Wetlands https://coastal-management.eu/ en Public Education Schemes https://coastal-management.eu/measure/public-education-schemes <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Public Education Schemes</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="https://coastal-management.eu/user/6" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">nst</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Thu, 02/23/2017 - 11:25</span> <div class="field field--name-field-type-of-measure field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/64" hreflang="en">Public Awareness and Preparedness</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-colour field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/68" hreflang="en">Non-structural measure</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-descr field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Not all stakeholders are aware or informed about their vulnerability to a changing climate, or flood risk protection. Nor are they aware of the pro-active measures they can take to adapt or deal with climate change. Awareness raising and education programs are therefore important to manage the impacts of climate change, enhance peoples’ capacity to deal with the impacts, and reduce overall vulnerability.</p> <p>Sharing knowledge in this way can help build safety and resilience, reduce future hazard impacts. Communities and individuals usually want to become partners in this, and the public can be empowered to deal with the impacts and reduce future problems related to flood risk and disaster risk response.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-information-source field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Based on the <a href="http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/adaptation-options/awareness-campaigns-for-behavioural-change ">information available on ClimateAdapt Platform</a> and the Ifrc-Guide on <a href="http://www.ifrc.org/Global/Publications/disasters/reducing_risks/302200-Public-awareness-DDR-guide-EN.pdf">Public awareness and public education for disaster risk reduction.</a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Several types of approaches can be used such as campaigns, participatory learning, informal education, formal school based interventions.</p> <p>Given that individuals and communities are in different positions, in terms of both capacity to act as well as vulnerability or being affected by, awareness raising schemes need to be tailored to their audience.</p> <p>Large climate change awareness raising campaigns are often a mixture of mitigation, energy efficiency, and sustainability measures rather than adaptation measures.</p> <h4>Benefits</h4> <p>The benefits also mean that through knowledge transfer, the resilience of the community or individuals can be increased which is essentially transforming knowledge and information into potential for action, protection and mitigation of harmful effects. It stimulates self-mobilisation and makes excellent use of local knowledge and resources for improved overall capacity.</p> <p>Awareness raising is continually relevant, and should be adapted as information and situation changes. Therefore, awareness raising is not only a first step but a step that can continually offer support to effectively managing flood risks.</p> <p>It is also generally a measure that can accompany many others, explaining to a community the options available to for instance, prevent erosion at a local beach, thereby in theory, informing decision making and improving democratic participation in climate change adaptation and decision making.</p> <h4>Disadvantages</h4> <p>In itself, flood hazard mapping does not cause a reduction in flood risk nor does it directly lead to people adopting risk-reduction measures. Researchers have found that people take action only when</p> <ul> <li>They know what specific actions can be taken to reduce their risks;</li> <li>They are convinced these actions will be effective;</li> <li>They people in their own ability to carry out the tasks.</li> </ul></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-second-descrip field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><h4>Costs</h4> <p>Awareness raising and school education schemes are generally inexpensive in comparison to some other mitigation efforts, however, they also vary in scale, thoroughness, and continuation. For instance, in order to be effective, generally education and awareness raising should include consistent and standard messaging, legitimacy and credibility, and scalability. It may require adaptation to specific local circumstances, such as language translation, or continual evaluation as a situation changes or becomes different. It may also only be effective if it reaches the target stakeholders it was designed for, who may for instance, have low capacity to deal with flood disasters despite having increased their awareness about them. Thus finding, low cost solutions or area specific options is crucial.</p> <p>Thus, awareness raising and education programs are most effective when developed through a participatory approach where needs, expectations, and capacity are measured and information is developed together. Moreover, the more tailored, maintained and thoughtful the approach the more likely it will be to be put into practice.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-measure-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Measure category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/77" hreflang="en">Preparedness</a></div> </div> </div> Thu, 23 Feb 2017 10:25:51 +0000 nst 297 at https://coastal-management.eu Reconnecting rivers to floodplains https://coastal-management.eu/measure/reconnecting-rivers-floodplains <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Reconnecting rivers to floodplains</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="https://coastal-management.eu/user/6" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">nst</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 02/20/2017 - 10:27</span> <div class="field field--name-field-adressed-disks field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/53" hreflang="en">Riverine or slow rise floods</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type-of-measure field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/58" hreflang="en">Natural flood, runoff, catchment management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/59" hreflang="en">Water flow regulation</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-colour field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/66" hreflang="en">Combined approach (grey + green)</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-descr field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>River restoration contributes to flood risk management by supporting the natural capacity of rivers to retain water. As flood risk consists of damage times occurrence, flood risk <em>management </em>needs to reduce either the damage, or the likelihood of floods to occur, or both. River restoration reduces the likelihood of high water levels, and improves the natural functions of the river at same time.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-information-source field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="http://web.unep.org/ecosystems/sites/default/files/uploads/resource/file/Green%20infrastructure%20Guide.pdf">Based on kindly provided information by UNEP's "Green Infrastructure Guide for Water Management: Ecosystem-based Management Approaches to Water-related Infrastructure Projects " (UNEP, 2014)</a></p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>In a natural river system a river spreads water beyond its banks and over extended areas of a floodplain during periods of high water. In order to protect property and contain waters, the classic flood risk management approach is to constrain watercourses with rivers being straightened and building dykes to increase discharge capacity, dredging to deepen channels, and building reservoirs and artificial retention areas to store excess waters.