As floods in Australia are becoming more frequent, severe, and longer-lasting, communities are looking for better ways to manage the risks. A research team from the Australian National University Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions has been working with communities in New South Wales and Queensland to explore Nature-based Solutions (NbS) — approaches that use natural systems, such as wetlands and forests, to help reduce flood impacts. 

Over the years, human activities such as clearing land, draining wetlands, and building roads and levees have made floods worse by speeding up floodwaters and reducing the land’s natural ability to cope with water. 

Climate change is also making floods more intense and harder to predict so there’s a need to move beyond just traditional flood defences. 

Nature-based Solutions can help by detaining floodwater, reducing the energy and extent of floods and diverting floods.

Examples include planting trees, restoring vegetation along waterways, rebuilding old stream channels, and adjusting how land is used near rivers. 

With help from communities and local governments across regional NSW and South-East Queensland, the team have developed Nature-based Solutions for flood mitigation in Australia - a set of guidelines which show how these solutions can be used effectively in different regions. The guide explains: 

• How to assess and choose the best options

• Different types of NbS and how they work

• How to measure their benefits

• Real-world, practical approaches for each area 

The Nature-based Solutions for flood mitigation in Australia guidelines are available here; 

• Nature-based Solutions for flood mitigation in Australia - Book 1: National Guidelines 

• Nature-based Solutions for flood mitigation in Australia - Book 2: Catchment Studies 

• Nature-based Solutions for flood mitigation in Australia - Book 3: Practical Guide