R&D highlights edition 2019

19 R&D Highlights 2019 Social and economic impact This theme addresses the challenges related to the Sustainable Development Goals: restoring and protecting water-related ecosystems, improving the resilience of ecosystem systems against a background of changes in the climate and the environment, safeguarding the sustainable use of resources and ecosystem services . Key questions covered by the theme are: How can we improve sediment management in rivers and coastal waters? How should we manage our aquatic ecosystems to further climate resilience? How should we design adaptive nature-based solutions such as measures to reduce flood risks while improving the ecological conditions? Can the better planning and use of ecosystem services reduce the risks for human health, and how? And how can the need for policy- relevant information about ecosystems be translated into monitoring strategies? Our research allows governments to implement water and environmental policies more effectively. Dutch consulting and dredging companies are opening up newmarkets worldwide and non-governmental organisations can substantiate their visions and strategies by drawing on our expertise.