</p> <p>While this generally reduces the likelihood of flooding, in the event of extremely high waters it increases the amount of damage if the engineered system is overwhelmed or fails. Without natural features such as wetlands and meanders, excess waters cannot be absorbed. Any breach will release an enormous amount of water, with potentially catastrophic consequences. Continuously reinforcing and building higher dykes cannot overcome this weakness, and is a very expensive option. Historically, engineering solutions upstream have created peak flows downstream, leading to more engineering. Moreover, climate change scenarios predict more extreme weather events and higher sea levels. A new approach is needed.</p> <h4>Advantages</h4> <p>By re-connecting brooks, streams and rivers to floodplains, former meanders and other natural storage areas, and enhancing the quality and capacity of wetlands, river restoration increases natural storage capacity and reduces flood risk. Excess water is stored in a timely and natural manner in areas where values such as attractive landscape and biodiversity are improved and opportunities for recreation can be enhanced. In these ways, river restoration directly contributes to climate change strategies aimed at mitigating the effects of increased and erratic peak flows and droughts.</p> <p>River restoration is increasingly being delivered by flood risk managers to create space for flood water. Reconnecting floodplains to the river and managed realignment in estuaries is an important mechanism of water management.</p> <p>Future climate change will potentially affect all aspects of the rainfall regime. The precise nature of these changes is uncertain, particularly for those extreme events, whether of short or long-duration, which tend to lead to flooding. Increases in rainfall at all scales will increase the risk of flooding to a greater or lesser extent, depending on how these increases manifest themselves in space and time and of the rainfall-runoff characteristics of the catchment in question.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-second-descrip field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><h4>Benefits</h4> <p>River restoration improves flood protection, but it also brings about co-benefits that are multifold. Firstly, river restoration can improve flood storage capacity of a river and reduce the volume and speed of water. Some of the co-benefitst can include cost reductions by removing the need to maintain hard infrastructure and also improving the quality of water, and thus in turn drinking water costs. Improved biodiversity and the creation of natural wetlands is another adjunct result of river restoration using green infrastructure.  Finally it improves resilience to climate change by creating new floodplanes for increased water storage, green networks and more natural space for people and wildlife during higher temperatures.</p> <h4>Costs</h4> <p>There are different kinds and degrees of river restoration. A larger scale project can include an entire floodplane, removing past structures and restoring natural processes and channels of a water course. A smaller project may simply be removing structures in one place, and replacing them with more natural features.</p> <h4>Barriers to Implementation</h4> <p>Lack of funding is often cited as a key reason for failing to restore watercourses and rivers, as well as, consensus in agreement of users of a river. Given that restoration can take place on either a large or small scale, the associated barriers often also relate to how extensive the project is.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-measure-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Measure category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/76" hreflang="en">Mitigation</a></div> </div> </div> Mon, 20 Feb 2017 09:27:15 +0000 nst 296 at https://coastal-management.eu EXAMPLE: Reconnecting lakes to the Yangtze River (CHN) https://coastal-management.eu/measure/example-reconnecting-lakes-yangtze-river-chn <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">EXAMPLE: Reconnecting lakes to the Yangtze River (CHN)</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="https://coastal-management.eu/user/6" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">nst</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Thu, 02/16/2017 - 12:16</span> <div class="field field--name-field-adressed-disks field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/53" hreflang="en">Riverine or slow rise floods</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type-of-measure field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/58" hreflang="en">Natural flood, runoff, catchment management</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-colour field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/65" hreflang="en">Ecosystem based approach</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-descr field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The 6,300 km long Yangtze River in China was facing a reduction of wetlands areas and flood retention capacity. In 2002, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) initiated a programme to reconnect lakes in Hubei<br /> Province to the Yangtze River through opening the sluice gates and facilitating sustainable lake<br /> management. These wetlands can store floodwaters and therefore reducing vulnerability to flooding in the central Yangtze region.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-information-source field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="http://web.unep.org/ecosystems/sites/default/files/uploads/resource/file/Green%20infrastructure%20Guide.pdf">Based on kindly provided information by UNEP's "Green Infrastructure Guide for Water Management: Ecosystem-based Management Approaches to Water-related Infrastructure Projects " (UNEP, 2014)</a></p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h4>General description</h4> <p>The Yangtze River is 6,300 km long and home to more than 400 million people. The river basin drains a 1,800,000 km basin and has extensive lakes and floodplains of significant environmental and retention importance. In the summer, the basin experiences floods, especially in the central Yangtze. Extensive development in the last fifty years has converted 1,066 lakes 757 coverings along 2,150 km2 into polders, reducing wetland areas by 80% and flood retention capacity by 75%.</p> <p>Since 1991 there have been several highly damaging flood events that have killed thousands of people and cost billions of dollars. The Lakes and basin have also become extremely polluted, in particular because of the application of fertilizer to aquaculture pens. The loss of connection to the Yangtze River prevents diluting flows and the migration of fish. Drought in recent years has increased water pollution, and climate change and increased temperatures are expected to worsen eutrophication</p> <p>In 2002, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) initiated a programme of sustainable lake management to reconnect the lakes in the Hubai Province to the Yangtze River through opening the sluice gates. The programme focused on three lakes: Zhangdu (40 km2), Hong (348 km2 and Tian’e Zhou (20 km2). Given the poverty of the populations in the region, finding alternative and sustainable livelihoods and sources of income was important. The average income of residents in the area was just USD 1.34 per day. WWF formed partnerships with government agencies and others to explore options for more sustainable river basin management.           </p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-second-descrip field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><h4>Ecosystem-based aspects</h4> <p>Since 2004-2005 in Hubei Province, the sluice gates at lakes Zhengdu, Hong and Tien’e Zhou have been seasonally re-opened and illegal and uneconomic aquaculture facilities and other infrastructure removed or modified. Now these 448 km2 wetlands can store up to 285 Mm3 of floodwaters, reducing vulnerability to flooding in the central Yangtze region.</p> <p>The forced ending or removal of illegal or unsustainable aquaculture have reduced pollution levels. In Lake Hong, pollution fell from national pollution level IV (fit for agricultural use only) to II (drinkable) on China’s five-point scale.