Introduction

The river and the land are a unity, an entity which would exist even if there were no flora or fauna. They are, however, a vital resource for such biota, including people. All living things are made mostly of water, and none can make all the water they need. The water and the land (together with the sun) provide the materials of life. Some of these resources are of direct benefit to people, for food, shelter, clothes and more, others benefit people more indirectly. All being part of the natural world, deserve (but may not get) protection and preservation.

Resources of rivers and other fresh waters

These include those flora and fauna which are useful to people now or in the historic past, and which are partly or wholly associated with fresh water (Table 9.1).

Grass is the primary resource of wetter, traditional flood plains (as described above and in Chapter 10).

Arable on now-dried flood plains is the commonest present use, on both narrow and wide plains.

Fisheries

Fish used to be the principal crop from the rivers, fish in huge numbers and many species, providing protein for those unable to afford expensive meat, protein which was available locally, required no nurturing and was fresh, and free or cheap, at least in part.