With the theme of "governance in river basins", this book looks at approaches to the management of complex natural resources. Current holistic approaches (e.g. the ecosystem approach) link social decision-making processes to natural systems. In Europe at present the political implementation of such concepts can be pursued in the context of river basin management using the example of the Water Framework Directive.

This book focuses on the analysis of regulatory approaches to complex natural systems and on the opportunities for and limitations on putting integrated policy approaches into practice. It examines the demands on discipline-related research approaches with regard to integration and interdisciplinarity, with a special focus on the role of economics. In addition, recent experience gained in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive is discussed, with the main focus on conflict solving from a practical and scientific point of view.