HOW TO USE FLOODPLAINS FOR FLOOD RISK ... - SGGW

Organising a floodplain restoration project
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To help bridge the gap between the objectives of policies and the specific objectives of an individual
floodplain restoration project, considering how natural processes and landscape patterns interact in a
pristine environment, seven guiding principles have been developed for ecological rehabilitation of
aquatic systems, adapted here to floodplains:
(1) Natural processes have priority over the development of spatial patterns. Natural processes
form the landscape. When possible, natural landscape forming processes are preferred to direct measures
to recreate specific landscape units.
(2) Spatial patterns have priority over measures for specific species. If possibilities for natural processes
are limited, restoration projects may focus on the (re)creation of specific landscape units. Only in
special situations are measures for specific species advisable.
(3) Large-scale projects and/or contributions to spatially coherent systems have priority over
small scale and scattered projects. Scale and connectivity are important criteria in floodplain restoration.
Large areas are needed to sustain viable populations of species, but small areas may still be valuable
if they are connected.
(4) Low maintenance effort is preferable to high maintenance need. Projects requiring low maintenance
are preferred for two reasons: maintenance is costly and a high need for management is an indication
that a system is not functioning naturally. When maintenance measures are necessary, then look for
the most natural methods (e.g. grazing instead of mowing).
(5) Existing natural values have a priority over potential values. Existing natural values are protected
by the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. Existing values (including aesthetic, cultural and archaeological
values) are often appreciated by local inhabitants and degradation of these values for the creation of ‘new
nature’ is only acceptable if the existing values are not characteristic for the system, when the new situation
will have an obvious surplus value when the existing values can be compensated for, or when existing
values will disappear as a consequence of autonomous developments.
(6) Multifunctional use is preferable to mono-functional use. Within the constraint that the ecological
objectives are met, multifunctional use of floodplain areas is preferred. Multifunctional use is especially
important in densely populated countries such as The Netherlands.
(7) No regret options are preferred above measures related to specific conditions. Finally, it is important
to take into account the possible changes in environmental pressures and boundary conditions in
the future.
(Pastorok et al., 1997)
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TIP: Don’t make meetings too large and get an experienced chairperson. It might be best to organise
several small meetings, rather than to organise one big one, as everyone should have the opportunity to
be heard. In big crowds not everybody gets an equal opportunity to do so.
TIP: Sometimes an external technical expert will need to explain some issues: make sure that the external
expert is aware of the type of audience to which they will speak and if possible, make sure that
they have already been introduced to a few key players before the meeting is held.
TIP: Address the ‘what’s in it for me’ question of the stakeholders who are present.
TIP: Clearly mention the purpose of the hearing and the expected input from the invited stakeholders.
For example, there is a large difference between a meeting that intends to inform and a meeting in which
input is needed for alternative solutions. The format of a hearing will largely depend on the purpose of the
meeting.
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