Prof Chris Spray gave an invited presentation in the opening Plenary Session of the major CIWEM/Rivers Trust annual Floods and Coasts 2023 conference in Telford on Nature-based Solutions for reducing flood risk
This focussed on four main areas:
a) Nature-based solutions, Natural Flood Management and the development of a risk-based, catchment approach to Sustainable Flood Risk Management in Scotland
b) The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 and the requirements of Section 20 (assessment of the potential role of Natural Characteristics)
c) The developing science evidence base for Natural Flood Management (NFM) effectiveness and value for money
d) Mainstreaming NFM within Scottish Flood Risk scheme appraisal and funding
The presentation featured the Eddleston Water project as the Scottish Government's main research platform, highlighting the work of Tweed Forum, SEPA and University of Dundee.