Reducing disaster risks: good water management is essential

Water management is central to disaster risk reduction strategies. Through the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the UN emphasises the importance of international cooperation and integrated water resource management in preventing water-related disasters.

OiEau actively contributes to these objectives by providing tools and solutions tailored to needs at all levels, local, national and transboundary.

Gemapi, SAGE, NBS, MWRM... behind these acronyms lie tools designed to change land use practices in order to mitigate natural risks.

Nature-based solutions (NBS), including natural water retention measures (MWRM), are relevant and sustainable responses to natural risks exacerbated by climate change, while protecting biodiversity. They take the form of a wide range of actions that address various technical challenges using ecological principles. They combine ‘ecosystem’ benefits with technical management. Alternative rainwater management, new agricultural practices that limit runoff and promote infiltration, sustainable, responsible and ‘permeable’ urban planning, treatment by vegetated discharge areas (etc.) are all examples of NBS in practice.

With the support of the French Office for Biodiversity, OiEau manages the Gest'Eau resource centre for Water Development and Management Plans (SAGE) facilitators, integrating NBS into their development. These plans are planning tools at the watershed level, enabling coordinated management of water and aquatic environments, taking into account local issues and the impacts of climate change.

OiEau has been involved in two projects on climate change and water resource management: LIFE Water&Climate and Explore2. By updating knowledge on the impact of climate change on hydrology based on the latest publications from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), these projects help local stakeholders understand and use these findings to adapt their resource management strategies.

OiEau also offers training courses on integrating nature-based solutions into aquatic environment management. For example, training course SS040 aims to raise awareness among local stakeholders of natural approaches to aquatic environment management, with a focus on ecosystem restoration and water-related risk prevention.

With its four areas of expertise (data management, water information system development and knowledge enhancement, technical and institutional support & cooperation, training and educational engineering, and facilitation and development of stakeholder networks), OiEau actively contributes to disaster risk reduction by improving understanding of vulnerabilities, strengthening water governance, and facilitating knowledge sharing.

These initiatives are essential for building societies that are more resilient to climate challenges.