from nine review publications – including 25 nature-based and 26 technical river management measures – were summarized. Results demonstrate that nature-based river management measures exhibit significantly more positive and fewer negative effects on ecosystem services compared to technical measures. Over 84 % (21 out of 25) of nature-based interventions positively influence 6 to 17 ecosystem services, whereas technical measures, on average, positively affect only one service (±1.4 standard deviation, SD) and negatively impact approximately 15 (±5.3 SD). Nature-based measures also enhance ecological integrity, biodiversity, and climate resilience, making them critical for achieving multifunctional river landscapes. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners, emphasizing the need to prioritize nature-based measures in river management to enhance ecological conditions and sustain multiple ecosystem services. By integrating nature-based approaches, decision-makers can achieve more sustainable, multifunctional river systems that balance ecological, social, and economic objectives.