National forests and water strategy has brought focus to the establishment of riparian buffers to protect the river environment. The riparian area is that area of land located immediately adjacent to rivers, streams and lakes. Riparianbuffers plays a significant role for the protection of rivers as well as diversity along the banks of rivers. A review was prepared to assess the efficacy of riparian buffers of a particular site or landscape for determining its actual contribution to rivers. Riparian buffers also acts as a bio filter and important secondary compounds of valuable importance are leached from the vegetation in the form of allochthonous carbon (carbon derived from leaf and leaf litter) from these sites which may likely be responsible for playing a vital role in maintaining and purifying water quality. Present review paper mainly focuses on riparian vegetation (buffers) and itsvarious carbon content with its associated impact on the water bodies and vegetation itself. Hence riparian buffers needs to be restored to reduce water contaminants, hence maintaining purity.

Keywords : Riparian Buffer, Water Quality, Vegetation, Leaf Litter, Secondary Metabolites, Allochthonous Carbon.