Periodic Reporting for period 3 - Phusicos (PHUSICOS: 'According to nature' - solutions to reduce risk in mountain landscapes)
Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2023-04-30
Nearly 50% of the rural areas in the world are classified as mountainous regions and are exposed to risk from geological and hydrometeorological hazards. Mountains tend to amplify these risks, and even more so under extreme weather events. However, mountainous regions do not receive the same attention as densely populated urban areas in national disaster risk reduction (DRR) plans. The main goal of the PHUSICOS project, named 'According to nature,' is to demonstrate the effectiveness of nature-based and nature-inspired solutions for reducing the impact of extreme weather events in rural mountain landscapes. This objective was achieved through interventions at three large-scale demonstrator case sites: the Serchio River Basin in Italy, the French and Spanish Pyrenees, and the Gudbrandsdalen valley in Norway. Additionally, two smaller concept cases included: the experimental Kaunertal case in Austria and the retrospective case of the Isar River in Germany. Throughout the project, a total of 15 NBS interventions were implemented, consisting of 11 physical measures and 4 educational, Living Lab, and dissemination activities. These interventions address various natural hazards, including flooding, debris flows, erosion, slope instability, rockfall, and snow avalanches.
The NBS interventions at the demonstrator case sites were proposed by stakeholders using a Living Labs approach. Based on feedback from key stakeholders, the Living Labs were seen as a highly useful tool to engage a broad range of stakeholders and generate knowledge regarding NBS. Further to the importance of inclusive engagement of stakeholders to boost NBS implementation, several actions can be undertaken to promote NBS and include promoting cross-sectoral and multi-level governance mechanisms, introducing novel financing tools to expand the range of feasible NBS projects, advocating for divestment from nature-negative projects, and developing mechanisms to transfer NBS risk. To support these actions, the PHUSICOS has applied the 'Comprehensive Framework for NBS Assessment' to evaluate and verify the performance of selected NBS by modelling different climatic scenarios. Future post-PHUSICOS plans include long-term monitoring to validate the modelling outcomes and assess the effectiveness of NBS interventions. Continuously collecting monitoring data will further enhance the evidence base on NBS performance and document their co-benefits, thereby bolstering stakeholders' confidence in NBS.
Overall, the PHUSICOS project demonstrates that NBS interventions, along with continued stakeholder engagement and monitoring, can effectively reduce the impact of natural hazards. This, combined with governance structure transformations and ongoing learning and capacity building, will help mainstream NBS into disaster risk reduction practices in the future.
The NBS interventions at the demonstrator case sites were proposed by stakeholders using a Living Labs approach. Based on feedback from key stakeholders, the Living Labs were seen as a highly useful tool to engage a broad range of stakeholders and generate knowledge regarding NBS. Further to the importance of inclusive engagement of stakeholders to boost NBS implementation, several actions can be undertaken to promote NBS and include promoting cross-sectoral and multi-level governance mechanisms, introducing novel financing tools to expand the range of feasible NBS projects, advocating for divestment from nature-negative projects, and developing mechanisms to transfer NBS risk. To support these actions, the PHUSICOS has applied the 'Comprehensive Framework for NBS Assessment' to evaluate and verify the performance of selected NBS by modelling different climatic scenarios. Future post-PHUSICOS plans include long-term monitoring to validate the modelling outcomes and assess the effectiveness of NBS interventions. Continuously collecting monitoring data will further enhance the evidence base on NBS performance and document their co-benefits, thereby bolstering stakeholders' confidence in NBS.
Overall, the PHUSICOS project demonstrates that NBS interventions, along with continued stakeholder engagement and monitoring, can effectively reduce the impact of natural hazards. This, combined with governance structure transformations and ongoing learning and capacity building, will help mainstream NBS into disaster risk reduction practices in the future.
The strength of PHUSICOS lies in its implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) across European sites, effectively bridging the knowledge gap on NBS and their effectiveness in mitigating hydro-meteorological hazards such as flooding, erosion, and landslides. Throughout the PHUSICOS project, 15 NBS interventions were successfully implemented at five different case sites. These interventions encompassed various measures, including the establishment of buffer strips along irrigation canals, the creation of purification and sedimentation basins, and modifications to canal cross-sections to enhance hydraulic capacity in agricultural areas. Other interventions involved afforestation, terracing using dry masonry walls and timber gabions with local vegetation, as well as the installation of wooden and stone structures to secure individual rocks on the till surface and bedrock ledges. Additionally, modifications were made to 150-year-old dams, creeks were opened, retention basins were constructed, and vegetation was planted to reduce flooding.
PHUSICOS successfully implemented Living Labs at the demonstrator case study sites, tailored to local conditions, to foster cooperation and co-creation among dedicated stakeholders. A 'Comprehensive Framework for NBS Assessment' was developed to evaluate and verify the performance of NBS, thereby supporting the decision-making process for NBS implementation. Critical governance factors were analyzed across different contexts to identify limitations and opportunities. One major obstacle to successful NBS implementation is the lack of fairness in stakeholder engagement and the distribution of NBS benefits. Inclusive involvement of stakeholders in the design and implementation process is crucial, and co-design and co-creation processes can play a significant role in achieving this goal. As innovative learning tools, PHUSICOS developed a simulation and virtual reality game called PHUSICOS-VR for stakeholders involved in NBS implementation. Additionally, the PHUSICOS platform currently hosts 176 NBS entries, serving as a searchable library of resources.