</p> <p>Of immediate benefit for the Yangtze River Basin was the increase in wild fisheries species diversity and populations. Within six months of reconnection of Zhangdu Lake, the catch increased by 17 per cent and nine fish species returned to the lake. Similarly the catch increased by 15 per cent in Baidang Lake. Development of certified eco-fish farming by 412 households increased income of fishers by 20 to 30 per cent on average. Similarly, the income from fisheries at the Yangcai Hu area of Hong Lake increased by 25 per cent after restoration. Bamboo farming has also been implemented as a measure to stabilize steeper lands near the lakes. Twelve migratory fish species have now returned to the lakes. At Zhangdu Lake, 60 km2 of lake and marshland were designated as a nature reserve by the Wuhan Municipal Government. To strengthen the effectiveness of wetland conservation efforts in the Yangtze River basin, a Nature Reserve Network was established to link 17 nature reserves (12 later designated) covering 4,500 km2. As a result of these benefits, in 2006 the Hubei Provincial Government adopted a wetlands conservation master plan and allocated resources to protect 4,500 km2 by 2010.</p> <p>The success of these adaptations was replicated in other areas of the Yangtze and China.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-key-lessons field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Key lessons learnt</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Combined using a green and grey approach. The implementation of sluice gates allowed for seasonal opening and reconnection of regional lakes to the Yangtze River. Reconnecting the water flows required the removal of some aquaculture businesses, but brought up overall levels of fisheries in the river basin with significantly more migratory species returning to the area, which in turn boosted incomes of local fishers. The environmental effects also significantly improved water quality which was extremely polluted prior to the facilitation of water flow via connecting the lakes to the tributaries.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-relevant-case-studies-and- field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Relevant case studies and examples</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/measure/flood-storage-systems" hreflang="en">Flood storage systems</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-measure-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Measure category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/76" hreflang="en">Mitigation</a></div> </div> </div> Thu, 16 Feb 2017 11:16:41 +0000 nst 294 at https://coastal-management.eu EXAMPLE: Constructed wetlands to compensate for urbanization in souther Finland (FIN) https://coastal-management.eu/measure/example-constructed-wetlands-compensate-urbanization-souther-finland-fin <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">EXAMPLE: Constructed wetlands to compensate for urbanization in souther Finland (FIN)</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="https://coastal-management.eu/user/6" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">nst</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Thu, 02/16/2017 - 10:00</span> <div class="field field--name-field-adressed-disks field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/52" hreflang="en">Flash floods</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/54" hreflang="en">Urban floods</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type-of-measure field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/61" hreflang="en">Surface Water Management</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-colour field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/65" hreflang="en">Ecosystem based approach</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-descr field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>In Finland urban wetlands are being implemented to help improve water quality, absorb storm water volume and flow control, and improve the land-water habitats for urban communities. The wetlands are designed to respond to the needs and negative impacts of urbanization and therefore, public acceptance and multifunctional benefits are central to the design and implementation of the wetlands. The acceptance and understanding of the importance of urban dwellers is important and thus the project sought to demonstrate several benefits of functional wetlands.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-information-source field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Based on Wahlroos et al. (2015): <span><a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21513732.2015.1006681">Urban wetland parks in Finland: improving water quality and creating endangered habitats</a>. In: </span> <span><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Urban wetland parks in Finland: improving water quality and creating endangered habitats</span></span><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">. In: International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management Volume 11, Issue 1: Pages 46-60</span></p> <p> </p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h4>General description</h4> <p>Urbanization is affecting water quality and there is increasing severity of flooding and drought periods in Southern Finland. This is expected to become worse because of climate change. During flooding events, run off from rain and melting snow are quickly carried over urban surfaces and overwhelm receiving streams. Habitat degradation is occurring as harmful water from urban areas is transferred into connected habitats. These urban streams in turn cause flooding and channel erosion. The creation of wetlands is an alternative ecosystem approach to conventional responses that have been to seal natural waterways into culverts or clearing, and stabilization for augmented conveyance and erosion control. </p> <p>Two urban wetlands, the Nummela Gateway and the Nummela Niittu were designed and implemented. The wetlands are 6ha and 7ha respectively and are within 550 ha of the urbanized Kilsoi stream watershed in the catchment of Lake Enäjärvi, in the Nummela community, Municipality of Vihti, Southern Finland. The lake has poor water quality from algal blooms and fish kills that result from runoff from its catchments and phosphorus load from human activities. The Stream Kilsoi is an inland clay-soil stream that drains into the Baltic Sea. The habitat type and clay-stream is red listed in the Red list Assessment of Finnish habitat types as critically endangered.</p> <h4>Ecosystem-based aspects</h4> <p>The creation of wetlands is an ecosystem approach and replaced hard infrastructure and conventional responses that have previously been implemented in the area to control storm water volume. In the past, the convention has been to seal natural waterways into culverts or clearing, and stabilization for augmented conveyance and erosion control. </p> <p>The two wetlands, Nummela Gateway and the Nummela Niittu, were established over five years and closely monitored. The ecosystem service that was deemed most important for the wetlands to provide was water quality management. Water treatment by wetlands depends on the plants and their associated microbes. Storm water and flooding events are the main carriers of potential pollutants from urban areas, and thus a high density and diversity of plans and microbes is necessary. In this case, the native origin of the plants was also found to be important to protect urban streams from the erosive effects of storms and snowmelts. Plant self-establishment occurred quickly and construction only required the monitoring of water levels, especially during winter. The existing shoreline and old drainage ditches acted as a seedbank and no maintenance of native plants was necessary.</p> <p>In addition to improving biodiversity, water quality improvements were also achieved. There was an increase in phosphorus reduction after the third year. Despite that the Gateway wetland is just 0.1% of its 550 ha watershed area, it does achieve an annual 10% for total phosphorus reduction.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-key-lessons field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Key lessons learnt</div> <div class="field__item"><p>The establishment of two wetlands near to an urbanized area was able to mitigate against various challenges stemming from urbanization. The Gateway and Niittu wetlands were successful in creating high biodiversity at the clay-stream habitats and relied on little human maintenance due to the naturally occurring habitat which was conducive to wetland creation and existence.