permaculture

[Lawrence London <lfljvenaura@gmail.com>]

List of all case studies | Natural Water Retention Measures
http://nwrm.eu/list-of-all-case-studies

the Project

There is an increasing policy interest in the so-called Natural Water
Retention Measures (NWRM) for improving the water status on hydromorphology
and diffuse pollution. To respond to this interest, DG ENV launched a
dedicated study entitled *Pilot Project - Atmospheric Precipitation -
Protection and efficient use of Fresh Water: Integration of Natural Water
Retention Measures in River basin management (2013-2014)*. The two overall
objectives of the pilot project were:

   - To develop a structured knowledge base on NWRM that can easily be
   accessed by all within the Water Information System for Europe (WISE);
   - To contribute to the development of an active *European “community of
   NWRM practitioners”*, thanks to the launching of different regional
   networks and the development of a practical manual for supporting NWRM
   design & implementation.

*BASIC INFORMATION*

   1. *Project type:* Service contract
   2. *Funding scheme*: Lump sum basis
   3. *Duration**:* 5th September 2013 – 5th November 2014
   4. *Coordinator:* Office International de l’Eau, Limoges, France
   5. *Service contract:* n° 07.0330/2013/659147/SER/ENV.C1
   6. *EU contribution:* €1,359,025

NWRM in brief:

   - Why are Natural Water Retention Measures on today’s water policy agenda
   <http://nwrm.eu/node/40/#A>?
   - NWRM initiative, what was it for <http://nwrm.eu/node/40/#B> ?
   - How was the community of experts involved? <http://nwrm.eu/node/40/#C>
   - Who participated <http://nwrm.eu/node/40/#D>?
   - How the initiative has fed EU policy making <http://nwrm.eu/node/40/#E>
   ?
   - What benefits may you expect from using and promoting NWRM
   <http://nwrm.eu/node/40/#F>?
   - If you have an interest in the DG ENV initiative on NWRM
   <http://nwrm.eu/node/40/#G>…

*Why are Natural Water Retention Measures on today's policy agenda?*

With the Green infrastructure EU policy
<http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/>, there is an
increasing interest in measures that aim to enhance the functioning of
natural processes and ecosystems so that water can better infiltrate and be
stored. These so-called *Natural Water Retention Measures
<http://nwrm.eu/concept/3857> (NWRM) can represent cost-effective options
for achieving the objectives of the Water Framework Directive
<http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/> (WFD) and/or the
Floods Directive <http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/flood_risk/>*. They
can be part of Sustainable Urban Development plans to reduce investments in
expensive water infrastructure. They can also help to enhance the
resilience of (eco-)systems vis-à-vis climate change. Furthermore, NWRM
<http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/adaptation/ecosystemstorage.htm> can
provide additional benefits in terms of ecosystem services delivery. In
Europe, the implementation of NWRM is in its infancy. NWRM-related
information is widely scattered and difficult to access. Readily
available-information on practical cases, that can be a “source of
inspiration” for practitioners from elsewhere, catchments or local areas,
is rare.



*NWRM initiative: what was it for?*

DG Environment, European Commission, has launched an EU NWRM initiative
that aimed to:

   - Develop sound and comprehensive *European (web-based) knowledge on
   NWRM*. The knowledge base (the current platform) structure available
   information on technical, environmental, socio-economic, governance and
   implementation aspects of NWRM, mobilizing existing practical experiences,
   studies and stakeholders’ knowledge. It is publicly available and provides
   a structured catalogue of NWRM <http://nwrm.eu/measures-catalogue>, a
   set of 120 case studies <http://nwrm.eu/list-of-all-case-studies>
   illustrating the implementation of NWRM in a wide set of context, 11
   synthesis documents
   <http://nwrm.eu/implementing-nwrm/synthesis-documents> allowing to go
   deeper in the understanding of the key specificities of NWRM
   implementation, a serious game
   <http://nwrm.eu/sites/default/files/roleplay-web.zip> to make the NWRM
   community and the key actors better understand constraints and
   opportunities of implementing NWRM, but also communication material
   <http://nwrm.eu/implementing-nwrm/communication-material> with a leaflet
   translated in 22 languages and a Powerpoint introducing NWRM *query
   facilities for extracting knowledge* (e.g. a specific case study,
   information on costs, summarized information on a given NWRM type under
   specific water catchment conditions…). In the coming year it will
provide *input
   facilities* for feeding new case studies and information.
   - Contribute to the development of a *European NWRM “community of
   practice”* by bringing together all parties interested in the design and
   implementation of NWRM in the context of the planning process of the WFD or
   the Floods Directive, the development of a climate change adaptation
   strategy or the establishment of sustainable urban plans. The NWRM
   practical guide <http://nwrm.eu/implementing-nwrm/practical-guide>
   developed can support the design and implementation of NWRM in Europe.

