Progress: Selection of reference sites
Reference sites are not influenced by human activity. Thus, reference conditions correspond with (near) natural environmental and biological conditions. To judge the degree of impairment of a given sampling site its actual community must be compared with the community of the appropriate reference site. Hence, reference conditions were defined for each stream type (see also: » River and stream typology). All partner countries used the same definitions to select their reference sites. Therefore, several guidelines have been produced to guide the selection process. In addition, the coordinator and the workpackage leader visited all Asian partner countries for an intensive support and cross-validation for the selection of reference sites.
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Reference condition for the stream type Lower Gangetic Plain (IM0120) |
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Reference condition for the stream type Upper Gangetic Plain (IM0166) |
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Reference condition for the stream type Subtropical Pine Forest (IM0301) |
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Reference conditions for the stream type Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf Forest (IM0401) |
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Reference conditions for the stream type Western Himalayan Broadleaf Forest (IM0403) |