Prevent floods by better water policy, says WWF

The WWF called on the EU and national governments to improve land-use to reduce the risks of future flooding.

According to WWF, the climate change is reponsible for the floods of this summer in Europe.

The following elements also have to be taken into account:

• the straightening of rivers from uplands to lowlands,
• excessive loss of natural inundation areas,
• settlements on river banks.

Improved land-use would enable more controlled release of water from reservoirs in upstream areas, aimed at the formation of temporary retention basins and thus reducing flood volumes and peak discharges. To improve the flood control, WWF suggests to the EU to:

• ensure that implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) is fast and efficient. The WFD was adopted in December 2000 and is due to be implemented by December 2003. It aims to prevent further deterioration and protects and enhances the status of aquatic ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands directly depending on the aquatic based ecosystems;
• guarantee that existing wetlands and floodplains are able to function naturally and fully;
• remove obsolete man-made construction on floodplains and flood-defences;
• retain water more effectively in upland areas through better soil, forest and water management;
• ensure that future EU spending is compatible with the new approach in WFD;
• integrate the WFD requirements into the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy, the mid-term evaluation of the structural funds and the interim revision of the Trans-European Network for Transport;
• implement comprehensive climate change policies, including a 10% target for new and renewable sources of energy.

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