Report of activities from IAHR's Nature Based Solutions Working Group!
IAHR Working Group on Nature Based Solutions
Report of Activities of the Year 2025 and Activities of Future Years 2025
With contributions from Ellis Penning (Deltares, NL), Catherine Wilson (Cardiff University, UK) and Bartholomew Hill (University of Lincoln, UK)
41st IAHR World Congress, Singapore June 2025
The Working Group on NbS has been actively involved in the preparation and organization of the conference, contributing to the overall program with a masterclass that was attended by 8 phd students/early carrier researchers, and 4 special sessions on NbS and a workshop on implementation of NbS in practice. Participants specifically gave very positive feedback on the master class and workshop, that allowed for more interaction and dialogue than ‘standard sessions’. These moments of interaction enabled the community to gain strength and connection between individual members. This was further strengthend by the informal technical meeting at the end of the conference where approx. 20 people participated.
Special issue Hydrolink on Nature-based Solutions
The Working Group prepared a special issue of the Hydrolink on Nature-based Solutions under Editorship of Prof. Catherine Wilson (University of Cardiff) and Dr. Ellis Penning (Deltares, the Netherlands). A wide range of members of the working group contributed with 6 domain specific articles linked with NbS for coasts, NbS for large rivers, NbS for urbanized areas, NbS for catchments and streams in various case studies from different continents.
This publication has received wide attention of the IAHR community and is among the most frequently downloaded Hydrolink issues of recent years.
Activities of Future Years
Including but not limited to conferences, webinars, publications,TC/WG meetings, elections, participation in international processes, etc.
Masterclass in Riverflow Thessaloniki 2026
During RiverFlow 2026, a masterclass titled "Nature based Solutions for Flooding and Water Management Resilience in a Changing Climate" will be given by Prof. Catherine Wilson and Dr. Eveline van der Deijl.
APD-IAHR Conference, Incheon 2026
25th IAHR Asia and Pacific Division Congress promotes research, collaboration, and knowledge exchange in the fields of hydraulics, water resources, and environmental engineering across Asia and the Pacific region.
During this conference the working group will be active in supporting a masterclass (Dr. Un Ji and Dr. Ellis Penning) NbS for Flooding and Water Management Resilience.
Dr. Ellis Penning will also give an invited lecture:Towards Climate Resilient Landscapes: The Role of Interdisciplinary Knowledge for Successful Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions
There will be a special session related to this topic:
Multidisciplinary Research and Implementation Strategies for Nature-Based Flood Management – organized by Dr. Un Ji (KICT)
Other related special sessions will also discuss topics in line with the interest of the working group such as:
From the white river to green river – adaptation and management in the climate change – organized by Dr. Won Kim (KICT)
Advancing Sponge Cities and Nature-Based Water Circulation for Climate and Extreme Weather Resilience – organized by dr. Lee-Hyung Kim.
NbS seminar series, University of Lincoln
The University of Lincoln is organizing a series of Nbs related webinars in 2026, where members of the working group are invited both to present and join as audience. This serie will take place online throughout the year.
42nd IAHR World Congress, Bari 2027
The working group is currently proposing special sessions and master classes to align with the program in similar styles as in the previous world conferences.
Related
25th IAHR-APD Congress, July 19-22, 2026, Incheon, Korea
Report from the 41st IAHR World Congress “Innovative Water Engineering for Sustainable Development”