</p> <p>Some compromises were made in order to ensure the acceptance of the wetlands and their appreciation and support by the community. Both wetlands were designed to accommodate open water areas for recreational purposes and thus do not fulfill the most efficient capacity for pollution removal.</p> <p>Despite the establishment of the wetlands, they do not address source control directly which remains an issue. If action is taken to reduce pollution at the source, then the wetlands will be more productive in response.</p> <p>Continued monitoring during and after the establishment of the wetlands allowed for there to be definitive conclusions on the impact of the created wetlands on water pollution mitigation, self establishment of vegetation, and biodiversity development. Water quality improvements were demonstrated with continuous monitoring which would not have been deciphered via discrete water sampling.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-relevant-case-studies-and- field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Relevant case studies and examples</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/measure/wetland-restoration" hreflang="en">Wetland restoration</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-literature-sources field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Literature sources</div> <div class="field__item"><h5><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><strong>Main source: </strong>Outi Wahlroos, Pasi Valkama, Emmi Mäkinen, Anne Ojala, Harri Vasander, Veli-Matti Väänänen, Anna Halonen, Leena Lindén, Petri Nummi, Hannele Ahponen, Kirsti Lahti, Teuvo Vessman, Kari Rantakokko & Eero Nikinmaa (2015): </span><a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21513732.2015.1006681"><span><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Urban wetland parks in Finland: improving water quality and creating endangered habitats</span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">. In: International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management Volume 11, Issue 1: Pages 46-60</span></h5></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-measure-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Measure category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/76" hreflang="en">Mitigation</a></div> </div> </div> Thu, 16 Feb 2017 09:00:50 +0000 nst 293 at https://coastal-management.eu EXAMPLE: Developing an Attica Wetland Action Plan (GR) https://coastal-management.eu/measure/example-developing-attica-wetland-action-plan-gr <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">EXAMPLE: Developing an Attica Wetland Action Plan (GR)</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="https://coastal-management.eu/user/6" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">nst</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Thu, 02/16/2017 - 09:27</span> <div class="field field--name-field-type-of-measure field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/64" hreflang="en">Public Awareness and Preparedness</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-colour field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/68" hreflang="en">Non-structural measure</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-descr field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB">Attica, Greece is a region with extensive wetlands that include streams, estuaries and coastal marshes. The land area is also heavily in use for agriculture and experiences competition from various anthropocentric uses which have created a largely degraded environment. The wetlands that dot the region, are largely considered by communities as the remaining environmental hotspots and serve not only as ecologically important areas but peoples’ remaining contact with nature. They are for this reason, closely tied to community use and general well being. To protect these wetlands, an </span><span lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB">Attica Wetland Action Plan</span> was developed.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-information-source field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/case-studies/wetland-adaptation-in-attica-region-greece-1">Based on the information available on ClimateAdapt Platform</a></p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h3>General description</h3> <p><span lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB">Recognising the need for the sustainable and ecological management of these wetlands the Environmental Department of Attica Regional Authority with support from the Greek Biotope Wetland Centre (EKBY) developed an Attica Wetland Action Plan.</span><span lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB">The Action Plan is designed around seven axes under which measures with specific priority actions are identified. The strategy includes sustainable management and restoration of wetlands; their interconnection in a green arc; the evaluation of the services provided; awareness raising and environmental education in biodiversity and climate change and citizen participation. </span></p> <p>The Action Plan is built on seven axes under which measures are listed and assigned priority. The development of the Action Plan sought to protect and preserve the biodiverse wetlands while simultaneously creating sustainable opportunities for use by the local community. In order to ensure acceptance and eventual implementation of the Action Plan, participation by the affected communities was central to its design and development. While there were no issues in developing the plan, ensuring its effective implementation faced several limiting factors including limited funds, operational capacity of involved services and bodies to take proposed action measure, regulation of land uses in relation to protection and restoration.</p> <p>The region of Attica is a Metropolitan Region and the first in Greece to be mobilized towards a climate change adaptation strategy. It therefore was new in bringing a participatory process forward to propose management for natural ecosystems while dealing with sensitive issues of competitive land use between agricultural needs and environmental ones. The local authorities development of an Adaptation Plan brought together local authorities, social groups, environmental organisations and research institutes for the protection of wetlands in its jurisdiction.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-second-descrip field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><h4>Cost-effective and innovative aspects</h4> <p>The planned implementation of the Action Plan is meant to mitigate the effects of human interventions resulting from usage (i.e. agriculture) as well as pressures stemming from climate change. Implementing the suggested measures is expected to improve the protection of the coasts by reducing the effects of waves, storms and currents. It is also expected to improve water quality in the region by trapping sediments, nutrients and toxic substances. It is also expected to improve the possibility of economic returns of those using the wetlands.</p> <p>During the development of the Adaptation Plan several awareness raising events were organized in the wetland in order to involve and educate local community members. For example, in 2014 a training seminar “Adaptation Strategy for Attica Wetlands” provided hands-on training for some 80 participants. In 2015, the Attica Region had a Green Week event called “Raising support to restore the wetland of Brexiza, in the Region of Attica Greece” which brought some 90 individuals to Brexiza to learn about the biodiversity of the area and its historical importance as an archaeological site of the Roman great temple of the Egyptian gods. Through public support, this event brought about a dialogue on Brexiza wetland restoration and biodiversity protection as well as on the implementation of the Action Plan.