Evolution of W-European River Basin Management

Toine SMITSDept. Sustainable Management of Resources

RADBOUD UNIVERSITY NIJMEGEN, THE NETHERLANDS

Contents• Traditional river basin management (RBM)• Transition towards sustainable RBM• Optimising transition process; Co-creation

experiment “Wealthy Waal” – Linking short term gains with long term objectives– Engagement of local actors/stakeholders– Identify win-win situations

• Conclusions

Drainage of The Fens (Britain)

Cornelius Vermuyden

Renė Decartes (1596-1650)

“I think, therefore I am”

“Mastery over nature; …nature has only one purpose and that is to serve man…”

Solving complex problems by changing nature

Traditional river management in Germany (river regulations) River regulations Germany

Loss of hydrological resilience and biodiversity

Impact of river regulations Rhine (Weil-Breisach section)

<1860

>1860

>1965

Hi, boss..it’s me…..perhaps we should reconsider our strategy…

Traditional approach in pictures

“Integrated Rhine program”,Germany

Nijmegen “embraces” the river….

City center (present)

River boulevard

City center (future)

River boulevard

Not taking the lead… But coaching co-creation….

Nijmegen

Main transport route;-165.000 ships/y-150 mil ton cargo/y Opening Stadswaard

Sand excavation

“Flood proof” housing

Nature, recreation& agriculture

Waal river

“Wealthy Waal” project

Playing rules “Wealthy Waal” project

• Focus on river system and transparent planning process

• All partners participate in a Community of Ownership (CoO).– CoO comprises representatives of entrepreneurs,

administrators, civil servants and experts.• Apply the Framework of Strategic Sustainable

Development (The Natural Step).

Support for “Wealthy Waal” project

Partners “Wealthy Waal”

; Radboud University, Province of Gelderland, City region Arnhem-Nijmegen, Region Rivierenland, Waterboard Rivierenland, 15 cities along the Waal river, Ministry of Infrastructure & Environment, “Live with Water” grant program.

Development group

Regional administrati

on

National

European

Co-creation; the “Wealthy Waal” project,investing in the interface “bottom-up” and “top-down”

Community facilitators

“Wealthy Waal” project

Digital Map-Table for hydraulic assessment

Co-creation of stakeholdersWealthy Waal experiment;Results

Flood proof landscape (Tiel)

Solving the nature-safety dillemma

NijmegenHydraulic resistance caused by forest

Highway A50

Conditions for a successful co-creation process

• CoO’s; Joint visioning and common language with respect to sustainability.

• Flexible time windows for project management.• Allocate funds beyond political time windows • Strategic leadership

Vice governor Prov of GelderlandMr. Co Verdaas

Conclusions(1)

• Attitude towards nature– Fundamental shift in environmental ethics;

“mastery over nature” towards “stewardship of nature”.

Ref: “Exploring the relationship between public environmental ethics and river flood policies in western Europe”. Mirjam de Groot et al.,

Journal of Environmental Management 93 (2011)

Conclusions (2)

• Process of co-creation– Need of a new style of project management– Experts focus more on facilitation of joint design

and adaptation measures– Involvement of new “value” criteria; apart from

monetary also cultural and spiritual values.

Thanks for your attention and hospitality !!!

C1 ...concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth’s crust,

C2 ...production of persistent compounds ,

C3...degradation of the ecosystem,

C4...people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs.

In a sustainable society, policies and economies are geared towards a systematically decrease of...

and, in that society...

Conditions to open the route towards sustainable development..4 sustainability principles

Awareness

Baseline

Creative Solutions

Decide on Priorities

Present

Future

-Is it in the right direction?-Is it a flexible platform?-Is it a good return on investment?

A,B,C,D, approach..A,B,C,D steps

Exploring the relationship between public environmental ethics and river flood policies in western EuropeMirjam de Groot et al.,Journal of Environmental Management 93 (2011) N=1811

Mastery over nature human beings stand above nature and may use it as they please, unfettered by moral restraints.

Stewardship of nature human beings have the responsibility to take care of nature towards God or future generations.

Partnership of nature is a metaphor for an equal relationship between human beings and nature: they work together in a dynamic process of mutual development

Participation in nature. Participation in nature, human beings are part of nature in the sense that the connected- ness with nature gives meaning to the Participant’s life

“Madurodam” (The Hague)

Most famous Dutch engineer… Hansje Brinker

Statue “Hansje Brinker”, Spaarndam

“Madurodam”The Hague

Hans Brinker

< 1860 >1860 >1900

Overview Rhine river regulations (upper Rhine)River regulations Germany

Resupply of bedload downstream Iffezheim

260.000 ton/y

Lowering groynes to increase water discharge capacity

Lowering of groynes c. 2 m

Waal river

Digital Map-Table for hydraulic assessment

Solving the nature-safety dillemma

NijmegenHydraulic resistance caused by forest

Highway A50

3 scenario’s for increasing water discharge capacity (Druten)