Maintain or restore riparian areas

Much of the forest cover in urban regions is located in riparian areas. Forests located within riparian areas serve important ecosystem functions, such as decreasing soil erosion, filtering water, and storing and recycling organic matter and nutrients.

The changing climate may alter the complex interactions among climate, vegetation, and landforms, resulting in changes in hydrology, soil quality, and nutrient cycling. Urban areas often involve further complications because of the greater likelihood that human activities have already significantly altered ecosystem functioning and will continue to do so. Urban conditions are often characterized by difficult growing conditions, including impermeable surfaces, air and water pollution, frequent human interaction, and small soil volumes. Existing guidelines and best management practices for forest management describe actions that can be used to reduce or reverse impacts to soil and water. Many of these actions are also likely to be beneficial in the context of adaptation, although additional effort may be required to maintain ecosystem function in urban areas.