Natural flood retention measures (NFRMs) such as buffer strips, reforestation, agroforestry, wetland restoration and soil management practices are increasingly recognised as effective and sustainable tools to reduce flood risks while delivering multiple co-benefits for biodiversity, water quality, and climate adaptation. However, their implementation, particularly on privately owned land, raises challenges at the interface of hydrological science, land management, socio-economics, and governance.
This session, organized by the IWRA Land4Flood Task Force, seeks to explore scientific advances, practical experiences, and policy innovations related to natural flood retention on landscape. We welcome contributions that assess hydrological and geomorphological processes, monitoring and modelling approaches, and the effectiveness of NFRMs under climate and land-use changes. Equally, we invite studies addressing barriers and opportunities for adoption, incentives for landowners, and the integration of flood retention measures into broader water management, agricultural, and policy frameworks. This session aims to foster dialogue on how to scale up and mainstream natural flood retention in ways that are both scientifically robust and socially acceptable. We welcome submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following subjects:
- Hydrological processes that support NFRMs, focusing on how they improve water retention within the landscape;
- Monitoring, modelling, and assessment of flood retention capacity at multiple scales;
- Effectiveness of soil and land management practices in reducing runoff and flood risk;
- Socio-economic drivers, landowner incentives, and barriers to adoption of NFRMs;
- Governance, policy instruments, and cross-sectoral coordination (agriculture, water management, nature conservation);
- Co-benefits of NFRMs, such as those for biodiversity, soil health and carbon sequestration;
- Case studies and lessons learned from local, regional, and transboundary initiatives and measures.