Presentation with Johanna Hedlund on ecosystem-based water management interventions in deltas, during SIWW 2016

1. 06/09/2016
1
Social-ecological deltas and green
infrastructure: lessons from the Dutch and
Paraná deltas
Presenters:
Martijn van Staveren (Wageningen University, Netherlands; martijn.vanstaveren@wur.nl)
Johanna Hedlund (Tengbom Architects; Sweden. johanna.hedlund@tengbom.se)
Contributors:
Pieter van Eijk (Wetlands Internationall)
Anna Forslund (Stockholm International Water Institute)
Typical delta challenges
Flood
management
Urbanization
Various
interests
Climate
change
Institutional
complexity

2. 06/09/2016
2
Closing-off hydraulic infrastructure
Ecosystem-based delta perspectives
TRADITIONAL DELTA PERSPECTIVES ECOSYSTEM-BASED DELTA
PERSPECTIVES

3. 06/09/2016
3
Example from the Dutch delta
From impoldering (closed)... ...to de-poldering (open)
Example from the Paraná delta
From open... … to closed system

4. 06/09/2016
4
Constructed floating wetland
(flood protection, water
treatment, restoration of water
regulatory functions,
ecosystem restoration,
production)
Groines (restoration of
sedimentation processes)
Wetland edge zone (flood
protection, shore protection,
ecosystem restoration, natural
enhancement)
Green infrastructure concepts
TRADITIONAL DELTA
PERSPECTIVE
ECOSYSTEM-BASED DELTA
PERSPECTIVE
Ecosystem-based delta perspective:
Adding green infrastructure to the technological
domain

5. 06/09/2016
5
Conclusions
The often technical, ‘closing-off’ paradigm of water
control in deltas should be complemented by an 'open'
approach, in which the mutual influence of the
technological, ecological and social domains is
acknowledged and anticipated on to pursue sustainable
delta futures;
The role of water as a carrier of long term delta
dynamics and potential means to achieve sustainable
delta futures should be reemphasized;
Many landscape design options are available to translate
this line of thinking into practice. Presented green
infrastructure examples from the Dutch and Paraná
deltas contribute to an open delta system design.