RESTORATION OF SPRINGS AND RIPARIAN FORESTS AS A STRATEGY FOR PROTECTING WATER SOURCES

Abstract

The degradation of springs and riparian forests represents a serious threat to water security, compromising the quantity and quality of water available for public supply, agriculture, and maintenance of aquatic ecosystems. The conversion of these areas into anthropic activities eliminates essential ecological functions such as erosion protection, sediment filtration, and water thermal regulation, triggering sedimentation processes and reduction of water source flow. This study analyzes the recovery of springs and riparian forests as a water source protection strategy, investigating ecological foundations, restoration techniques, and implications for water resource management. The methodology adopts a qualitative approach of descriptive and exploratory nature, based on systematic literature review in databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, SciELO, and Google Scholar, covering publications between 2015 and 2025. Results demonstrate that ecological restoration projects based on adequate diagnosis produce measurable hydrological benefits, including increased spring flow, improved water quality, and reduced erosion processes. Conclusions indicate that the recovery of permanent preservation areas constitutes an effective water security strategy, requiring integration between water resource policies and ecosystem conservation to ensure water source sustainability in contexts of increasing anthropic pressure.