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Quantifying the Role of Vegetation in Disaster Risk Reduction Measures, From Academic Research to Practical Implementation of Green Infrastructures

Author(s): W. Ellis Penning

Linked Author(s): Ellis Penning

Keywords: Green Infrastructure (GI), green solution, morphodynamics, room for the river, disaster risk reduction

Abstract: Globally, there is an increasing number of applications of nature based solutions for disaster risk reduction. These measures can include, for example, the restoration of mangrove forests, saltmarshes and coastal swamps to reduce coastal erosion and wave impact during extreme events. Besides, flood risk reduction in riverine systems benefits from nature based management solutions such as the �Room for the River� type of measures and increases the capacity for water storage in floodplains and adjacent areas. In cities, green infrastructures such as bioswales, instream wetlands and green roofs are also showing their use in alleviating challenges related to water management. All these nature based strategies have in common that vegetation is part of the solution. In order to be assured that the solution is functional both in the current situation and throughout its life time, it is needed to better understand the dynamics of this vegetation and the influence of the vegetation on the hydrodynamics and morphodynamics in the area of interest. A proper quantification of vegetation and its interaction with hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics is thus needed, both in time and space. The first step in this process is commonly done in laboratory studies using flume studies and is linked to model development to be able to upscale and quantify the expected effect of this vegetation on flow and morphodynamics. Validation using field data is another valuable source of data to help in improving model development, as vegetation-related processes are difficult to be scaled down to laboratory settings. Challenges arise in taking the step from this academic research to day-to-day management and implementation of this knowledge in practise for disaster risk reduction. However, ensuring a clear dialog between science and practitioners can overcome the potential pitfalls in the process of implementing Nature Based Solution. In this presentation, examples are used from around the world for both coastal and inland solutions in which vegetation was used to reduce flood-related risks and how the functioning of the vegetation for this reduction was quantified. Linking the need for academic research to how this knowledge can be used in day-to-day water management is discussed, with an emphasis on green solutions for flood related disaster risk reduction

DOI:

Year: 2017

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