Story | 27 May, 2022

RECONECT: Upscaling Nature-based Solutions

RECONECT, a 5-year EU project implementing Nature-based Solutions to reduce water-related climate risks, held its 7th general assembly in Zurich from 23 to 25 May 2022.

Photo: ©IUCN/EAWAG

IUCN is a key partner in the RECONECT project, along with a diverse network of ‘Demonstrators’ (those who implement large scale NBS projects) and ‘Collaborators’ (those who conduct new NBS research), of which 4 are European and 13 involve international studies. All cover a wide range of conditions, geographic characteristics, and institutional and governance structures.

The IUCN Water and Land Team, along with Italy-based research institute GISIG, is in charge of the communications and dissemination work of the project. By demonstrating, monitoring and evaluating the benefits of NBS to help reduce hydro-meteorological risks, RECONECT is amplifying the impact of the project through a tailored upscaling strategy.

"As the organisation that spearheaded the Nature-based Solutions Standard, IUCN is well placed to support the RECONECT project in its goal of implementing and upscaling NbS, particularly in support of reducing the risks of droughts and floods as this is a key area of work for the IUCN Water and Land Team", said James Dalton, IUCN Head Water and Land Management Team.

The General Assembly was held in Zurich and hosted by EAWAG, the Swiss Aquatic Research Institute, a 'Demonstrator' partner in the project and in charge of the river restoration work in the nearby Thur river basin. The Thur is Eastern Switzerland's predominant river, flowing from the limestone Alps into the Rhine river on the border with Germany.

Mario Schirmer, EAWAG hydrogeologist, explains the NbS approaches at the banks of the Thur River basin, May 2022

Photo: ©IUCN/Claire Warmenbol

“Extreme events such as flooding will only increase in the coming decades due to climate change. The intensity and duration of these extreme events is worrying and requires us to invest much more in mitigation strategies, backed by strong legislation and financial commitments”, said Mario Schirmer, EAWAG hydrogeologist in charge of the Thur River Basin restoration project.

With flooding and drought projected to substantially increase in Europe, the project contributes much-needed research and fieldwork on Nature-based Solutions towards a more climate-resilient future for Europe. According to data from the European Environment Agency, the EU experienced a collective loss of €13 billion a year since the turn of the century due to floods, landslides, droughts, heatwaves and other climate-related extremes. Implementing Nature-based Solutions to adapt to climate change can help improve current practices and provide multiple co-benefits besides climate risk reduction.

To find out more, please consult the RECONECT website: http://www.reconect.eu/

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^{This project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 776866.}

^{For more information, please contact claire.warmenbol@iucn.org}

LINKS:

RECONECT project