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-key-lessons field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Key lessons learnt</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Prior to the development of the regional Adaptation Plan, knowledge and awareness about climate change adaptation and wetlands in particular was low and non-existent in the community. The partnership between the Regional Authority and a scientific environmental organisation, was an important partnership for mutual learning and the introduction of climate change planning for the first time. Moreover, the development of the Adptation Plan was participatory in its design, and thus generated wide support for the suggested measures despite previous issues related to competitive land use and widespread environmental degradation. The development of the Adaptation Plan had the effect of raising awareness of citizens and other actors, facilitating new collaborations between private, public and governmental actors, and generally brought into consideration a sustainable management plan for the wetlands.</p> <p>In regions or situations where adaptation to climate change is being introduced for the first time, ensuring a participatory process whereby actors develop management plans through mutual learning and exchange</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-relevant-case-studies-and- field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Relevant case studies and examples</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/measure/spatial-planning-and-integrated-coastal-zone-management-iczm" hreflang="en">Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-measure-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Measure category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/75" hreflang="en">Prevention</a></div> </div> </div> Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:27:37 +0000 nst 292 at https://coastal-management.eu EXAMPLE: Lowering the floodplain in Emilia–Romagna area (IT) https://coastal-management.eu/measure/example-lowering-floodplain-emilia-romagna-area-it <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">EXAMPLE: Lowering the floodplain in Emilia–Romagna area (IT)</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="https://coastal-management.eu/user/6" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">nst</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Fri, 01/27/2017 - 13:48</span> <div class="field field--name-field-adressed-disks field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/53" hreflang="en">Riverine or slow rise floods</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type-of-measure field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/60" hreflang="en">Channel, Coastal and Floodplain Works</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-colour field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/66" hreflang="en">Combined approach (grey + green)</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-descr field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Near to the RISC-KIT Case Study in Emilia – Romagna, a LIFE+ “LIFE RINASCE” project has been implemented in 2014 to improve some of Emilia - Romagna drainage channels in the Po floodplain. Project leader is the Emilia Centrale Land Reclamation Consortium, in collaboration with the Emilia -Romagna Region. The project was started in 2014 and will run the end of 2018 with a total budget of almost 2.1 million €.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-information-source field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Based on the project information from <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=4872">LIFE+</a></p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h4>General description</h4> <p>The project aim is to reduce the risk of flooding and achieve good ecological status of the waters in the Po floodplain through ecological restoration of the channel network and vegetation management. It aims at demonstrating the feasibility and environmental and socio-economic benefits of such measures on a large floodplain area.</p> <p>The project plans to develop an integrated restoration programme for floodplain channels using river restoration methods and protocols for sustainable management of aquatic and riparian vegetation. Planned interventions will aim to restore hydraulic functions of the floodplain, reduce the risk of flooding and improve the ecology.</p> <p>One measure among others will include the lowering of the floodplain and thereby creating an arboreal strip of plants and shrubs. Other measures include the creation of a wetland, the enlargement of a natural channel. These measures are aimed to mitigate flood risks through water retention. Other benefits will be the improvement of drainage, purification of water, and improved ecological status.</p> <p>It is foreseen that seven kilometer of canals will be restored by the end of the project by the creation and/or the lowering of three hectares of floodplain areas and vegetation. Additionally two hectare wetland should be created by then.</p> <h4>The Participatory process</h4> <p>The project used a participatory process to involve local actors, stakeholders and citizens in the strategic choices regarding the transformation of the territory and to collect ideas and proposals for the design of the rehabilitation interventions. Information, communication, consultation and listening to participants played an important role for the first steps in the project. The process was split into two main plenary sessions, six discussion meetings and a follow-up meeting for the technical and regulatory aspects hosted. These meetings involved a total of 189 participants coming from associations, organizations, companies and citizens. In parallel, the participatory process was supported by a dedicated web space.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-relevant-case-studies-and- field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Relevant case studies and examples</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/measure/river-bank-relocation-floodplain-lowering" hreflang="en">River bank relocation – floodplain lowering</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-further-readings field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Further Readings</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="http://ambiente.regione.emilia-romagna.it/life-rinasce">Website of the project (in Italian)</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-measure-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Measure category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/75" hreflang="en">Prevention</a></div> </div> </div> Fri, 27 Jan 2017 12:48:53 +0000 nst 286 at https://coastal-management.eu EXAMPLE: Restoring Riparian Forests (BG) https://coastal-management.eu/measure/example-restoring-riparian-forests-bg <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">EXAMPLE: Restoring Riparian Forests (BG)</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="https://coastal-management.eu/user/6" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">nst</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Fri, 01/27/2017 - 11:08</span> <div class="field field--name-field-adressed-disks field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/53" hreflang="en">Riverine or slow rise floods</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type-of-measure field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/58" hreflang="en">Natural flood, runoff, catchment management</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-colour field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/65" hreflang="en">Ecosystem based approach</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-descr field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Floodplain or riparian forests can be extremely important for the prevention of floods and landslides. Floodplain forests used to be widespread in Bulgaria, but today they are only partially preserved. WWF, in partnership with local Bulgarian partners began a project for restoration and conservation of natural riparian forests of native species along the rivers Danube and Maritsa.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-information-source field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Based on the project description of the <a href="http://www.wwf.bg/what_we_do/forests/riparian_forests/about_the_project/">WWF </a>and <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=5083">LIFE+</a></p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h4>General description</h4> <p>Riparian forests are rich in biodiversity, naturally purifying water, and can prevent floods and landslides. During heavy rain falls, riparian forests collect the water and then slowly return some in the riverbeds, therefore slowing down the water flow. Riparian forests create unique conditions that control and influence the transfer of energy, nutrients and sediments between the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.