Maximising the benefits of natural flood management: Examples from around Europe

A meeting of the European Union Environment Ministers in March 2011 recommended that an integrated approach for the implementation of the Floods Directive and Water Framework Directive should be promoted in order to “maximise the synergies” between them. One of the main objectives of this was to identify areas where natural flood management measures (e.g. catchment water retention, river and floodplain restoration, use of Sustainable Drainage Systems, changes in land management and creation of multifunctional wetlands) can meet the aims of both the Floods Directive and Water Framework Directive. There are many measures that aim to reduce flood risk which can have multiple benefits for water quality, nature and biodiversity. River and floodplain restoration, whereby natural processes are restored, can contribute significantly to both Floods Directive and Water Framework Directive objectives. This is because of the high degree of dependency that quality indicators such as fish and invertebrates have on rivers and floodplains and the role that floodplains play in flood risk management. The Floods Directive only reached the end of its first implementation cycle in December 2015 and hence Member States generally have only limited experience to date in the coordination of the Floods Directive with the Water Framework Directive. This paper will look at the challenges faced by various countries throughout Europe including Austria, Belgium, England, Germany, Scotland and Spain that have implemented natural flood management measures which aimed to both increase biodiversity and reduce flood risk.