Getting people on board with natural flood prevention
Nature-based solutions for flood prevention, such as revitalising floodplains or moving back dikes, are effective ways to reduce the risk of flooding in inhabited areas. So why is it that they are met with so much opposition from residents? New research supported in part by the EU-funded RECONECT project has shed some light on the matter. In a changing climate, technical flood prevention solutions such as erecting dikes close to the river or building water retention basins are often no longer effective against flooding. This is why nature-based solutions are becoming more popular in Europe. “The aim of such projects is to give the river more space so that it can spread out during flooding and the renaturalised floodplains can fully develop their water-absorbing effect,” states study senior author Prof. Christian Kuhlicke of RECONECT project partner Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Germany, in a press release. “Natural flood prevention serves different purposes: It sustainably reduces the risk of flooding, restores the original state of the river landscape, increases biodiversity, and enhances the quality of life in the region.” Yet, despite their obvious benefits, these projects are often not welcomed by the local population. Prof. Kuhlicke explains why: “The relocated dike means that the water may get much closer to people’s home during high water levels. The fact that the river is now more visible can be frightening, especially for those who have often been affected by floods.” The research team conducted a citizen survey in five municipalities in Saxony-Anhalt that suffered extensive damages from flooding in 2002 and 2013 and where dike relocation and floodplain restoration projects have been carried out along the Elbe River. Attitudes towards the projects were assessed in terms of their perceived effectiveness in reducing the risk of flooding and the degree to which respondents supported these measures.
The importance of information and trust
“Our results show that both people who feel particularly connected to their home town and those who feel strongly threatened by flooding are more likely to oppose the measures. This was especially the case if these people had previously experienced a flood. In contrast, study participants who felt well informed and trusted local risk management were more likely to support nature-based measures,” reports study lead author Dr Sungju Han, also from UFZ, in the press release. Concerning what the team’s findings imply for future flood prevention measures, Prof. Kuhlicke highlights the importance of taking people’s fears and concerns seriously. “Better information and communication - ideally at the onset of the planning phase - can allay many fears,” he notes. “It is particularly important to make it clear that natural flood prevention is primarily about effectively protecting the population from the effects of major floods. And that is through allowing more space for the river. All other effects - the more natural river landscape or the increase in biodiversity - are positive side effects but not the primary goal.” The RECONECT (RECONECT- Regenerating ECOsystems with Nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological risk rEduCTion) project ends in August 2024. For more information, please see: RECONECT project website
Keywords
RECONECT, flood, flooding, river, nature-based solution, dike, floodplain, water
