Platform; ongoing; some projects have been finished (LIFE-MICACC, FRAMWAT, DAREnet), some are under implementation (NBS4LOCAL, LIFE LOGOS 4 WATERS & LIFE SANBOIL).
Submitted by / EUSDR Priority Area(s): PA 5 Environmental Risks
Countries are facing a pressing, complex and interlinked set of environmental crises. In terms of climate change water scarcity, drought and flooding is one of the most frequent and damaging natural hazard globally. While nature-based solutions can reduce flood risk, they are not part of mainstream risk management. However, they can minimise the flood risk and have added value compared to grey solutions (concrete).
In 2023, a study with the title “Supporting the advancement of nature-based solutions in the water management of hillside settlements” was prepared by EUSDR PA 5. In October 2022, a workshop on “Supporting the advancement of nature-based solutions in water management” was organised on Pillar level (PA 4, PA 5 & PA 6). As an outcome of the workshop, a “Policy Recommendation to support the uptake of nature-based practices” was published in December 2022.
The Global Water Partnership (CEE) has established a mission to define, design and launch a community of practice (CoP) related to NBS in 2022. The community will build on the GWP Toolbox – IWRM action hub, which GWP has recently developed and launched.
In Hungary, the Nature-based Solutions Hub (TeAM HUb) was established in 2022. The TeAM HUb is a professional community of organisations and individuals committed to the widespread dissemination of nature-based solutions in Hungary.
Objectives
The EUSDR PA 5 Nature-based solutions for flood risk reduction Platform provides a project example to address flood risk, with policy recommendations according to the topic throughout the Danube Region countries.
Need and (expected) impact
Effective flood risk management is critical to protect people and their livelihoods from flooding and to limit future losses. Nature-based measures and their ability to address flood risk are receiving increasing attention. Until recently, most flood risk management involved conventional engineering measures. These measures are sometimes referred to as “hard” engineering or “gray” infrastructure. Examples include building embankments, dams, levees, and channels to control flooding. Recently the concept of “nature-based solutions”, “ecosystem-base adaptation”, “eco-DRR” or “green infrastructure” has emerged as a good alternative or complement to traditional gray approaches. Nature-based solutions make use of natural processes and ecosystem services for functional purposes, such as decreasing flood risk or improving water quality. The objective is to present principles and implementation guidance for planning, such as evaluation, design, and implementation of nature-based solutions for flood risk management as an alternative to or complementary to conventional engineering measures.
Macro-regional dimension
All Danube Region countries, and in the frame of the LIFE SANDBOIL project another macro-regional strategy is involved, since Italy (Po-river basin) is the lead partner
Stakeholders involved
ministries (Ministry of Interior of Hungary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary), water authorities (OVF, ÉDUVIZIG, KÖTIVIZIG), municipalities, universities (NUPS, UNIBO), non-governmental organisations (ICPDR, WWF, Carpathian Convention, associations (MMK, KBTSZ)
Budget and Funding
CBC Programmes, Interreg DTP/DRP, Horizon Europe, LIFE (Climate Action, Environmental Programme)
Further information
https://environmentalrisks.danube-region.eu/
Contact
PAC PA 5, László Balatonyi (Laszlo.Balatonyi@mfa.gov.hu)
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