</p> <p>These riparian forests have experienced frequent disturbance by human impact, resulting in a continuous decrease of the habitat area. In recent decades, they have suffered from a wide range of detrimental actions including: clear fellings; transformation into arable lands or hybrid plantations for intensive production of timber; cleaning/correction of riverbeds; and infrastructure projects or activities (such as the construction of small hydropower plants and the extraction of inert materials). Such long-term adverse human impacts lead to degradation of the priority habitat and negative changes in its structure, composition, stability and functionality.</p> <p>The WWF together with local Bulgarian partners (National Forestry and regional forestry directorates "Ruse" and "Plovdiv") have applied for a LIFE+ project to restore 48.1 hectares of natural riparian forests. They will plant local tree species and remove exotic species. A guide will be developed for the recovery and management of riparian forests as well as an analysis of the relationship between the targeted areas and the other Natura 2000 sites. Additionally, volunteers will actively be engage in the project and in particular highschool students, who will help with the planting of trees.</p> <p>The project is co-funded by the LIFE + instrument of the European Commission and will be implemented from September 2014 to 2019 with a total budget of around 500.000€.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-key-lessons field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Key lessons learnt</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Restoring riparian forests can not only mitigate flooding problems to a certain extent, it also provides additional ecosystem services. While this concept could be difficult to implement in coastal urban areas due to the lack of space, it can be a valuable approach in rural areas. But also in rural the aspect of sufficient space is probably the most crucial factor in implementing the measure. If this initial obstacle is solved, the reforestation is a promising ecosystem-based approach.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-relevant-case-studies-and- field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Relevant case studies and examples</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/measure/reafforestation-upland-areas-and-buffer-zones" hreflang="en">Reafforestation in upland areas and buffer zones</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-further-readings field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Further Readings</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="http://www.wwf.bg/what_we_do/forests/riparian_forests/about_the_project/">WWF project description</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=5083">LIFE+ project description</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-measure-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Measure category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/76" hreflang="en">Mitigation</a></div> </div> </div> Fri, 27 Jan 2017 10:08:18 +0000 nst 285 at https://coastal-management.eu EXAMPLE: Wallasea Island Wild Coast project (UK) https://coastal-management.eu/measure/example-wallasea-island-wild-coast-project-uk <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">EXAMPLE: Wallasea Island Wild Coast project (UK)</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="https://coastal-management.eu/user/6" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">nst</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 01/16/2017 - 13:39</span> <div class="field field--name-field-adressed-disks field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/36" hreflang="en">Erosion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type-of-measure field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/60" hreflang="en">Channel, Coastal and Floodplain Works</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/59" hreflang="en">Water flow regulation</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type-of-coastal-defence-st field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/73" hreflang="en">Limited intervention</a></div> <div class="field field--name-field-colour field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/65" hreflang="en">Ecosystem based approach</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-descr field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The aim of the Wallasea Island Wild Coast project is to recreate a natural intertidal coastal marshland to combat the threat of climate-induced coastal flooding. The recreated mudflats, salt and brackish marshes, saline lagoons, and pastures will provide a range of habitats for coastal birds and other wildlife on the Essex coast.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-information-source field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/our-positions-and-campaigns/campaigning-for-nature/casework/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-235089">Based on information from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)</a></p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h4>General description</h4> <p>The project uses a technique known as “<a href="http://coastal-management.eu/measure/managed-realignment">managed realignment</a>” to recreate an intertidal habitat through the breaching of existing seawalls at strategic locations. These breaches, or holes, allow sea water in, and various kinds of ecosystems can be created depending on the height of the land being flooded. The land of the Wallasea Island will be heightened and extended using the clay, chalk, and gravel excavated from new underground rail line connections in central London. In total, nearly 1500 acres of tidal wildlife habitat will be transformed or created new, including approximately 133ha of mudflat, 276ha of salt marsh, 53ha of saline lagoons, 11ha of brackish marsh, 160ha of grassland, and 15ha of rotational arable fields.</p> <p>Historically, Wallasea ‘Island’ comprised as many as five individual salt marsh islands. When seawall defences were added to the area to prevent coastal erosion, the landscape eventually evolved into the shape that can be seen today.</p> <p>Since 2008, the Wallasea Island Wild Coast project has been in partnership with an underground rail line development project called Crossrail. The clay, chalk, and gravel excavated from their tunnelling in central London will be reused to heighten and transform the coastlines of the Wallasea area. The addition of these materials to raise land and extend coastlines is expected to allow approximately 2.1Mm<sup>3</sup> of tidal water to enter the area once the sea walls are breached. This would require around 7.5Mm<sup>3</sup> of imported fill material. The construction schedule to achieve the objectives of the managed realignment plan is determined by the delivery schedule of the materials from the Crossrail project, and is planned between 2016 and 2019.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-second-descrip field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The site is located near one of the world’s most important estuaries and one of Europe’s largest economic regeneration zones: the Thames Gateway. The Crouch and Roach Estuaries bordering Wallasea Island have been recognized, under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds, as a Special Protection Area, a Special Area of Conservation, and a Wetland of International Importance through the Ramsar Convention.</p> <p>In July 2009, the final design of the project received planning approval. Local authorities, yacht clubs, and various organizations were publically consulted and included in developing and designing the project plan.