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Nature-based solutions potential for flood risk reduction under extreme rainfall events

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Abstract

Climate change will substantially increase extreme rainfall events, especially in the Tropics, enhancing flood risks. Such imminent risks require climate adaptation strategies to endure extreme rainfall and increase drainage systems. Here, we evaluate the potential of nature-based solutions by using an ecosystem service modeling approach, evaluating the impact of extreme rainfall events on flood risks in a large urban area and with a real-world land recovery plan. We evaluate the cost-effectiveness of four different land recovery scenarios and associated co-benefits, based on a gradient increase in area recovered and cost of implementation. Although the scenarios reveal increasing flood risk reduction and co-benefits along with greater proportion of land recovery, the most cost-effective scenario was the one with an intermediate land recovery where 30% of the study area would be reforested. We emphasize the striking benefits of nature-based solutions for flood risk reduction in cities, considering landscape scale and stakeholders’ needs.

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Acknowledgements

This paper was developed in the context of the Brazilian Research Network on Climate Change (Rede-CLIMA), with which all authors are affiliated. The authors also acknowledge the State Environmental Institute of Rio de Janeiro that gave the INEA Environmental Award (“Prêmio INEA de Meio Ambiente”) for this study in 2021.

Funding

SM received fellowships from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior do Brasil (CAPES) (Grant no. 001) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro—Grant ‘Doutorado Nota 10’ (FAPERJ No. E-26/200.611/2021). We thank the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for support to MMV (CNPq Grant No. 304309/2018-4 and 304908/2021-5) and APFP (Grant No. 423057/2021-9), and FAPERJ for support to MMV (Grant No. CNE E-26/202.647/2019) and APFP (Grant No. APQ1 2019 E-26/010.001939/2019 and APQ1-2021 SEI-260003/015411/2021). This paper was developed in the context of the Brazilian Research Network on Climate Change (Rede-CLIMA), with which all authors are affiliated, supported by FINEP (Grants No. 01.13.0353-00) and the National Institutes for Science and Technology in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Conservation, supported by CNPq (Grant ID: 465610/2014-5) and FAPEG (Grant No. 201810267000023).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Ecology (PPGE/UFRJ), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco A, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-590, Brazil

    Stella Manes

  2. International Institute for Sustainability (IIS), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Stella Manes

  3. Ecology Department, Instituto de Biologia (IB/UFRJ), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco A, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-590, Brazil

    Mariana M. Vale

  4. Ecology Department, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Pavilhão Reitor Haroldo Lisboa da Cunha, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), R. São Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-013, Brazil

    Aliny P. F. Pires

  5. Brazilian Foundation for Sustainable Development (FBDS), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Aliny P. F. Pires

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  1. Stella Manes
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Manes, S., Vale, M.M. & Pires, A.P.F. Nature-based solutions potential for flood risk reduction under extreme rainfall events. Ambio (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-024-02005-8

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