*How was the community of experts involved?*

   1. The EU NWRM initiative was partly built on the establishment of *four
   informal regional networks*
   <http://nwrm.eu/about-nwrm-project/regional-networks> for: collective
   learning about NWRM; sharing practical experiences and pooling expertise on
   NWRM implementation; identifying key policy and implementation issues – and
   solutions to tackle them. Access the *web-based NWRM discussion forum*
   
<https://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=7410406&mostPopular=&trk=tyah&trkInfo=idx%3A1-1-1%2CtarId%3A1424873972737%2Ctas%3Awater+retention>
   to consolidate partnership and continue information exchange.
   2. While the project is now finished, you can still raise issues in the
   discussion fora and react to others’ views and statements; send comments on
   the initiative’s deliverables; or learn from on-going (lively!) electronic
   exchanges.

Four regional networks facilitated by consortium partners were established
as part of the EU NWRM initiative and facilitated all along the project:

   - *The Danube river basin*
   - *The Mediterranean sea region*
   - *Northern Europe/the Baltic Sea*
   - *Western Europe*

The regional processes were not only successful in bringing together NWRMs
communities in the four regions, but they were also able to unlock a wealth
of information and knowledge on NWRM implementation “on the ground”,
through the contributions of experts, practitioners and policy makers from
the four regions. The workshops provided the ideal ground for these
exchanges: presentations, discussions, policy panels and role games allowed
to highlight the key features of NWRM implementation in the four regions,
as well as major opportunities for and challenges to implementation.

The following sections highlight, region by region, the following aspects:

   - General overview and geographic features;
   - Main NWRMs implemented in the region;
   - Key messages from the workshop;
   - Interactions and synergies with regional stakeholders.

*Who participated?*

The initiative was open to: *practitioners* who are or have been involved
in the design and practical implementation of NWRM in different sectors
(urban, agriculture, forestry…); *managers* involved in the development of
River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) or Flood Management plans; *technical
service staff* (for example, from a large city engaged in a “sustainable
city” initiative); *representatives from funding agencies* that can support
NWRM implementation; *representatives from economic sectors* that can
implement NWRM; *environmental NGOs; researchers and independent experts*,
etc.

The eight regional Workshops and the forum
<http://nwrm.eu/about-nwrm-project/regional-networks> were very successful
in gathering a diverse audience and mobilising knowledge and practical
examples. All presentations and summary of exchanges are available for
consultation.



*How has the initiative fed EU policy making?*

The synthesis of discussions and views expressed in the web-forum or
discussed during the regional workshops were systematically *accounted for
when developing the deliverables of the initiative for DG Environment*. In
addition, the knowledge gathered and synthesised have *fed into discussions
of the working groups established under the EU WFD Common Implementation
Strategy (CIS)*. In addition, knowledge on NWRM as green infrastructure
solutions and fed the EU Green Infrastructure policy. For more details, see
thye final report of the project.



*What benefits may you expect from using and promoting NWRM?*

Room for Nature and ‘soft measures’ are gaining momentum to make policy
operational. Making best use of scarce financial resources has become a
driver to policy making. NWRM are particularly relevant in this context
because, being multi-functional measures, they can deliver different
ecosystem services. They can also contribute to the achievement of
different policy goals.

In the longer term the vision is for the establishment of the European NWRM
knowledge base and of a common framework for supporting the successful
implementation of NWRM. By providing a common framework and a sound basis
for implementing NWRM, the European NWRM knowledge base will *contribute to
effective and efficient implementation* at all decision-making scales in
the field of water (e.g. the WFD, the Floods Directive, the strategy on
Water Scarcity and Drought, the EU Water Blue Print...), climate change
adaptation, biodiversity, sustainable urban development, etc.



*If you have an interest in the DG ENV initiative on NWRM*…

   - to share your practical experience in designing or implementing NWRM,
   or results from your research project
   - to search for inspiring examples of “NWRM in practice”
   - to contribute to the development of the knowledge base so that it best
   serves your and others’ future needs
   - to learn about all aspects of NWRM so you can advocate their
   importance at all decision making levels (from the local to the European
   level)

*YOU CAN*

   1. Contact us <http://www.nwrm.eu/contact>
   2. Apply to the discussion forum
   
<http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Natural-Water-Retention-Measure-NWRM-7410406/>,
   contributing in the discussion, submitting reference documents, interesting
   case studies…
   3. Explore the resources of the website (NWRMs,
   <http://nwrm.eu/measures-catalogue> case studies catalogue
   <http://nwrm.eu/list-of-all-case-studies>, sources
   <http://nwrm.eu/sources>)