The MARCE main objectives could be summarised on two independent blocks, which are:

• The determination of key biophysical relationships that account for the greatest variability in river ecosystems
• The determination of ecological consequences of different scenarios of human impacts on river ecosystems

These main objectives will be achieved through the consecution of a set of more specific objectives which are:

1. Development of a synthetic river network
2. Development of a GIS database with biophysical data
3. Geomorphological characterisation of fluvial reaches
4. Identification of key fluvial biophysical relationships
5. Characterisation of human impacts for the entire river domain
6. Determination of the effects of different human impact scenarios
7. Development of a GIS web-page tool for data representation and consultancy (Spatial Decision Support System)