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Flooding is a growing concern for communities around the world. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, protecting ourselves from rising waters is crucial. While traditional flood defences like levees and walls have their place, there’s a powerful, natural solution waiting to be embraced: trees.

Trees as Nature’s Floodfighters

Forests and woodlands play a vital role in mitigating flood risk. Here’s how planting trees can safeguard your downstream community:

• Slowing the Flow: Heavy rainfall hitting bare ground rushes straight into streams and rivers, causing them to overflow. Trees act like speed bumps, their leaves intercepting rainwater and slowing its descent. The intricate network of roots further impedes the flow, allowing the water to gradually soak into the soil.
• Spongy Soil: Healthy forests with abundant leaf litter create a spongy layer on the ground. This organic matter improves soil structure, allowing it to absorb more water and act as a natural reservoir. This reduces the amount of surface runoff that contributes to floods.
• Evaporation Champions: Trees are nature’s evaporators. They transpire, releasing water vapour back into the atmosphere. This process reduces the overall volume of water reaching waterways, lessening the flood peak.

Replanting Lost Woodlands: A Powerful Strategy

Replanting lost woodlands cuts risk of extreme flooding highlights a crucial point: restoring lost woodlands significantly reduces flood risk. Reforestation projects in previously cleared areas can create natural buffers that protect downstream communities.

Planting for Flood Resilience: What We Can Do

While large-scale reforestation is often promoted, individual actions also contribute. Here’s how you can get involved:

• Plant Trees: Whether in your backyard, community garden, or participating in local planting initiatives, every tree planted adds to the collective flood defence. Choose native broadleaf species for optimal benefits.
• Support Reforestation Projects: Many organisations are dedicated to restoring lost woodlands. Consider donating or volunteering your time to these efforts.
• Advocate for Green Infrastructure: Encourage local authorities to incorporate trees and green spaces into urban and rural planning. This not only reduces flood risk but also improves air quality and creates a more liveable environment.

Nature-Based Solutions: A Sustainable Approach

Planting trees for flood mitigation offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution compared to traditional methods. Trees not only protect against floods but also provide a wealth of other benefits, including soil stabilisation, reduced erosion, shade and shelter for livestock and people and increased biodiversity.

By embracing nature-based solutions like tree planting, we can build more resilient communities that can better cope with the challenges of a changing climate. Let’s work together to ensure a future where our towns and villages are protected from the devastating impacts of floods, and where we live in harmony with the natural world.

To learn more about how the right trees in the right place on your land could help manage floods, droughts and build resilience into your landholding get in touch

King’s Students Launch Groundbreaking Rights of Nature Toolkit

Imagine: rivers with legal standing, ecosystems recognized as rights-bearing entities, and communities empowered to protect their natural world. Sounds far-fetched? Not anymore. Thanks to a dedicated team of King’s College London students, the Rights of Nature Toolkit has arrived, offering a blueprint for this revolutionary legal approach.

Forget concrete flood barriers and costly infrastructure. This toolkit champions nature-based solutions, harnessing the inherent power of ecosystems to manage water, restore habitats, and mitigate climate change. But that’s not all. It goes a step further, advocating for recognizing the intrinsic rights of nature itself.

This isn’t just about protecting landscapes; it’s about shifting our paradigm. Instead of viewing nature as a resource to be exploited, we move towards respecting its inherent value and recognizing its role as a living entity with legal rights.

Led by Maya Pardo and supervised by Sue Willman, the toolkit focuses on rivers in England and Wales. It equips communities, legal professionals, and activists with the knowledge and tools to advocate for the Right to a Healthy Environment and explore the emerging Rights of Nature framework.

But this isn’t just an academic exercise. The toolkit has already garnered over 74,000 views on Twitter and is being championed by environmental groups and legal professionals alike. Theo Thomas, London WATERKEEPER, praises it as a strategic tool for communities fighting to protect their rivers.

What makes this toolkit unique?

