2 June
2006 - Running waters fascinate people. The water
dynamic and diverse life make streams something
special. For scientists, however, to study dynamic
nature of streams is a constant and excitingchallenge.
“Running waters” is a new book
edited by Professor Kaj Sand-Jensen, University
of Copenhagen , Dr. Nikolai Friberg, National
Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Denmark
, and Dr. John Murphy, Centre for Ecology and
Hydrology , U.K. The book is about the ecology
of Danish streams. It exemplifies Danish stream
research and monitoring over past decades. It
is a tale of wasted opportunities and long-term
abuse of Danish lowland streams from about 1850
to 11000.
However, it is also the recent
story of improvements accompanying physical restoration
of the streams and large-scale water purification.
The state of the environment
in Denmark , as in other densely populated countries
in Europe , is mostly determined by cultural factors.
This is a constraint but also an opportunity.
If political willingness and courage exist, streams
can recover their physical variability and develop
a high diversity of plants, animals and fish.
With many illustrations and
a direct language, Danish stream ecologists describe
the knowledge they have gained and the excitement
of experiencing the varied landscape along meandering
streams with their diverse life and potentially
rich catch of trout.
”Running waters” is also available
in printed copy at Frontlinien, tel. +45 70 12
02 11, frontlinien@frontlinien.dk,
price: 35 Euro.
Further information: Senior
scientist Nikolaj Friberg, NERI, tel. +45 89 20
17 66, nfr@dmu.dk or professor Kaj Sand-Jensen,
Copenhagen University , tel. +45 35 32 19 05,
ksandjensen@bi.ku.dk.
