Introduction to European rivers

The present chapter provides a comprehensive overview about the biogeographic setting and environmental state of 166 European rivers, stretching from the Atlantic coast to Turkey and the Ural mountains, and identifies future research and management challenges for these rivers. European rivers exhibit a long history of human modification, with very few free-flowing rivers remaining. Hence, the conservation of the last wild rivers is of utmost priority. Moreover, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration offers major opportunities to restore regulated rivers across the entire continent.