**5. Social significance**

**3. Ecosystem services of riparian vegetation**

**2.1. Ecosystem services of riparian vegetation** 

supports to run their livelihoods.

98 Biodiversity - The Dynamic Balance of the Planet

fauna (Walter *et al*. 1998).

**4. Ecological significance**

run their livelihoods.

*Madhuca latifolia*.

branches of *Madhuca latifolia*.

provide wantage points to epiphytes.

**2.2. Ecological significance** 

Riparian forests performs an array of functions in its buffer are which are beneficial to regional ecosystem to meet the some of their essential needs for their survival in the ecosystem. Some specific species stand unique in portraying their services in the particular ecosystem due to its morphological and phenological nature where their life cycle influences to protect stability of several flora and fauna in the ecosystem. Besides these functions, several species of riparian vegetation render services to the humans, as they provide several direct and indirect economic

forests. Riparian zones are utilized by wildlife as a sort of "natural highway". They are important to mammals and birds as they journey up and down the river during daily movements besides seasonal migrations. Much wildlife is found to be associated on floodplains than in any other landscape unit in most regions of the world (Klement and Stanford, 2002). In the Pacific coastal ecoregion (USA), for example, approximately 29% of wildlife species found in riparian forests are riparian obligates (Kelsey & West 1998). It provides habitat for more species of breeding birds than any other vegetation association. For example, of all bird species breeding in northern Colorado, 82% occur in riparian vegetation, and about half of south-western species depend upon riparian vegetation (Knopf & Samson 1994). Riparian areas in semiarid zones are critical in providing stopover areas for *en route* migrants (acting as 'dispersal filters'), and therefore affect the breeding success of northern bird populations (Skagen *et al.* 1998). In Europe, 30% of threatened bird species are inland wetland-dependent species and 69% of the important breeding areas for birds contain wetland habitats, primarily flood plains (Tiker & Evans 1997). In Switzerland, 10% of the entire fauna is restricted in its occurrence to riverine flood plains, although flood plains only cover 0.26% of the country's surface. Among 10%, 28% of the fauna frequently uses flood plains and about 44% is occasionally found in flood plains. A high proportion of the riparian obligates (47%) is listed as endangered, compared to 28% for the entire

The riparian plant species improves the microclimatic condition thereby allowing the other associated species to to grow in the community. The forks of old trees in the riparian zone

grow in the community. The forks of old trees in the riparian zone provide wantage points to epiphytes.

Figure 2. Epiphyte *Acampe praemorsa* growing on forks of tree species *Terminalia arjuna* and Orchids laden on tree branches of

**Figure 2.** Epiphyte *Acampe praemorsa* growing on forks of tree species *Terminalia arjuna* and Orchids laden on tree

Riparian species develops typical root modifications to withstand during the flood events. Such typical modifications of plant root systems are called as buttressed root systems. The buttressed root systems provide the strength to the tree species and to facilitates a suitable site to other riparian species to grow. Rivers combined with such root systems in conjunction with other herbaceous vegetation dissipate stream energy, resulting in less erosion and a reduction in flood damage. A 5 cm deep root system resists erosion up to 20,000 times better than bare soil stream banks. A woody root mat is the "re-bat' of stream banks. The riparian canopy provides organic matter via litter fall; surfaces of submerged leaves are sites of primary and secondary production by micro algae and bacteria, which can rival that of phytoplankton and bactereophils in water column. The Logs of riparian vegetation play an important role in the dynamics of stream morphology and serve as substrates for biological activity by microbial and invertebrate organisms. On land the riparian stream ecosystem is the single most pro‐

Riparian species develops typical root modifications to withstand during the flood events. Such typical modifications of plant root systems are called as buttressed root systems. The buttressed root systems provide the strength to the tree species and to facilitates a suitable site to other riparian species to grow. Rivers combined with such root systems in conjunction with other herbaceous vegetation dissipate stream energy, resulting in less erosion and a reduction in flood damage. A 5 cm deep root system resists erosion up to 20,000 times better than bare soil stream banks. A woody root mat is the "re-bat' of stream banks. The riparian canopy provides organic matter via litter fall; surfaces of submerged leaves are sites of primary and secondary production by micro algae and bacteria, which can

The riparian plant species improves the microclimatic condition thereby allowing the other associated species to to

Riparian forests performs an array of functions in its buffer are which are beneficial to regional ecosystem to meet the some of their essential needs for their survival in the ecosystem. Some specific species stand unique in portraying their services in the particular ecosystem due to its morphological and phenological nature where their life cycle influences to protect stability of several flora and fauna in the ecosystem. Besides these functions, several species of riparian vegetation render services to the humans, as they provide several direct and indirect economic supports to Past civilizations came up on river banks, the followed generations used rivers as a source of water and food. The flood plains of the Indus, the Nile delta, and the fertile crescent of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers provided man with all his basic necessities. They can be considered the pillars of human civilization as they have formed the nuclei for human settlements from the very origins of mankind. Fishing is a major means of livelihood for the people who resided in and around the riparian zones. Many of the tribal's depend upon the river for fishing. The riparian vegetation decrease soil erosion and support silt thereby avoiding the pollutant input to the river. The shade, fruits and flowers offered by the riparian vegetations promotes the fish abundance in the aquatic ecosystems. The riparian vegetation provides Non Wood Forest Products for the dependent communities especially tribals who use the riparian forest to make their huts (Mainly *Bamboo* and *Ochlandra*), honey collections, timber, manure for farming and medicinal plants etc.