</p> <h4>Innovative Aspects</h4> <p>The Wallasea Island Wild Coast project is a bold initiative to address the alarming amount of coastal change that has happened in this region of Europe. Over the past 400 years, the Essex coast has lost over 91% of its intertidal salt marshes due to accelerating coastal erosion and competition with agriculture for land. The project has set a high standard for 21<sup>st</sup> century conservation and engineering efforts, and is at a scale never before attempted in the UK. It jointly considers ecological and economic factors, for the benefit of future visitors, wildlife, and local community members for decades to come.</p> <p>Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the project is the landmark partnership and collaboration between the project operators, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and the underground rail development project Crossrail. By deciding to reuse the excavated materials from London’s new underground connections to achieve the managed realignment objectives of Wallasea Island, the two projects set a global standard for how waste material from large-scale infrastructure projects does not have to be disposed of in a landfill. Instead, excavated soils, clays, and rocks can provide flood protection to coastal communities and refortify coastal ecosystems. Equally, the project cooperation showed that it is possible to transport large amounts of excavation spoil from London to the Essex coast in a safe and reliable way.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-key-lessons field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Key lessons learnt</div> <div class="field__item"><p>The Wallasea Island Wild Coast project showed that despite the challenges, major land realignment can be undertaken in a sustainable way. The use of excavated materials from the London Crossrail project also illustrated a mutually beneficial solution for both stakeholder groups and is an example of cooperation that leads to smart solutions for the benefit of the environment.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-relevant-case-studies-and- field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Relevant case studies and examples</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/measure/marsh-vegetation-intertidal-and-coastal-zone" hreflang="en">Marsh vegetation in intertidal and coastal zone</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-further-readings field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Further Readings</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/ES_tcm9-290549.pdf">PDF: Documentation about the project</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-measure-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Measure category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/76" hreflang="en">Mitigation</a></div> </div> </div> Mon, 16 Jan 2017 12:39:10 +0000 nst 227 at https://coastal-management.eu EXAMPLE: Titchwell Marsh (UK) seawalls and managed realignment https://coastal-management.eu/measure/example-titchwell-marsh-uk-seawalls-and-managed-realignment <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">EXAMPLE: Titchwell Marsh (UK) seawalls and managed realignment</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="https://coastal-management.eu/user/6" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">nst</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 01/16/2017 - 09:31</span> <div class="field field--name-field-adressed-disks field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/35" hreflang="en">Estuarine floods</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/37" hreflang="en">Coastal floods or storm surges</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/36" hreflang="en">Erosion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type-of-measure field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/60" hreflang="en">Channel, Coastal and Floodplain Works</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-colour field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/65" hreflang="en">Ecosystem based approach</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-descr field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Located on England’s North Norfolk coast, the Titchwell Marsh is a key piece of the North Norfolk Coast Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This coastal wetland ecosystem includes freshwater and brackish habitats and is currently protected from the erosive power of waves by seawalls which are becoming increasingly weakened.</p> <p>The Titchwell Marsh Coastal Change Project aims to protect vital freshwater habitats from both coastal erosion and sea level rise through managed realignment and seawall reinforcement, and mitigate and compensate for the loss of important brackish habitats.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-information-source field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/case-studies/coastal-protection-by-managed-realignment-titchwell-marsh">Based on the information available on CLIMATE-ADAPT Platform</a></p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h4>General description</h4> <p>The eastern coast of England is known to have an abundant amount of birdlife, which makes the environmental pressures of sea-level rise and coastal erosion even more concerning. In fact, much of the coast suffers from what is known as a “coastal squeeze” where sea walls and other infrastructure actually prevent the natural mobility of intertidal habitats. The managed realignment strategy at Titchwell Marsh, including seawall reinforcement and intentional breaching, is a response to this.</p> <p>Through the project, the existing western wall was strengthened, a new wall was constructed, and a breach was made in one of the walls to connect the brackish marsh to the tidal salt marsh in the east, taking into consideration the flow direction and locations of creeks. The sea walls are expected to protect the freshwater ecosystems for the next half century.</p> <p>The project was supported by several invaluable stakeholders who pushed for action and were critical in achieving all the necessary permits. These stakeholders include:</p> <ul> <li>Natural England (the UK government’s statutory nature conservation advisor)</li> <li>The Environment Agency (the public body responsible for coastal flood defence)</li> <li>Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Agency (the agency responsible for the management of inshore fisheries)</li> <li>The local community members and Titchwell Marsh supporters</li> </ul> <p>Each of the stakeholder institutions participated throughout the duration of the project and to varying degrees. The local community had the opportunity to attend three consultation events held on separate days. Over 150 people attended these events. Additionally, a yearly newsletter was published to keep concerned local residents and visitors informed of the progress.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-second-descrip field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><h4>Ecosystem-based approach</h4> <p>By creating a breach in the sea wall to connect existing salt marsh creeks, a chain of events can occur that result in significant ecosystem benefits. Seawater is able to enter the brackish marsh and flood it with the tide, turning it into a tidal salt marsh. This new habitat, along with new associated mudflats, is attractive to many coastal bird species, and also serves as a better natural defence against coastal erosion when combined with the sea wall.</p> <p>However, the loss of brackish marsh can be negative for some species, such as avocet which use the habitat for nesting and breeding. In response to this, additional nesting islands were created in the Titchwell freshwater marshes and new avocet habitats were created at other nearby nature reserves.</p> <p>A notable side benefit of the project has been the reedbed created in the area excavated for materials for the new sea wall. It is expected that within 10 years of project completion, a full reed bed will have grown in the 2.4ha excavation zone.</p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-key-lessons field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Key lessons learnt</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Understanding all aspects of the coastal erosion processes impacting Titchwell Marsh led to the design and successful implementation of the most appropriate solution. The decision to include an ecologically strategic breach in the sea wall resulted in several benefits and was an example of working with coastal processes rather than against them.