Integrated valuation of nature-based solutions using tessa: Three floodplain restoration studies in the Danube catchment

Francesca Perosa, Marion Gelhaus, Veronika Zwirglmaier, Leonardo F. Arias-Rodriguez, Aude Zingraff-Hamed, Bernd Cyffka, Markus Disse

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Floodplain restoration measures are among the most well-known nature-based solutions for flood risk reduction but practitioners see their limitations in comparison to technical measures when considering both their effectiveness and profitability. The aim of this study is to show the co-benefits (besides flood risk reduction) of floodplain restoration and handle them in terms of monetized ecosystem services (ES). Our work focused on six ES groups for three study areas in the Danube catchment along the Krka, Morava, and Danube rivers. ES mapping through stakeholder engagement is also considered. We applied the methodologies suggested in the Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site-Based Assessment (TESSA) complemented with alternative methodologies (e.g., questionnaires on social media). Results show annual combined benefits of floodplain restoration in a range from 237,000 USD2019 at Krka to 3.1 million USD2019 at Morava, suggesting the utility of ES assessment. The combination of stakeholder workshops and the TESSA guidelines, as well as the newly developed methods, were all central tools to provide decision-makers with arguments to use nature-based solutions for an integrated and holistic riparian land use management.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1482
Pages (from-to)1-22
Number of pages22
JournalSustainability (Switzerland)
Volume13
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2021

Keywords

  • Danube River Basin
  • Ecosystem services
  • Floodplain restoration
  • Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)
  • Stake-holder participation
  • TESSA

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