Dresden Communication on Flood Risk Management Research in Europe
Dresden (Germany), 7th February 2007
Preamble
The European Symposium on Flood Risk Management Research (EFRM 2007) on 6th-7th
February 2007 in Dresden (Germany) presented outcomes of most recent research projects of
the European Community and the Member States. Its overall aim was to foster dialogue
between researchers in relevant fields and to reflect recent innovations together with
practitioners and decision makers. The symposium was initiated by the EU FLOODsite
research project and organised by the Dresden Flood Research Center (D-FRC). The
European Commission supported the event through the FLOODsite Integrated Project, the
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) provided aid within the scope
of the German EU Council Presidency. Nearly 250 participants from 38 countries joined the
event, whose scientific programme ranged from extreme event to citizen involvement.
Floods are a major issue for Europe. Despite considerable effort, several disasters have
occurred in recent years and damage is rising. Absolute flood protection is unachievable and
unsustainable, because of high costs and inherent uncertainties; instead, risk can only be
reduced. Flood risk management deals with the societal task of analysing, assessing and
reducing flood risks considering all relevant physical, environmental and societal processes.
Science has addressed many of these processes.
This has increased understanding of the
issues and the development of tools to support flood risk management. Flood risks are
dynamic, driven by climate change and growing vulnerability. The IPCC WG1 summary
report of February 2007 indicates that, over the 21st century, increased heavy precipitation
events and high sea levels are very likely and likely respectively.
Symposium Statement
During the final session participants agreed on the following statement:
- Flooding will remain a serious risk for Europe which can only be reduced, not eliminated. Even in well protected areas flood risks remain, from extreme events or the potential failures of flood defences.
- This symposium urges the inclusion of climate change assessment in all actions under the proposed EU Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks, and in particular, in the first cycle of preliminary flood risk assessments.
- Vulnerability is generally increasing as a result of social and economic pressures. Means of reducing vulnerability have been identified and should be pursued.
- Approaches are needed to integrate the performance, effectiveness and efficiency of measures and instruments for risk management, especially under changing and more uncertain futures.
- Flood risk research should concentrate on an improved understanding of flood risk systems together with the development of integrated strategies, methods and technologies for flood risk management policy and practice. Scientists and practitioners should work together on how to best to adopt research results.
- Implementation of flood risk management should involve all stakeholders including the public. Programmes of education and public information are important for achieving this.
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