Unveiling the adequacy of existing legislation in protecting urban river ecosystems in the context of One Health

The article examines whether existing international and EU legislation adequately protects urban river ecosystems within the One Health framework, highlighting both achievements and gaps. It concludes that while directives like the EU Water Framework Directive, Habitats Directive, Environmental Liability Directive, and Nature Restoration Regulation provide important safeguards, they remain fragmented, inconsistently applied, and subject to conflicting urban management interests. The authors argue for specific, integrated legislation that empowers municipal authorities to protect biodiversity, maintain floodplains and riparian forests, and secure ecosystem services essential for both environmental integrity and human health.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-025-02299-8

Author(s): Marcos Rodrigues Rocha Dias, University of Coimbra