• Practical: Clear guidance on legal options, case studies, and resources tailored for real-world application.
• Accessible: Written in layman’s terms, empowering communities and non-lawyers to engage.
• Forward-thinking: Embraces a transformative legal framework with international momentum.

This student-led initiative demonstrates the power of youthful passion combined with academic rigor. It sends a clear message: the future of environmental protection lies in recognizing the rights of nature and empowering communities to act as its guardians.

The Rights of Nature Toolkit is more than just a document; it’s a call to action. It urges us to recognize the intrinsic value of nature, challenge outdated legal frameworks, and embrace a new era of collaboration between humans and the natural world.

Are you ready to join the movement? Download the toolkit, share it with your networks, and let’s give nature the voice it deserves. If you want advice on how to give Nature rights in your organisation, get in touch.

A natural approach to flood management

For generations, we’ve approached water management like a race against time. Canals channelize, dikes constrain, and pumps fight, all in a constant battle to move water faster, further, and with ever-increasing efficiency. But in the face of increasingly erratic weather patterns and the looming specter of climate change, the race is proving unsustainable. We need a new strategy, one that embraces the quiet wisdom of nature – slowing the flow and harnessing the power of natural solutions.

The Problem with Speed:

Our traditional, “hard infrastructure” approach to water management, while seemingly effective in the short term, comes at a hidden cost. Channelized rivers lose their floodplains, leading to downstream flooding and ecological degradation. Dams disrupt sediment flow, starving deltas and coastal ecosystems. Meanwhile, groundwater depletion from intense pumping leads to land subsidence and saltwater intrusion. These unintended consequences paint a stark picture: our race against water is ultimately a race against ourselves.

Nature’s Gentle Approach:

Nature, on the other hand, takes a slower, more nuanced approach. Forests act as sponges, absorbing rainfall and gradually releasing it back into the system. Wetlands filter pollutants and provide natural reservoirs. Floodplains store excess water, mitigating downstream flooding. This intricate network of natural infrastructure fosters resilient landscapes that can adapt to changing conditions and provide a multitude of benefits, from clean water and biodiversity to recreation and cultural value.

Slowing the Flow for a Secure Future:

The good news is, we can learn from nature. By incorporating nature-based solutions (NBS) into our water management strategies, we can achieve multiple goals simultaneously:

• Flood mitigation: Restoring floodplains, creating buffer strips along rivers, and mimicking natural drainage patterns with constructed wetlands can slow down water flow, reducing peak flood heights and protecting communities downstream.
• Drought resilience: Healthy watersheds with intact native vegetation store water more effectively, replenishing groundwater and reducing the risk of drought. Managed aquifer recharge programs and rainwater harvesting systems further enhance water security.
• Improved water quality: Wetlands and riparian buffers act as natural filters, removing pollutants and improving water quality for both human consumption and ecological health.
• Enhanced biodiversity: By restoring natural habitats and reducing pollution, NBS promote vibrant ecosystems that support diverse species and contribute to a healthy planet.

Examples in Action:

Across the globe, communities are embracing NBS with remarkable success. In China, the Sponge City initiative promotes green infrastructure solutions like rain gardens and permeable pavements to manage urban stormwater. In Ethiopia, extensive reforestation efforts have increased tree cover by 35%, leading to improved water availability and reduced soil erosion. And in the Netherlands, room for the river projects have restored floodplains and created new nature reserves, making communities more resilient to flooding while enhancing biodiversity.

Making the Shift:

Transitioning to nature-based solutions requires a shift in mindset. It’s not about abandoning existing infrastructure entirely, but about integrating NBS into a holistic approach that respects the natural water cycle. This necessitates collaboration between scientists, engineers, policymakers, and communities.

Here are some key steps:

• Investing in research and development: We need to better understand the effectiveness of different NBS in various contexts and develop data-driven models to predict their impact.
• Incentivizing adoption: Policy changes and economic incentives can encourage landowners and communities to implement NBS.
• Building capacity: Training programs and knowledge-sharing platforms can equip professionals with the necessary skills to design and implement NBS effectively.
• Engaging communities: Public awareness campaigns and community involvement are crucial for successful and sustainable NBS implementation.