PHUSICOS successfully implemented Living Labs at the demonstrator case study sites, tailored to local conditions, to foster cooperation and co-creation among dedicated stakeholders. A 'Comprehensive Framework for NBS Assessment' was developed to evaluate and verify the performance of NBS, thereby supporting the decision-making process for NBS implementation. Critical governance factors were analyzed across different contexts to identify limitations and opportunities. One major obstacle to successful NBS implementation is the lack of fairness in stakeholder engagement and the distribution of NBS benefits. Inclusive involvement of stakeholders in the design and implementation process is crucial, and co-design and co-creation processes can play a significant role in achieving this goal. As innovative learning tools, PHUSICOS developed a simulation and virtual reality game called PHUSICOS-VR for stakeholders involved in NBS implementation. Additionally, the PHUSICOS platform currently hosts 176 NBS entries, serving as a searchable library of resources.
PHUSICOS project activities have resulted in specific recommendations that can be transferred to European policy:
Implementing NBS as good examples of best-practices for mainstreaming and scaling up NBS: Hybrid solutions of NBS are relevant for Disaster Risk Reduction and can be achieved by combining vegetation with revitalized traditional building techniques. This can be accomplished by leveraging the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, which promotes NBS for adaptation and includes references to the EU policy sector of Disaster Risk Reduction.
Developing protocols to measure the societal and economic benefits of Living Labs, while collecting additional documentation on Living Lab satisfaction: Committed stakeholders at the local level serve as local champions and can draw inspiration from a bottom-up approach. EU Innovation Action research projects, such as PHUSICOS, offer advantages by providing opportunities for hands-on work to develop proof of concept and empower forerunners to lead the mainstreaming of NBS. Additionally, in the context of successful farmer engagement at the Serchio River Basin demonstrator case study site, the Farm to Fork strategy emerges as a relevant policy mechanism that encourages farmers to maximize the potential of NBS.
Providing protocols that measure societal and economic benefit with the Comprehensive Assessment Framework and adopting the framework to assess risk: The PHUSICOS 'Comprehensive Framework for NBS Assessment' serves as a starting point for further exploration of the technical aspects of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), including modelling and monitoring. Site-specific evidence is crucial to support the shift towards mainstreaming NBS. European research programs such as Horizon Europe and the LIFE Programme play a pivotal role in establishing the evidence base for NBS.
Enhancing capacity building and knowledge sharing through the Policy Business Forum, networking and collaboration with relevant H2020 projects creates critical mass and contributes to European and international NBS policies: Targeted policy recommendations for increasing the rate of and scope of NBS implementations include to extend the scope of the EU Environmental Impact (EIA) Directive enforcing compulsory EIAs and extend the EU Taxonomy by classifying nature-negative investment and subsequently discouraging nature-negative investing.
Implementing NBS as good examples of best-practices for mainstreaming and scaling up NBS: Hybrid solutions of NBS are relevant for Disaster Risk Reduction and can be achieved by combining vegetation with revitalized traditional building techniques. This can be accomplished by leveraging the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, which promotes NBS for adaptation and includes references to the EU policy sector of Disaster Risk Reduction.
Developing protocols to measure the societal and economic benefits of Living Labs, while collecting additional documentation on Living Lab satisfaction: Committed stakeholders at the local level serve as local champions and can draw inspiration from a bottom-up approach. EU Innovation Action research projects, such as PHUSICOS, offer advantages by providing opportunities for hands-on work to develop proof of concept and empower forerunners to lead the mainstreaming of NBS. Additionally, in the context of successful farmer engagement at the Serchio River Basin demonstrator case study site, the Farm to Fork strategy emerges as a relevant policy mechanism that encourages farmers to maximize the potential of NBS.
Providing protocols that measure societal and economic benefit with the Comprehensive Assessment Framework and adopting the framework to assess risk: The PHUSICOS 'Comprehensive Framework for NBS Assessment' serves as a starting point for further exploration of the technical aspects of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), including modelling and monitoring. Site-specific evidence is crucial to support the shift towards mainstreaming NBS. European research programs such as Horizon Europe and the LIFE Programme play a pivotal role in establishing the evidence base for NBS.
Enhancing capacity building and knowledge sharing through the Policy Business Forum, networking and collaboration with relevant H2020 projects creates critical mass and contributes to European and international NBS policies: Targeted policy recommendations for increasing the rate of and scope of NBS implementations include to extend the scope of the EU Environmental Impact (EIA) Directive enforcing compulsory EIAs and extend the EU Taxonomy by classifying nature-negative investment and subsequently discouraging nature-negative investing.