For many years, buffers are playing an important role for protecting as well as exploiting urban streams environment. In 40s & early 50s Tehran with 5 urban streams which flow from northern mountains to southern deserts of the city had been created unique aesthetic nature. At that time no specific environmental regulatory implemented by the government but since lack of any disturbing population and any urban development, the urban nature was self protecting. But in recent decades a huge development occurs leading to impaired streams which no conventional buffers such as static quantitative buffer zone and qualitative buffer zone.
This paper is deeply investigating ecological restoration and promoting a new conceptual model as ecological buffer zone for Urban Streams. This buffer is agile, dynamic, and variable in both stream directions (longitudinal and latitudinal) consist of many layers such as biological (both fauna and flora), geotechnical, artificial infrastructure buffer, legal, historical, social, economical and etc Layers. If this model properly implemented longtermly will protect current urban nature and even enhance the environment eventually, partially, and gradually reverse to their historical natures. Ecological should be tailored for each individual river and stream based on few rules, tools and techniques.
The paper is based on three years extensive research study for all 5 major urban streams in Tehran and implementing on Farahzad upstream specifically. It elaborates how to define different above-mentioned layers and finally how to integrate all together. EB has been currently implemented in Tehran urban streams by the municipality.