Mariele Evers

Coherence and inconsistency of European instruments for integrated river basin management

Large rivers are particularly under pressure due to multiple uses which often have severe impacts on ecosystems, or water quality and flow. Conflicting aims and a lack of integration and cooperation in planning and management are not beneficial to sustainable management. Important elements of integrated river basin management (IRBM) include both water quality aspects and floodplain and flood risk management. On the other hand, land use and land use planning are also both of great importance for sustainable river management. However, water management and land use planning are generally treated as two distinct issues in planning procedures and decision-making processes. Even water quality and flood risk issues are often handled by different authorities. Integrated management of transnational river basins is even more complicated and difficult. In Europe, there is a range of relevant Directives such as the Water Framework Directive, Floods Directive and Habitat Directive. This paper illustrates how these legal and planning instruments influence the IRBM of large rivers. It analyses the potential synergies of the goals outlined in the directives and various related measures. Coherent but also inconsistent aspects of IRBM are identified against six different dimensions: political intention, legal, geographical, management, socio-economic and sustainability. The analysis shows potentials for synergies but also potential inconsistencies. We show that directives must be carefully coordinated to ensure coherent management and that synergies and site-specific goals, such as target areas, are important for sustainable management. Possible methodologies are described. IRBM can be considered as one possible approach towards sustainable development by coordinating different policies.

Using education and social learning in capacity building- the IntECR concept

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to present a concept where social learning is used in education. Thematically, the concept is suitable for complex, interdisciplinary, societal challenges with a ...

Quantifying the impact of urban area expansion on groundwater recharge and surface runoff

ABSTRACT In this surface water modelling study, a new spatial evaluation for assessing the impact of urbanization was applied for the semi-arid watersheds intersecting with the Gaza coastal aquifer. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated in a semi-automated approach for streamflow in the main watersheds. The results show that the model could simulate water budget components adequately within the complex semi-arid watersheds. Linear relationships between the change in urban area and the corresponding change in surface runoff or percolation were concluded for the urbanized sub-basins. The urban-surface runoff index (USI) and the urban-percolation index (UPI) were developed to represent a micro-level evaluation of different urban change scenarios in the sub-basins. The global urban-surface runoff index (GUSI) and the global urban-percolation index (GUPI) were derived as macro-level factors reflecting the influence on the overall Gaza coastal aquifer due to urban area expansion. Editor D. Koutsoyiannis Associate editor E. Rozos

Sustainability aspects of water regulation and flood risk reduction in Lake Vänern

A modern feature of flood risk management is to integrate ecological, economic and social aspects in risk prevention and mitigation. Risk-reducing measures can be in conflict with ecosystem functions and complicate upstream/downstream relations. Flood risks are also influenced by processes in the catchment, such as changes in climate and land-use, or increases of vulnerable urban areas. Lake Vänern in Sweden has high ecological and social values but is also flood-prone, which in this article has been analyzed from a perspective of sustainable development. Lake Vänern and the Göta älv River are used for drinking water supply, shipping, hydropower production, fishing, tourism, as a recipient for industries and wastewater plants, etc. The flood risks are connected to landslide and industrial risks. One interest at stake is the drinking water supply for 800,000 persons in the Gothenburg region. According to climate scenarios, flood risks will increase in the 21st century due to increased precipitation. Recent studies in the region were used to identify relevant interests and values connected to Lake Vänern. The study reveals differing interests in relation to water level regimes. From a flood protection perspective (risks around the lake and downstream to Gothenburg) a low and stable water level is beneficial. For shipping and hydropower, a stable medium-high water level is wanted, whereas from an ecosystem and landscape development perspective larger water level amplitudes are optimal. One out of a few reasons for this is the need to prevent a massive increase in vegetation in coastal areas. There are good reasons to have a broad decision-support, representing different values and interests, when the permanent water regulation scheme will be decided. This study also addresses the potential to reconcile the concept of flood risk management with that of a sustainable development.

Sociotechnical Framework for Participatory Flood Risk Management via Collaborative Modeling

This article introduces a sociotechnical framework for conceptualization, design and development of participatory Flood Risk Management FRM processes. The framework enables a collaborative modeling approach, in which FRM activities are jointly carried out by authorities responsible for FRM, key stakeholders and the potentially affected citizens. Given the technical and social complexity of FRM, the article argues for adoption of the proposed framework as a means for realizing individual and social learning among all involved actors, which leads to shared understanding of the identified flood risks and potentially to commonly agreed FRM alternatives and strategies. Implementation of the framework critically depends on a web-based collaborative platform-a tool that supports all collaborative modeling activities. The framework is presented from within European context of FRM, but its relevance is broader and it can potentially be adopted in other social and geographical areas.

