Drought events have been occurring frequently over the past years (e.g. 2018-2020) in the Netherlands and Central Europe (Rakovec et al., 2022). As dry periods are expected to increase in number and frequency (IPCC, 2021), adaptation measures to combat droughts are currently being developed in several effected regions. Also in the Vecht catchment pilot measures for drought adaptation are being implemented and tested, several of these as part of the Dutch-German Interreg project DIWA (Drought Strategies in Water Management; see recommended websites),. These include: (1) water-retention in the Achterhoek region in form of weirs, increased surface-water levels and the transboundary exchange of Dutch and German landowners; (2) constructive alterations of the Coevorden-Piccardie-Channel through the construction of four weirs and restoration of the surrounding landscape; (3) alterations of the Geele Beek, including ecological improvements and (4) raising the surface water level of the Baakse Beek and improving the aquatic ecosystem.
These technical solutions are implemented in a landscape which fulfils different ecosystem and societal functions. And while these measures are expected to reduce negative drought effects, they are rarely analysed for their positive or negative effects on other parameters or sectors. These so-called co-benefits and trade-offs include e.g. enhanced biodiversity from climate adaptation measures (Spencer et al., 2017) or negative effects of flood management on aesthetic and recreational values (Auerswald et al., 2019) To reduce maladaptations and enhance holistic climate adaptation, considering co-benefits and trade-offs is crucial. Based on the results of these assessments, the upscaling potential of the chosen measures can be estimated. This shall offer the opportunity to systematically improve the drought resilience of the Dutch German border area and other regions.
Objective
The objective of this thesis project is to assess interdisciplinary co-benefits and trade-offs, as well as the upscaling potential of selected drought adaptation measures, that are part of the DIWA project.
Method
- Get a theoretical overview over Social-Ecological-Technical-Systems (SETS), Complex Adaptice Systems (CAS), trade-off and co-benefits
- Select pilot-measures for the assessment
- Conduct interviews with the responsible project partners to identify targeted effects of measures
- Identify trade-off and co-benefits form literature
- Conduct interviews with project partners and other relevant stakeholders to identify additional co-benefits and trade-offs
- Compare the co-benefits and trade-offs of the measures and discuss their upscaling potential
Recommended Websites
- https://deutschland-nederland.eu/en/projects/diwa/
- https://gelderland.stateninformatie.nl/document/15915269/1/Presentatie+DIWA+Euregioraadsvergadering+27_6%2C+2025?connection_type=16&connection_id=1078075
References
- Auerswald, K., Moyle, P., Seibert, S. P., & Geist, J. (2019). HESS Opinions: Socio-economic and ecological trade-offs of flood management – benefits of a transdisciplinary approach. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 23(2), 1035–1044. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1035-2019
- IPCC (2021). ‘Climate Change 2022: The Physical Science Basis. The Working Group I contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 3-32
- Rakovec, O., Samaniego, L., Hari, V., Markonis, Y., Moravec, V., Thober, S., et al. (2022). The 2018–2020 multi-year drought sets a new benchmark in Europe. Earth's Future, 10(3), e2021EF002394. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021EF002394
- Spencer, B., Lawler, J., Lowe, C., Thompson, L., Hinckley, T., Kim, S.-H., Bolton, S., Meschke, S., Olden, J. D., & Voss, J. (2017). Case studies in co-benefits approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 60(4), 647–667. https:// doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2016.1168287
Supervision
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