Last month, NBRACER participated in the NetworkNature Science-Policy event in Brussels on “Nature-based Solutions for water resilience: What to do with too much (dirty) water”. With 29 participants, the session convened policymakers, researchers and practitioners from various Horizon Europe-funded water Nature-based Solutions projects to discuss current policy frameworks, explore project results, and analyse opportunities to strengthen NbS for water in policy and practice. NBRACER was represented in the event by two of its Demonstrating Regions, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and West Flanders.
The event started with an overview of policy developments in Europe, delving into the upcoming Water Resilience Strategy and recast Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which contextualised the work of the projects within the EU water sector.
NBRACER presented its work on water management, as illustrated by the Nouvelle Aquitaine region in France. Here, solutions to slow down the water cycle and expand the role of groundwater in wetlands are being tested. For instance, in the Marais poitevin, a wetland on the Atlantic coast that is experiencing the effects of climate change in the form of water scarcity. In order to preserve environmental balance, the water in the wetland needs to be retained for various uses, while reducing the risk of saltwater intrusion. To counteract this, river morphology restoration is being piloted, tracking key metrics related to water table changes.
The activities in Nouvelle Aquitaine are intended to promote better governance for concerted management at watershed level, reduce the pressure of human actions on quality and quantity of water, and sustain the wetlands and aquatic environments by adapting for an increasingly precious resource. By involving a broader group of stakeholders, the work in the region reflects the project’s overall methodology for operationalising both technical frameworks and community systems in tandem for greater resilience and climate adaptation across landscapes.
By contributing to this event, NBRACER supports advancing policy dialogues and moulding practical and replicable solutions for water resilience rooted in nature. Stay tuned for a policy brief that captures the outcomes of this event!