Natural and environmental vulnerability analysis through remote sensing and GIS techniques: a case study of Indigirka River basin, Eastern Siberia, Russia

The aim of this research work is to understand natural and environmental vulnerability situation and its cause such as intensity, distribution and socio-economic effect in the Indigirka River basin, Eastern Siberia, Russia. This paper identifies, assess and classify natural and environmental vulnerability using landscape pattern from multidisciplinary approach, based on remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques. A model was developed by following thematic layers: land use/cover, vegetation, wetland, geology, geomorphology and soil in ArcGIS 10.2 software. According to numerical results vulnerability classified into five levels: low, sensible, moderate, high and extreme vulnerability by mean of cluster principal. Results are shows that in natural vulnerability maximum area covered by moderate (29.84%) and sensible (38.61%) vulnerability and environmental vulnerability concentrated by moderate (49.30%) vulnerability. So study area has at medial level vulnerability. The results found that the methodology applied was effective enough in the understanding of the current conservation circumstances of the river basin in relation to their environment with the help of remote sensing and GIS. This study is helpful for decision making for eco-environmental recovering and rebuilding as well as predicting the future development.

Participatory flood vulnerability assessment: a multi-criteria approach

This paper presents a participatory multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach for flood vulnerability assessment while considering the relationships between vulnerability criteria. The applicability of the proposed framework is demonstrated in the municipalities of Lajeado and Estrela, Brazil. The model was co-constructed by 101 experts from governmental organizations, universities, research institutes, NGOs, and private companies. Participatory methods such as the Delphi survey, focus groups, and workshops were applied. A participatory problem structuration, in which the modellers work closely with end users, was used to establish the structure of the vulnerability index. The preferences of each participant regarding the criteria importance were spatially modelled through the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and analytical network process (ANP) multi-criteria methods. Experts were also involved at the end of the modelling exercise for validation. The final product is a set of individual and group flood vulnerability maps. Both AHP and ANP proved to be effective for flood vulnerability assessment; however, ANP is preferred as it considers the dependences among criteria. The participatory approach enabled experts to learn from each other and acknowledge different perspectives towards social learning. The findings highlight that to enhance the credibility and deployment of model results, multiple viewpoints should be integrated without forcing consensus.

Integrative river basin management: challenges and methodologies within the German planning system

Integrated river basin management (IRBM) is recently fostered in the European Union mainly by two framework directives which were established in order to realise sustainable and effective river basin management and aiming for integrated approaches on a river basin scale. One is the water framework directive which objective is to assess water quality and achieve a good status for all water bodies. The other one is the flood risk management directive on the assessment and management of flood risks. This paper discusses the potential synergies of the two directives against IRBM in general and describes European experts’ views which were formulated as recommendations. The status of the water bodies and water governance system in Germany are described and critically reflected against the experts’ recommendations. Potential methodological approaches which were developed and tested in German case studies are presented and discussed in the light of IRBM with focus on identifying and using cross-sectoral synergies. The analysis reveals shortcomings in IRBM approaches in Germany and potentials for identification and use of synergies if certain framework, concept approaches and methodological approaches would be used.

Gender mainstreaming and participative planning for sustainable land management

This contribution outlines the potential of the category of gender in critical analyses of land use policy and the perspectives it offers for the development of conceptual strategies for sustainable land management. It illustrates gender mainstreaming in urban development approaches, thus showing the potential for enhancing the quality of planning and the reduction of land consumption. The paper goes on to discuss the potential for extended and differentiated communication and participation within participative planning support systems. A major point of discussion is the constraints of computing formalisations and the means of developing software systems for planning support systems (PSS) for participative planning approaches.

Flächenpolitik durch nachhaltige, geschlechtergerechte Stadtentwicklung und partizipative Planung

ZusammenfassungAusgangsthese des Beitrags ist, dass durch eine konsequente Umsetzung des Gender Mainstreaming im Kontext nachhaltiger Stadt- und Regionalentwicklung die Möglichkeiten für eine Reduktion der Flächeninanspruchnahme verbessert werden können. Denn neben Aspekten des sparsamen Flächenverbrauchs impliziert eine nachhaltige Flächenpolitik die umfassende und aktive Teilhabe von Stakeholdern und Bevölkerung. Partizipationsprozesse sind integrierend und orientiert an Geschlecht und Diversität zu realisieren. Können computerbasierte Planungsunterstützungssysteme zur Gestaltung nachhaltiger, geschlechtergerechter Planung beitragen? Der Beitrag weist auf konzeptionelle Strategien und auf mögliche Instrumente hin.AbstractThe authors’ hypothesis is that a consequent implementation of Gender Mainstreaming in sustainable urban planning and regional development could increase the potentials of limiting the sealing and reduction of open space. Besides the aspects of economical land consumption a broad and active involvement of stakeholders and the public is implicit for a sustainable land use policy – participation processes have to be realised in a gender and diversity sensitive and integrative way. Can computer-based instruments such as Planning Support Systems contribute to ensure realisation of gender-equitable planning? This paper illustrates conceptional strategies, potential instruments and specific features.