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 | Yorkshire Times A Voice of the Free Press |
12:28 PM 2nd March 2022
nature
Natural Flood Management In UK Uplands To Reduce Risk Of Flooding To Communities
Haweswater - photo Michael Harvey
The latest report published this week, put forward a grim reality stating that half a million more people globally are at risk of serious flooding every year and highlighting that the window of opportunity is closing for us to achieve a ‘liveable and sustainable future for all’.
But the report also set out how we can adapt to the impacts of the climate and nature emergency and emphasised the role which nature-based solutions can play in protecting people whilst also delivering for biodiversity.
Many of these nature-based solutions to flooding have already been successfully implemented on RSPB upland reserves and partnership projects.
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Haweswater - photo Lee Schofield
Dr Pat Thompson, Senior Policy Officer for RSPB said:
"In the face of the nature and climate emergency, we have seen how flooding from extreme weather events is increasingly threatening communities across the UK
"Climate change is increasing the frequency of these extreme weather events, and our iconic uplands could play a crucial role in reducing impact. Sadly however, poor management of our uplands is actually exacerbating its effects.
"For many years our uplands have been in a decline. Despite these places appearing to be wild, land management practices including the loss of native woodland, draining and degradation of peatland, canalisation of rivers and overgrazing of livestock have decreased these areas’ ability to slow the flow of water downstream.
"If we are to protect these environments and the communities which live in them, we must change how the land is used and managed at a catchment scale. That is why we are calling for the government to invest in nature-based flood management solutions across our uplands to increase resilience to downstream flooding."
"In the face of the nature and climate emergency, we have seen how flooding from extreme weather events is increasingly threatening communities across the UK
"Climate change is increasing the frequency of these extreme weather events, and our iconic uplands could play a crucial role in reducing impact. Sadly however, poor management of our uplands is actually exacerbating its effects.
"For many years our uplands have been in a decline. Despite these places appearing to be wild, land management practices including the loss of native woodland, draining and degradation of peatland, canalisation of rivers and overgrazing of livestock have decreased these areas’ ability to slow the flow of water downstream.
"If we are to protect these environments and the communities which live in them, we must change how the land is used and managed at a catchment scale. That is why we are calling for the government to invest in nature-based flood management solutions across our uplands to increase resilience to downstream flooding."
Natural flood management projects make use of natural processes, habitats and soft engineering techniques, and can support existing hard flood defences. These nature-based solutions can take a variety of forms, from the restoration of peatland to increase the water storage capacity of the land, establishing new areas of native woodland, and re-meandering rivers to decrease the speed of water moving through the landscape.
Nature-based solutions also offer many economic and social benefits when compared to hard engineering alternatives, creating opportunities for local investment and providing communities with the ability to experience more of nature. The RSPB’s work on this issue to date has been recognised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Haweswater - photo Lee Schofield
Emma Marsh of Director of RSPB England said:
"It is clear that current flood prevention is not sufficient. Across the UK, flooding causes over £1 billion of damage each year and without intervention, floods, like the ones in Yorkshire, will continue to devastate our homes, health, and communities.
"We cannot afford to continue to take a reactive and sporadic approach to deal with flooding, we must push for landscape-scale action and investment from government to ensure these communities are protected from future floods.
"As DEFRA and the Environment Agency allocate the £5.2billion investment to increase flood resilience, we want to see natural solutions prioritised and delivered at scale across England.
"Traditional engineering schemes will always form part of our flood defences, but nature-based solutions can play a major role in reducing flood risk whilst also benefitting habitats, communities and our climate
"We have already seen how nature-based solutions can work in practice at our reserve Haweswater in the Lake District. By working upstream to re-wet degraded peat bogs, establish new woodlands and restore Swindale Beck to a more natural state we can protect homes and communities downstream.
"This approach also helps to restore and create habitats for our iconic upland wildlife, many of which have been pushed to the fringes of these landscapes by traditional land management and flood prevention practices.
"The flooding across Northern England in recent years is a stark reminder of what we stand to lose if our government continues to fail to act to tackle the climate and nature crisis. Delivering nature-based solutions and natural flood management solutions at scale must underpin that response if we are to protect our nature, our climate and our people."
"It is clear that current flood prevention is not sufficient. Across the UK, flooding causes over £1 billion of damage each year and without intervention, floods, like the ones in Yorkshire, will continue to devastate our homes, health, and communities.
"We cannot afford to continue to take a reactive and sporadic approach to deal with flooding, we must push for landscape-scale action and investment from government to ensure these communities are protected from future floods.
"As DEFRA and the Environment Agency allocate the £5.2billion investment to increase flood resilience, we want to see natural solutions prioritised and delivered at scale across England.
"Traditional engineering schemes will always form part of our flood defences, but nature-based solutions can play a major role in reducing flood risk whilst also benefitting habitats, communities and our climate
"We have already seen how nature-based solutions can work in practice at our reserve Haweswater in the Lake District. By working upstream to re-wet degraded peat bogs, establish new woodlands and restore Swindale Beck to a more natural state we can protect homes and communities downstream.
"This approach also helps to restore and create habitats for our iconic upland wildlife, many of which have been pushed to the fringes of these landscapes by traditional land management and flood prevention practices.
"The flooding across Northern England in recent years is a stark reminder of what we stand to lose if our government continues to fail to act to tackle the climate and nature crisis. Delivering nature-based solutions and natural flood management solutions at scale must underpin that response if we are to protect our nature, our climate and our people."