International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management

For NNBF projects, which may require more space to be effective than traditional structural approaches (e.g., seawall) to flood risk reduction, understanding current use of the foreshore or floodplain for economic or recreational use by the community is important to create local support. Understanding the socioeconomic system within which the project will be implemented often involves outreach to and engagement with businesses and residents. Stakeholder analysis will aid the definition of system boundaries and external forcing factors; the engagement of these stakeholders will support the identification of the potential range of interventions, the connections between the natural system and the societal context, and the potential project outcomes and associated benefits (Vreugdenhil et al. 2010a). The following case study examples illustrate the importance of engagement for successfully implementing NNBF solutions and creating local support (Demak, Northern Java, Indonesia), as well as facilitating a platform for stakeholder discussion to bridge conflicting interests (Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee [MRRIC], Missouri River, United States). Furthermore, the challenges with getting governmental entities to work together are also highlighted (Jamaica Bay, New York, United States).

CASE STUDY:

A Multistakeholder Approach for Successful NNBF Implementation (Demak, Northern Java, Indonesia) Communities in Northern Java, Indonesia, are suffering from coastal erosion affecting hundreds of kilometers of coastline. In the District of Demak, Indonesia, more than 3 kilometers of land including entire villages have already been lost to the sea (Figure 4.3). It is expected that sea-level rise will result in flooding 6 kilometers inland by 2100, affecting more than 70,000 people and 6,000 hectares of aquaculture ponds. One successful flagship project in Demak has been used by the local authorities and the national government to bring the NNBF approach into mainstream coastal zone management across Northern Java, supporting increased resilience for 30 million people currently at risk from coastal hazards.

04 | Planning and Implementing NNBF Using a Systems Approach

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International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management

Published on Sep 16, 2021

US Army Engineer Research and Development Center

International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management (NNBF Guidelines) is the product of a large-scale collaboration that included 5 years of working-level meetings and knowledge sharing involving key practice leaders from around the world. The project was initiated and led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as a part of its Engineering With Nature Initiative. USACE in the United States, the Rijkswaterstaat Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management in the Netherlands, and the Environment Agency in the United Kingdom were the three primary government institutions that organized and led the effort. Many other organizations also provided critical leadership and participation, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, World Bank, National Institute of Standards and Technology, The Nature Conservancy, and the World Wildlife Fund.