摘要：Within the broad discourse on the concept of fit and its relevance for the governance of social–ecological systems,problems of spatial fit have attracted particular attention. Mismatches abound between the geographical extent of anenvironmental resource and the territorial scope of the institutions affecting its use. Managing water resources around riverbasins is, perhaps, the most prominent illustration of attempts to reconcile the boundaries of an environmental resource withthose of its respective institutions. Achieving perfect spatial fit has, however, proved an elusive task in practice. Beyond thedifficulties of defining the physical boundaries of water and reordering institutional arrangements to reflect these, improvingspatial fit for water can create new spatial misfits with other policy sectors upon which sustainable water management isdependent. The paper explores the way spatial fit is conceptualized, institutionalized, and practised, using the EU WaterFramework Directive and its implementation in one sub-basin of the Rhine as an exemplar. The paper develops from the analysisa more differentiated and context-sensitive understanding of the concept of spatial fit of practical value to policy makers
关键词：river basin management; spatial fit; Water Framework Directive; Wupper