Conclusion:

In a world facing water scarcity and extreme weather events, slowing the flow and embracing nature’s wisdom is not just an option, it’s a necessity. By learning from nature’s gentle approach and integrating NBS into our water management strategies, we can build a more resilient future for ourselves and generations to come. Remember, slowing down doesn’t mean falling behind; it means embarking on a more sustainable and secure path, hand in hand with the natural world. So, let’s quiet the rush, embrace the hush of nature’s solutions, and ensure a future where water flows freely, nourishing life and fostering harmony with our planet.

What are Nature Guardians?

The premise is simple yet transformative. A Nature Guardian, often represented by a trusted individual or committee, acts as a proxy for the natural world within an organization’s governing body. Their role is to advocate for the long-term health and well-being of ecosystems, ensuring that every decision considers the impact on nature, not just short-term economic gains. This isn’t about anthropomorphizing trees or giving animals boardroom seats. It’s about acknowledging the intrinsic value of nature and ensuring its needs are heard and accounted for.

Why is this essential?

The reasons are numerous and compelling:

• Long-term vision: Corporations and communities often prioritize immediate results, overlooking the long-term consequences of their actions on the environment. Nature Guardians bring a long-term perspective, emphasizing the interconnectedness of our well-being with the health of ecosystems.
• Holistic decision-making: By factoring in the impact on air, water, soil, and biodiversity, Nature Guardians encourage a more holistic approach to decision-making. This can lead to solutions that benefit both the organization and the environment, fostering sustainable practices and mitigating potential damage.
• Accountability and transparency: The presence of a Nature Guardian increases transparency and accountability within organizations. Knowing that decisions will be scrutinized through an “environmental lens” encourages responsible practices and reduces the risk of greenwashing.
• Increased innovation: The need to balance human and environmental needs sparks creative solutions. This can lead to the development of new technologies, processes, and business models that benefit both people and the planet.

Beyond the Business World:

While the concept of Nature Guardians has gained traction in companies like Faith in Nature and House of Hackney, its reach extends far beyond the corporate sphere. Community groups, NGOs, and even government bodies can benefit immensely from having a voice for nature at the table. Imagine city councils with Nature Guardians advocating for green spaces, sustainable development, and responsible resource management. Picture NGOs with Guardians ensuring their projects truly benefit the ecosystems they aim to protect.

Challenges and Considerations:

Of course, implementing such a radical shift comes with its challenges. Determining the selection process, scope of authority, and resources for Nature Guardians requires careful consideration. Additionally, ensuring they remain true to their role and avoid bias requires robust frameworks and ethical guidelines.

Embrace the Change:

Despite the challenges, the benefits of embracing Nature Guardians far outweigh the complexities. The ecological crisis demands transformative solutions, and giving nature a voice and a vote at the decision-making table is a bold step in the right direction. It’s time we acknowledge our dependence on healthy ecosystems and recognize that their well-being is inextricably linked to our own.

A Call to Action:

We urge companies, communities, and governing bodies to explore the concept of Nature Guardians. Encourage open discussions, pilot projects, and collaborations to refine the idea and find solutions that work. With courage, creativity, and a genuine commitment to sustainability, we can create a future where nature is not just respected, but truly empowered to guide our way towards a thriving planet. Remember, the future we build hinges on the health of the natural world. Let’s ensure it has a seat at the table, shaping a future where humanity and nature can flourish together.

Want to know more?

Contact us to discuss the concept or practicalities of having a Nature Guardian in your organisation weareNatureBased@protonmail.com

Additional Resources:

• Faith in Nature: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/22/eco-beauty-company-faith-in-nature-board-directors
• Nature on the Board: https://natureontheboard.com/
• Lawyers for Nature: https://www.lawyersfornature.com/