Challenge
There are two traditional approaches to the theme of 'climate and biodiversity'. On the one hand, climate change will have consequences for existing nature and ecological targets. On the other hand, nature can be used to mitigate and adapt to the consequences of climate. It is important to generate and exchange knowledge from both perspectives. But the second point of view receives less attention. For Rijkswaterstaat, this is a missed opportunity, especially in the light of the increasing importance of biodiversity restoration towards a nature positive future.
Conventional infrastructure approaches can often cause negative impacts on other resources and values like nature and biodiversity. We can only tackle Europe’s increased water-related challenges by employing a diverse range of nature based solutions (NbS) from a basic approach and in an integrated way. A hallmark of NbS is that they provide a range of additional benefits to people and nature and thus can help tackle today’s other great global crisis: the loss of biodiversity. In this way NbS can also contribute to the achievement of other international objectives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement. Using NbS to address the challenges can also help restore nature across Europe – boosting efforts to achieve other critical policy objectives, including the attainment of good ecological status for all rivers and other waters under the Water Framework Directive. And helping Europe lead the transition to a healthy planet, as outlined in the European Commission’s new Green Deal. 

The discussion will focus on
In this session, Rijkswaterstaat invites you to share experiences in research on the effect of climate change on biodiversity and NbS as a strategy to adapt to the impacts of climate change in large waterbodies. We will share some general concepts and individual cases from our work in large waterbodies. Partners are invited to present their own research. Discussion will focus on best practices, do’s and don’ts, scale, input and output, knowledge questions and sharing information and experiences. 

Goal
The goal of the session is to share good practices and learning experiences in a diverse, multidisciplinary group of academic and governmental experts on water, climate adaptation and biodiversity. We will work towards a knowledge agenda and shared topics for future cooperation and exchange.