P. Vellinga, prof. NWO Introduction Transboundary rivers fulfill different environmental functions. Frequently, these functions are conflicting. Environmental management of river basins faces the task to develop strategies, which are acceptable both in an environmental and socio-economic sense.
Present research focuses on ecology and environmental quality.
For the methodology a proper basis is needed to represent and assess their condition. Indicators are an appropriate tool for this purpose. In the case-study Diffuse pollution from agriculture in the Rhine basin the methodology will be applied. The environmental function approach will be used to analyse the interactions of societal use and environmental impacts on rivers. Therefore present, past and potential future environmental functions of rivers, and of the Rhine in particular, will be reviewed.