A New Perspective on Floods
On October 29, the Valencian Community witnessed a devastating storm that exposed the vulnerability of its infrastructures to flooding. In a context of climate emergency, the need to rethink our strategies to face these events has become urgent.
Innovative Policies in Water Management
Professionals from diverse disciplines, such as geography and urban planning, have begun to advocate for the implementation of nature-based solutions. This approach seeks to replace the excessive use of materials such as cement and asphalt in riverbeds with vegetation, which can help moderate water flow and facilitate infiltration.
The Cost of Traditional Solutions
Despite proposals to build more canals and remove vegetation from rivers, experts like Josep Maria Mallarach warn that these measures could make the situation worse. Canalization can increase the speed of the water, moving the problem to other areas instead of solving it.
Benefits of Nature-Based Solutions
Natural solutions not only help mitigate floods, but also improve the health of ecosystems. Mariona Ferrándiz, a researcher in urban ecology, highlights that integrating vegetation into the urban environment can reduce the damage caused by water runoff, thus improving the territory’s capacity to manage intense rainfall.
The Importance of Renaturalization
For those rivers that have already been channeled, natural restoration is presented as a viable alternative. Experts like Xavier Garcia Acosta are committed to recovering wetlands and reinstating native vegetation to increase soil permeability, which can help better control flooding.
A Sustainable Future in Cities
In addition to natural solutions, cities can implement innovative measures, such as the creation of underground reservoirs to store rainwater. Cities like Barcelona have already adopted this system, thus allowing water reuse during periods of drought.
Economy and Sustainability
Economist Francesc La Roca stresses that the current costs of dealing with floods are much higher than those that would have been invested in preventive measures such as renaturalization. The Stern report, which analyzes the costs of climate change, reinforces this idea, indicating that investment in sustainable solutions is more beneficial in the long term.
The Need for Immediate Action
So far, the responses adopted have been insufficient and often ignored scientific evidence. Ferrándiz highlights the need to prioritize investments in river restoration to ensure a more sustainable and resilient future against floods.
With a strategic approach and a reorientation towards nature-based solutions, the Valencian Community can better prepare to face the challenges of the climate emergency, protecting both the environment and the community.