Environmental Conflicts and Integration of Urban Riverine Systems

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation, changing consumption patterns and unsustainable lifestyles have severely impacted urban natural systems, particularly riverine ecosystems. These alterations, collectively described as Urban Stream Syndrome (USS), involve geomorphic and hydrological changes that undermine ecological health. This paper highlights the importance of perceiving rivers as ecological units rather than mere water channels and stresses the need for re-naturalisation strategies to create “healthy rivers” capable of resilience against climate change, exploitation, and urban pressures. It discusses spatial planning perspectives on river health, focusing on stream daylighting as a tool for reclaiming buried or culverted rivers and reintegrating them into urban development dynamics.