A method for linking results from an evaluation of land use scenarios from the viewpoint of flood prevention and nature conservation

Flood prevention and nature conservation are often considered not to be compatible. This publication presents a method by which different land use scenarios can be developed and interdisciplinarily evaluated from both the flood prevention and nature conservation perspective. The method was designed and tested using a small subcatchment area in the Eastern Erzgebirge (Saxony, Germany) as an example. Based on guidelines four scenarios were developed. Main measures are transformation of arable fields into extensively used grasslands, afforestation and ecological transformation of forests. The ecological assessment was based on an analysis of biotope types and closely linked to an evaluation of landscape structure. To asses the hydrological situation and to identify risk areas in the catchment, the expert system WBS-FLAB was used. The assessment procedures were designed to enable a comparison of various scenarios with each other. Finally the evaluation results of both assessment procedures were related to each other. A comparison with the actual situation shows that all four developed land use scenarios can improve the situation from both the perspective of flood prevention as well as of nature conservation. In practice, the presented method can be a valuable interdisciplinary decision support for decision-makers and landscape planners.

► Synergetic effects between hydrological and nature conservation goals are revealed.
► The WBS-FLAB model enables to identify risk areas with fast runoff components.
► With all land use scenarios an improvement of the current situation can be reached.
► The effect of land use changes is closely related to the size of the modified areas.