R&D highlights edition 2018

PROJECTS Ecosystems and environmental quality STEP 1 Define Problem, Project Scope, and Objectives STEP 2 Develop Financing Strategy STEP 3 Conduct Ecosystem, Hazard, and Risk Assessments STEP 4 Develop Nature­ based Risk Management Strategy STEP 5 Estimate the Costs, Benefits, and Effectiveness STEP 6 Select and Design the Intervention STEP 7 Implement and Construct STEP 8 Monitor and Inform Future Practices Scale of natural system suitable for problem solving Local investment in interventions, green financing Ecosystem presence, health, and functioning Ecosystem potential, option identification Ecosystem aspects Outputs Effectiveness of ecosystem measure Green and hybrid option design Conservation, restoration, and/or establishment of ecosystem elements Monitoring ecosystem performance, resilience, and stability • Stakeholder needs • Maps of area of interest • Project objectives • Budget estimate • Overview of resources • Hazard and risk maps • Ecosystem and land- use maps • Flood zone maps • List of measures • Strategy map • Cost-benefit analysis • Impact assessment • Risk assess­ ment with inverventions • Design of measures • Monitoring plan • Maintenance plan • Intervention lifetime • Regulatory frameworks • Implemented measures • Monitoring reports • Actions if needed • Share lessons learned Project implementation timeline Feedback activities WIDELY SUPPORTED GUIDELINES FOR NATURE- BASED SOLUTIONS IN FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT The World Bank, UNDP, GFDRR, Ecoshape and Deltares therefore invited global players in the field of nature-based solutions for flood risk management to a workshop at Deltares in April 2017. The aim of the workshop was to draft a common set of principles and implemen­ tation steps to guide the upscaling of nature-based solutions to reduce flood risks. Five principles were developed for avoiding the most common pitfalls affecting the proper implementation of nature-based solutions. Many of these principles can also be used to improve traditional engineering practice. The five principles are: The approach to nature-based solutions for climate change adapta­ tion and disaster risk reduction should start with a system-wide analysis of the local socio-economic, environmental, and institutional conditions. There should be a thorough assess­ ment of the risks and benefits of the full range of possible measures, including risk reduction benefits as well as social and environmental effects. Nature-based solutions for flood risk management need to be tested, designed, and evaluated using quantitative criteria. Nature-based solutions for flood risk management should make use of existing ecosystems and native species, and comply with the basic principles of ecological restoration and conservation. Nature-based solutions for flood risk management need adaptive management based on long-term monitoring so that they remain sustainable. In addition to these principles, detailed implementation steps were described with the aim of furthering proper project execution and ensuring that vital elements such as systemanalysis, risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, monitoring and maintenance are not disregarded. The guidelines will be used by UNDP and the World Bank for project development and they will be evaluated and extended by all the partners within two years. Contact: Bregje van Wesenbeeck, bregje.vanwesenbeeck@ deltares.nl, t +31 (0)6 5159 4127 Further reading : http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/ en/739421509427698706/pdf/120735- REVISED-PUBLIC-Brochure-Implementing- nature-based-flood-protection-web.pdf Nature-based solutions are gaining popularity around the world and being implemented morewidely.However, engineered constructions to reduce flood risk have design metrics and performance standards that are not yet available for nature- based solutions. Programmes and projects with nature-based solutions have provided their own guidelines but the upscaling and mainstreaming of nature- based solutions for flood risk management could benefit from a more widely accepted set of guidelines. Implementation of nature-based solutions for flood risk management 1 5 2 3 4 52