Development of a pan-European river and catchment database

The availability of a European-wide database of consistent and hierarchically structured river networks and associated drainage basins is a major asset for the implementation and follow-up of environmental policies in the European Union and an important basis for international modelling and monitoring activities. In fact, drainage basins are important reference units for many biophysical processes and rivers represent major transport networks not only for water, but also for sediments, nutrients and pollutants. © 2007, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.