Nature-based solutions to flooding

How can we work more closely with nature to solve society’s challenges? In this explainer, we introduce the main ways in which natural flood management techniques are being used to help reduce the risk of flooding. We explore the benefits of using natural flood management techniques over hard engineering, and also consider the role of engineers in restoring natural landscapes.

Learning outcomes

After reading this explainer, you will: 

• Have learnt how to draw valuable lessons from nature when searching for flooding solutions 
• Understand the ways in which natural solutions are used on their own or in tandem with engineering solutions (such as flood barriers) to protect areas from flooding risks 
• Recognise how nature-based forms of flood mitigation can help us to meet net-zero targets