Natural Flood Management: adopting ecosystem approaches to managing flood risk

This report examines the potential benefits to be gained from various natural flood management measures and makes recommendations on how these could be implemented in Ireland. These include peat bog restoration, woodland creation, incentivised agricultural land use changes, floodplain restoration, wetland protection, and managed coastal realignment. 

Case studies are presented from international projects which have successfully implemented natural flood management, including ‘Slowing the Flow’ project in North Yorkshire and the ‘Room for Rivers’ in the Netherlands. In examining case studies of for this report, the following key indicators of success have been identified:

• The use of detailed hydrological modelling on a catchment-wide scale;
• Strong community involvement in addressing flood risk and assessing the range of solutions;
• The involvement of a range of interests and state agencies in recognition of the wider environmental co-benefits of natural flood management.