The destruction of riparian vegetation is caused primarily by human action, through the cutting/plowing of river margins, or by the permanence of livestock near the water line.
The destruction of riparian vegetation decreases the degree of shade of watercourses, with consequences in terms of temperature and water oxygenation. It leads to a reduction in the availability of shelter and feeding areas for fish. It also increases the evaporation rate, which accelerates the drying of the deepest parts of watercourses.
It should also be mentioned the important role riparian corridors play as biological filters against a variety of polluting sources and as a stabilizing agent of margins, avoiding the intensification of erosive phenomena.
