The 7th Ecological Colloquium organized by the Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde (BfG) took place on 26–27 November 2025 in Koblenz, Germany and focused on the role of ecosystem services in river management. The event brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to reflect on the development and application of the ecosystem services concept over the past decade and to discuss how it can support sustainable waterway management. A central aim of the colloquium was to evaluate how ecological knowledge can be integrated into decision-making processes for federal waterways and river basins, while also identifying future research needs and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
The program consisted of several thematic sessions addressing ecological assessment, management strategies, and the practical implementation of ecosystem services in water management. Through scientific presentations and discussions, participants explored how ecosystems contribute to human well-being by providing services such as water purification, flood protection, biodiversity support, and climate regulation. The colloquium served as a platform for exchanging experiences between science and practice and for strengthening cooperation between institutions involved in river and environmental management.
One important part of the event was Session 4: Climate Protection, which examined the role of aquatic and floodplain ecosystems in climate mitigation and adaptation. Within this session, Prof. Dr. Mariele Evers from the University of Bonn presented a talk titled “Quantification of floodplain ecosystem services to improve climate resilience.” The presentation focused on methods for assessing and quantifying the ecosystem services provided by floodplains and their importance for climate-resilient water management. Floodplains are dynamic ecosystems that deliver multiple environmental benefits, including carbon storage, water retention, flood mitigation, and biodiversity support. By capturing and storing floodwaters, they reduce the intensity of downstream flooding and help regulate hydrological processes during extreme weather events.
A key point of the presentation was that quantifying these ecosystem services can help translate ecological functions into measurable indicators that are relevant for policy and management decisions. This enables water managers and planners to better evaluate the benefits of floodplain restoration and conservation as nature-based solutions. In the context of increasing climate change impacts, such as more frequent floods and droughts, the integration of ecosystem service assessments into river basin management can improve long-term resilience and sustainability.
Overall, the colloquium highlighted the growing importance of ecosystem-based approaches in water management and emphasized the need for stronger links between research, policy, and practical implementation to support climate protection and sustainable river systems.