Nature-based solutions

Traditional check dams in ephemeral streams reduce flood risk and help recharge groundwater. They also form small ponds that enhance biodiversity during the dry Mediterranean summers, when water is scarce.

Prescribed burning is the controlled use of fire to manage forest fuel. It reduces wildfire risk, recycles nutrients, controls invasive species and plant diseases and enhances biodiversity, protecting both people and ecosystems.

Fire Risk Management Plans help municipalities design wildfire prevention actions by identifying vulnerabilities, highlighting priorities for decision-making, enabling long-term planning and providing documentation for fundraising.

The measure aims to use rainwater to restore wetland areas affected by aridification in the Văcărești Nature Park. This involves collecting rainwater from outside the park, biofiltration, and controlled pumping into designated retention areas.

The measure aims to develop a public proposal through which the Văcărești Nature Park becomes better connected to the city’s green-blue infrastructure.

The measure aims to restore amphibian habitat areas that Văcărești Nature Park has lost in recent years. This will be achieved through the use of rainwater. The underlying assumption is that the measure will lead to an increase in the number of amphibians, and possibly even to the reappearance of species that once existed in the park.

A surface flow constructed wetland designed to capture drainage water from the upstream agricultural areas and retain sediment and nutrients before water enters the receiving water course. It consists of two sections - deep for water retention and sedimentation, and shallow with natural or planted vegetation. 

A horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland designed to replace existing biological wastewater treatment plant with aeration and activated sludge. It contains a bed with an impermeable layer to prevent seepage, porous media, and vegetation. 

A vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland is a part of the existing storm water and domestic wastewater management system at the livestock facility. It contains a bed with an impermeable layer to prevent infiltration, porous media, and vegetation.

A bioretention system designed to capture stormwater runoff and combined sewer overflow, treating and filtering contaminants to prevent pollution of the Maspalomas pond and safeguard the surrounding aquatic ecosystem.

Fire Risk Management Plans help municipalities design wildfire prevention actions by identifying vulnerabilities, highlighting priorities for decision-making, enabling long-term planning and providing documentation for fundraising.

An urban wetland to mitigate flood risk during intense rainfall by managing surface water when high groundwater levels and saturated soils limit infiltration, enhancing stormwater retention and reducing runoff to prevent urban flooding.

Simulating indirect reuse as an alternative water source by injecting water into a cretaceous aquifer acting as a reservoir. The injected water is enriched with minerals in the aquifer rendering a water quality fit for drinking water production.

Restoring watercourses by removing ponds built as dams allows to reduce evaporation, increase flows and reinstate ecological continuity. High stakes as ponds’ over-evaporation in Vienne River basin is estimated equalled to drinking water withdrawals. 

In the Vienne River basin, ditches are used to drain wetlands to exploit it. Plugging ditches slows down water flow and improves water storage and quality, making the water cycle more resilient to climate change and maintaining a rich biodiversity.

Reforestation or afforesting areas, with native Icelandic Birch and Willow, could help stabilise slopes. Roots bind the soil, improve water infiltration and remove invasive species. Investigated bioengineering methods included crib walls and gabions.

IMTA reduces nutrients and organic matter from aquaculture by combining economically viable species from multiple trophic levels. Constructed VF or HF systems can serve as secondary wastewater treatment to further reduce nutrient flow into fjords.

Selective maintenance maintains a strip of uncut grass at the riverbank base to reduce erosion and increase biodiversity while ensuring water flow. The ecological performance will be monitored and analyzed.

This measure will be assessed for its potential to improve habitat connectivity when scaled up, contributing to a regional blue-green ecological network.

Re-profiling of canal banks to prevent soil landslides, replacing conventional hard engineering solutions with sustainable, low-impact ones. The widening of riparian zones is accompanied by the planting of native vegetation that, while stabilizing the soil, delivers multiple co-benefits.

Through this measure, we aim to develop a project for creating a wetland area that can absorb rainwater which currently floods certain parts of the Children’s World Park.

We are assessing the potential of the measure, i.e., constructed wetlands on application of the surface flow or sub-surface flow technology for wastewater treatment and identify suitable locations.

Regenerated water from the waste-water treatment plant of Addaia is used for irrigation of the golf Son Parc Menorca. The objective is to use regenerated water surplus for recharging the aquifer through the wetland of Albufera des Mercadal or/and two small ponds in the golf course (located upstream of the wetland)

We are engaging local stakeholders to finance projects like riparian forest, wetland, and peatland restoration, or river re-meandering, aiming to improve biodiversity, water quality, flood control, and drought resilience.