Platform; ongoing; one project is not selected for founding yet (CARPWET), some projects have been finished (LIFE-MICACC, FRAMWAT), some under implementation (LIFE LOGOS 4 WATERS, LIFE SANBOIL & DAREnet) and some activities are planned (Policy Recommendation).

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 minimalise the flood risk and have added value compared to grey solutions (concrete).

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, Horizon Europe, LIFE (Climate Action, Environmental Programme)

Further information

https://environmentalrisks.danube-region.eu/

Contact

László Balatonyi (PAC PA 5), Laszlo.Balatonyi@mfa.gov.hu