</p> <p>Time and energy spent involving the local community with consultation and education was also integral to the success of the project. It helped the project gain consent for the various planning requests necessary.</p> <p>Undertaking construction and excavation work in an environmentally sensitive area is not a quick or easy task. At Titchwell, the wintering and breeding habits of bird species prevented such work from being done for most of the year. Construction was only permitted during August, September and October when disturbance could be minimised. This delayed the overall project and impacted some of the busiest weeks for visitors to the Marsh.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-relevant-case-studies-and- field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Relevant case studies and examples</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/measure/managed-realignment" hreflang="en">Managed realignment</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-further-readings field--type-link field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Further Readings</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/whatwedo/projects/details/262957-titchwell-marsh-coastal-change-project ">Information from Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) website</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-measure-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Measure category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/75" hreflang="en">Prevention</a></div> </div> </div> Mon, 16 Jan 2017 08:31:08 +0000 nst 223 at https://coastal-management.eu Rainwater harvesting https://coastal-management.eu/measure/rainwater-harvesting <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Rainwater harvesting</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="https://coastal-management.eu/user/6" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">nst</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Fri, 12/02/2016 - 12:05</span> <div class="field field--name-field-adressed-disks field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/53" hreflang="en">Riverine or slow rise floods</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/52" hreflang="en">Flash floods</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type-of-measure field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/61" hreflang="en">Surface Water Management</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-colour field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/66" hreflang="en">Combined approach (grey + green)</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-short-descr field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Water harvesting is when rainwater or stormwater is collected and stored for productive use later. It can be used for agriculture, drinking and more. Historically, rainwater harvesting is a common practice and has been used by many communities to support agriculture in sensitive and variable climates. </span></p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-information-source field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="http://web.unep.org/ecosystems/sites/default/files/uploads/resource/file/Green%20infrastructure%20Guide.pdf">Based on kindly provided information by UNEP's "Green Infrastructure Guide for Water Management: Ecosystem-based Management Approaches to Water-related Infrastructure Projects " (UNEP, 2014)</a></p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">As a result of its widespread and historical use, many varieties of harvesting water exist and depend on the area available for catchment as well as the intended post-collection use. Water harvesting techniques can be divided in two main types: <strong>in situ</strong> and <strong>ex situ</strong>.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">In situ rainwater harvesting is a technique that increases the capacity of the soil to store water, thus collecting water where it lands. In situ collection ensures that rainwater remains where it falls with little distance between capture and usage areas. Some examples of in situ water harvesting include terracing, pitting and conservation tillage practices. These measures are also used for <span> </span>for soil conservation <span>(UNEP and SEI 2009)</span>.</span></p> <p><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Ex situ water harvesting is a technique where water is collected in an area external to where it falls and is stored for later use. Ex situ water harvesting is often used in urban areas natural soil surfaces or rooftops, roads and pavements in urban areas. Examples include capturing and storing water in dams, wells, ponds, cisterns, etc. (UNEP and SEI 2009). </span></p> <h4><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Benefits & Co-Benefits</span></h4> <p><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">In situ water harvesting has multiple benefits. It allows for the collection of water in soil, thus increasing water infiltration and holding capacity which results in improved soil fertility for agriculture and/or biodiversity. Other benefits can include reduced runoff from slopes and facilitates groundwater recharge (Agriwaterpedia 2014).</span></p> <p><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Ex situ benefits are usually related to storing excess water, particularly stormwater runoff for productive use later. In urban areas, the reduced stormwater runoff volumes also contribute to minimizing the amount of pollutant loads entering stormwater collection systems, helping to prevent potentially damaging effects on water quality (EPA 2013). In addition, it contributes to water conservation, reducing the pressure on surface water sources and groundwater. When used for irrigation purposes in households, the harvested water also enhances groundwater recharge. In urban areas, reduced energy requirements for water treatment and transport can contribute to better air quality, and reduced CO2 emissions from local power plants. Even if treated for potable use, rainwater, in most cases, requires less energy than conventional water treatment and distribution.</span></p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-second-descrip field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><h4><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Costs</span></h4> <p><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">Water harvesting measures vary in cost depending on type, design and scale. For example, in situ solutions in rural areas using traditional methods may be low cost and only incur the cost of labor and time. For ex situ methods, the building of storage tanks, cisterns, pumps, etc., will incur costs of its own. The scale is also a factor. </span></p> <p><span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US">The scale of water harvesting methods can also influence the hydrological regime of a river, particularly if its large-scale. For example, water harvesting that significantly reduces surface runoff may increase groundwater recharge and evaporation losses. This may negatively impact downstream water users, including ecosystems. When multiple users are involved and scale is significant, it is important to undertake comprehensive planning and with proper knowledge of the hydrological system in question.</span></p></div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-literature-sources field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Literature sources</div> <div class="field__item"><h6>Agriwaterpedia (2014). Available from http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Water_harvesting.</h6> <h6>UNEP and SEI (2010). AdaptCost Briefing Paper 3: Coastal Adaptation – Africa Review and New Estimates.</h6> <h6>EPA (2013). United States Environmental Protection Agency, Rainwater Harvesting: Conservation, Credit, Codes, and Cost. Literature Review and Case Studies.</h6></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-measure-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Measure category</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://coastal-management.eu/taxonomy/term/76" hreflang="en">Mitigation</a></div> </div> </div> Fri, 02 Dec 2016 11:05:01 +0000 nst 188 at https://coastal-management.eu