While millions of dollars are being spent worldwide restoring rivers, floodplains and coastal wetlands, much of this work lacks a strong scientific foundation. This ARI research program aims to provide the biophysical information needed to guide the sustainable management of riparian lands and associated riverine and coastal wetlands.

Ecosystem studies of this kind demand a high level of integration across the traditional disciplines of ecology, biogeochemistry, hydrology, and geomorphology.

This research will lead to improved design and monitoring of these landscape 'experiments', and help to identify the factors that limit ecosystem recovery.