Land management - approaches that promote multiple benefits
Introduction
Land management practices can play a vital role in managing flood risk at a local level. For example, the creation and restoration of wetlands and woodlands can reduce the level of flooding, and in some cases remove the risk of local flooding altogether. These practices also produce wider environmental benefits at a local level, including encouraging an increase in wildlife species and habitats, reducing carbon emissions and improving water quality.
Multi-objective flood management demonstration project
Defra is exploring how we can work with natural processes and landscape features to reduce the risk of flooding and improve the environment. Defra announced in July 2008 that it was making available a total grant of £500,000 to contribute towards one or two demonstration projects looking at the links between land management and flooding.
Making Space for Water - the role of land use and land management in delivering flood risk management
As part of the Making Space for Water programme, the Environment Agency led two projects which investigated the role of land use and land management in delivering flood risk management. The first investigated catchment scale land use and its implications on flood risk, while the second sought to identify good practices in land management at the farm scale with respect to flood risk and environmental benefits.
Final Outputs
- The role of land use and land management in delivering flood risk management [PDF] (more detailed information about each catchment and farm-scale case study is available upon request)
- Review of existing delivery mechanisms [PDF]
- Options and Recommendations [PDF]
- Identification of catchments sensitive to land use change [PDF, large file 3.3MB]
- R&D Update Review [PDF] (informed the making space for water projects and identified future R&D needs)
Ripon multi-objective project
The Ripon multi-objective project investigated the potential for delivering flood risk management through land use and land management changes at a catchment scale while also pursuing resource protection, biodiversity and access opportunities. Defra’s three-year pilot project reported in June 2007 and Environment Agency has now taken the lead in further developing the project in the region.
Innovation Fund
The Innovation Fund seeks to improve future delivery of flood and coastal erosion risk management, by bringing in ideas from a wider range of stakeholders, and promoting innovative approaches to delivery that contribute towards the development of more holistic and sustainable policy making in the future.
Page last
modified: 23 July 2008
Page published: 23 July 2008