Restoration of floodplains and floodplain forests, natural succession

Identifying and re-establishing of flood plains and deposition areas, such as by removal of protection structures for agricultural land, contributes to the retention of water along rivers and, thus, to heavy rain risk reduction. In the past, most floodplains have been taken over for other uses; former floodplain forests are separated from river and runoff pathways and modified into residual low-density forests without natural regeneration. Land use of flood plains can be different. Most space is required by self-regenerating floodplain forests (“mobile ecosystems”) – much more than floodplain grassland or reed beds. Restoration of such forests is a demanding and long-lasting process and requires planning; however, it is a crucial measure for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Fields of action Watercourses,Settlement areas,Farmland,Forests

Additionally to flood risk reduction by slowing and storing surface runoff, the measure has medium or high possible benefits for the following biophysical impacts and ecosystem services: Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery; Create riparian habitat; Biodiversity preservation; Reduce pollutant sources; Intercept pollution pathways; Create aquatic habitat; Reduce peak temperature; Filtration of pollutants

Check out the RAINMAN good practice examples:

no good practice example available

READ MORE:

Office International de l’Eau (2015): Natural Water Retention Measures, URL: http://nwrm.eu (19.03.2020): forest riparian buffers
Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft (Ed.) (2015): 1. Nationaler Hochwasserrisikomanagementplan [The first National Flood Risk Management Plan for Austria], URL: https://www.bmlrt.gv.at/wasser/wisa/hochwasserrisiko/rmp2015/risikomanagementplan/risikomanagementplan.html (22.06.2020): Überflutungsgebiete und Ablagerungsgebiete wieder herstellen
Landesamt für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft und Geologie (Ed.) (2016): Dezentraler Hochwasserschutz im ländlichen Raum, URL: https://publikationen.sachsen.de/bdb/artikel/13555 (25.03.2020): Renaturierungen
National Flood Risk Management measures Hungary: 1. Ártéri, hullámtéri területhasználatok módosítása művelési ág váltással, ökológiai, és természetvédelmi szempontok figyelembevételével; 2. A növényzet átalakítása és fenntartása, ökológiai és természetvédelmi szempontok figyelembevételével, URL: http://www.vizugy.hu/vizstrategia/documents/81E46637-D6E2-469B-A482-298613A06132/5.%20melleklet%20AKK%20intezkedestipusok%20VKI%20szempontu%20vizsgalata.pdf

PICTURES:

Wildbach- und Lawinenverbauung (WLV)