Ecohydrological Engineering for the Sustainable Management of Water–Biota Interactions

Abstract

Ecohydrology engineering provides a valuable framework for addressing emerging environmental challenges by integrating ecological and environmental engineering principles. In this study, we discuss the potential of parsimonious, physically based ecohydrological models through the lens of three case studies: sustainable irrigation, urban heat island mitigation via green roofs and mangrove restoration for climate change mitigation. First, we investigate sustainable irrigation strategies, illustrating the trade-offs between water conservation and soil salinization. This highlights the delicate balance required to optimize crop yield while mitigating soil degradation. Second, we explore the role of green roofs in urban heat island mitigation, showing how vegetation and water dynamics on rooftops can enhance latent heat flux, thereby potentially reducing urban temperatures and improving building energy efficiency. Lastly, we assess the climate mitigation potential of mangrove restoration, accounting for the impacts of salinization and sea-level rise. We demonstrate that carbon sequestration in mangrove ecosystems may be strongly limited by productivity reduction due to salinity and reduced area availability under sea-level rise. These case studies illustrate the strengths of simplified ecohydrological models in capturing critical feedbacks and interdependencies between water and biota across diverse environments. By prioritizing adaptive, resilient strategies, EE offers a practical pathway for developing innovative, context-sensitive solutions that leverage ecosystem dynamics to address pressing environmental issues.