Vegetative Cover as Erosion Protector: A Future Prospect

Abstract

 Bank protection structures represent a widespread topology of hydraulic structures along the river course. There construction is usually planned along torrent stretches with bank erosive problems that can produce instability conditions both on natural, artificial banks and steep slopes. Many times, the construction of strong bank protection structures is required to defense the urbanized areas or to stabilize landslides. Construction of such interventions causes a substantial modification of the natural aspect of river banks with the partial or complete destruction of the ecological conditions and the reduction of the biological diversification of the riparian habitats. Recently, the application of bioengineering techniques has favored the planning of protective structures with lowered environmental impact. These have been applied in such basins where not extreme erosive action of the flowing water can be controlled with such soft interventions. Bioengineering criteria are usually applied together with the planning of the transverse hydraulic section with a diversified morphological profile that favors the creation of different riparian habitats for faunal and floral living species.