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Sustainability
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Sustainable Solutions for River Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation
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Sustainable Solutions for River Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainability, Biodiversity and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1839

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Luisa Sarmento-Soares

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Animal), Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Campus Goiabeiras. Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória 29075-910, ES, Brazil
Interests: freshwater fishes; river restoration; conservation; biogeography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As urbanization and environmental degradation continue to threaten freshwater ecosystems, the implementation of effective river restoration and ecological protection strategies has never been more urgent. Urban rivers are often subjected to pollution, habitat loss, and increased flooding events, which lead to a decline in biodiversity and compromise water quality. In this context, sustainable solutions that incorporate ecological restoration practices, community engagement, and innovative agricultural techniques such as syntropic agriculture are essential for revitalizing these critical habitats.

This Special Issue welcomes contributions that focus on a spectrum of topics related to river restoration and ecological protection, with an emphasis on fostering environmental sustainability and enhancing biodiversity in freshwater systems. The importance of preserving aquatic habitats is underscored by their role in supporting diverse species, including freshwater fishes, which are vital components of healthy ecosystems.

We encourage researchers and practitioners to submit original research articles, case studies, and reviews that explore innovative methodologies and community-driven initiatives for river restoration.

Prof. Dr. Luisa Sarmento-Soares
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ecological restoration
  • environmental sustainability
  • river restoration
  • biodiversity
  • conservation
  • freshwater fishes
  • syntropic agriculture
  • community engagement

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1450 KB  
Article
Same Fishways, Different Rivers: Do Ecohydrological Origins Shape Passage Strategies in Allopatric Mediterranean Cyprinids?
by Filipe Romão, Francisco Javier Bravo-Córdoba, Ana L. Quaresma, Ana García-Vega, Juan F. Fuentez-Pérez and Francisco J. Sanz-Ronda
Sustainability 2026, 18(9), 4226; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18094226 - 24 Apr 2026
Viewed by 523
Abstract
River fragmentation caused by dam construction threatens global fish conservation. Mediterranean ecosystems are particularly affected, and the Iberian Peninsula, with its highly fragmented rivers, exemplifies this challenge. Endemic allopatric congeneric barbels (Luciobarbus bocagei and L. sclateri) are particularly vulnerable cyprinids because [...] Read more.
River fragmentation caused by dam construction threatens global fish conservation. Mediterranean ecosystems are particularly affected, and the Iberian Peninsula, with its highly fragmented rivers, exemplifies this challenge. Endemic allopatric congeneric barbels (Luciobarbus bocagei and L. sclateri) are particularly vulnerable cyprinids because they rely on river connectivity for migration. Despite the deployment of fishways, their effectiveness in Mediterranean rivers with variable hydrology and high endemism remains unclear. This study compares the passage of L. bocagei (Duero basin) and L. sclateri (Segura basin) across two fishway types: Vertical Slot and Submerged Notch with Bottom Orifice. Passage trials were analysed using standardised metrics, motivation, ascent success, and transit time, under a time-to-event framework. Results suggest that species, size, ecohydrological context, and fishway interact to shape passage outcomes. L. sclateri exhibited higher motivation and faster passage attempts, likely reflecting adaptation to ephemeral flows. Ascent success was similar between species and fishway type. Larger individuals demonstrated greater motivation and shorter transit times, regardless of species or fishway. These findings highlight the importance of integrating ecohydrological context and behavioural variability into fishway assessment. Adaptive management accounting for species- and site-specific traits is essential to enhance connectivity and support endemic populations under growing anthropogenic and climatic pressures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Solutions for River Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation)
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15 pages, 12077 KB  
Article
The ‘Córregos da Tiririca’ Collective: Replicating the Experience of Restoration of an Urban Stream with Syntropic Agriculture-Oceanic Region of Niterói-Rio de Janeiro-Brazil
by Luisa Maria Sarmento-Soares, Fernando São Thiago Tanscheidt, Felipe Silva Lima Queiroz and Ronaldo Fernando Martins-Pinheiro
Sustainability 2026, 18(4), 1969; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18041969 - 14 Feb 2026
Viewed by 476
Abstract
The degradation of urban streams is a critical challenge for cities worldwide, often exacerbated by climate change. In Niterói, Brazil, the Itaipu Lagoon and its tributaries, such as Colibris Stream, face siltation, pollution, and riparian forest loss. This article presents and analyzes a [...] Read more.
The degradation of urban streams is a critical challenge for cities worldwide, often exacerbated by climate change. In Niterói, Brazil, the Itaipu Lagoon and its tributaries, such as Colibris Stream, face siltation, pollution, and riparian forest loss. This article presents and analyzes a six-year (2019–2025) community-led initiative for urban stream restoration, demonstrating a viable socio-technical model. The intervention, carried out by the organized civil society collective ‘Córregos da Tiririca,’ employed an adapted syntropic agriculture protocol to restore a narrow, degraded riparian strip. The core innovation, however, extends beyond the agroforestry technique to the social architecture that sustained it. The Collective evolved into a permanent community of practice, ensuring long-term stewardship. The experience was systematized into a four-phase replicability framework (Social Foundation; Participatory Diagnosis and Planning; Pilot Implementation and Adaptive Learning; Scaling and Institutionalizing Care). This study argues that the most significant outcome is this integrated model itself, where ecological technique and social process are mutually reinforcing. The results show significant ecological recovery along a 900-m stretch, with the establishment of a stratified forest (>70% canopy cover) and a documented return of biodiversity (194 species recorded via citizen science), all driven by collective action. Therefore, this article serves as a practical replication guide for organized civil society groups, offering a scalable strategy for urban watershed regeneration that reconciles ecological restoration with social mobilization and resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Solutions for River Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation)
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25 pages, 7906 KB  
Article
Possible Sustainable Actions for Implementing a River Contract—The Case of the Rio Capodacqua-Santa Croce in Central Italy
by Alessio Valente and Christian Formato
Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010534 - 5 Jan 2026
Viewed by 503
Abstract
The aim of this article is to illustrate the actions taken to implement the Rio Capodacqua–Santa Croce River Contract in Central Italy. The aim was to develop this inclusive and voluntary strategic and negotiated planning tool with the aim of protecting and managing [...] Read more.
The aim of this article is to illustrate the actions taken to implement the Rio Capodacqua–Santa Croce River Contract in Central Italy. The aim was to develop this inclusive and voluntary strategic and negotiated planning tool with the aim of protecting and managing water resources, enhancing the river ecosystem and mitigating flood risk, thereby contributing to local development. The participation of municipalities, local authorities, stakeholders and citizens’ associations in this instrument has made it possible to identify the environmental and territorial issues in this area and thus propose actions to resolve them, integrating and coordinating existing plans and programmes and the interests of that territory. These actions were defined through a participatory process involving all those interested in the watercourse and the territory it crosses. Among the proposed actions, priority was given to those offering “sustainable” solutions to certain critical issues, such as pollution of the lower reaches of the river or the essentially anthropogenic threat to the river and riparian habitats widespread in its upper reaches. These habitats, protected by the Natura 2000 network, are home to fish species of great conservation interest, among other things. Finally, flood mitigation works and measures are assessed, as floods are becoming increasingly aggressive due to climate change and are impacting urbanised areas. All these actions have been compared with sustainability objectives to highlight their effectiveness in the current management of a river basin with a view to the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Solutions for River Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation)
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