Authors: Hein, Thomas; Becsi, Renate;Bondar-Kunze, Elisabeth;Böck, Kerstin;Funk, Andrea;Grüner, Barbara;Muhar, Susanna;Tschikof, Martin;

Rivers and their floodplains are recognized to support vital ecosystem functions and services at local and regional scales. Restoration measures of floodplains, may aim to re-establish multi-functionality of floodplain systems, by ensuring navigation, preserving and restoring unique fluvial and riparian habitats, re-establishing natural processes and hence, to support a variety of service provisioning. Different restoration measures can be implemented including side arm re-connection and more in-channel measures such as the removal of embankments and groins. We present ecosystem services in river-floodplains and evaluate how a programme of measures along the Danube can influence the diversity and quantity of specific ecosystem services (ES) and therefore, the overall multi-functionality of floodplains compared to the current situation. Therefore, regulating ecosystem services (RES), such as nutrient retention and habitat provisioning, were modeled and predicted. Also, the potential to provide cultural ecosystem services (CES) was assessed based on mapping of various land- and water-based recreational activities. We present results showing synergistic effects and potential tradeoffs for different ecosystem services related to restoration measures. Overall, we provide evidence that restoration measures have a high potential to increase the multi-functionality of the floodplain system by supporting the provisioning of RES including habitat availability and selected CES.