ABSTRACT
Riparian areas exist as strips of vegetative cover adjacent to rivers, streams, wetlands, lakes, reservoirs, and other freshwater water bodies that affect and are impacted by the presence of water. This vegetation contributes to specific ecosystems which perform a wide range of ecological functions. Together the human and biodiversity values are crucial for the benefits of riparian/wetland habitats. The nearness of the river also shows that riparian areas provide a significant effect upon the quality of the water. Riparian vegetation impedes drainage from built lands, the removal of toxins, and the significant improvements in water quality that enters streams which results in improved water quality, specifically, by controlling non-point source contaminants. Except where human activity has occurred, riparian zones can be located next to most of the water sources. Human impacts vary from changes in riparian and river hydrology and geomorphic structural modification for loss of riparian vegetation. That is all why effective efforts ought to be made to preserve or to recover riparian buffers that are present next to streams by comprehensive watershed approaches.
