Nature-based solutions for river restoration and flow management: the case of Kitwe City, Zambia

River systems worldwide are under significant anthropogenic pressures and climate-related challenges, leading to ecosystem degradation and increased flood risk. This chapter demonstrates how Nature Based Solutions (NbS) can contribute to river restoration while reducing flood risk, supporting wider...

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Autores principales: Umer, Yakob, Debele, S. E., Mvula, C., Amarnath, Giriraj, Chisola, M. N., Marti-Cardona, B.
Formato: Capítulo de libro
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: IntechOpen 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172613
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author Umer, Yakob
Debele, S. E.
Mvula, C.
Amarnath, Giriraj
Chisola, M. N.
Marti-Cardona, B.
author_browse Amarnath, Giriraj
Chisola, M. N.
Debele, S. E.
Marti-Cardona, B.
Mvula, C.
Umer, Yakob
author_facet Umer, Yakob
Debele, S. E.
Mvula, C.
Amarnath, Giriraj
Chisola, M. N.
Marti-Cardona, B.
author_sort Umer, Yakob
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description River systems worldwide are under significant anthropogenic pressures and climate-related challenges, leading to ecosystem degradation and increased flood risk. This chapter demonstrates how Nature Based Solutions (NbS) can contribute to river restoration while reducing flood risk, supporting wider sustainable goals. To this end, this chapter evaluates the effectiveness of NbS interventions in river restoration and flood risk management in the Kitwe City, Zambia. The methodology involves using a hydraulic model to simulate river flow under different NbS scenarios (retention ponds and woodland reforestation), and to compare the simulated flood depth and flow velocity in pre- and post-intervention conditions. The findings indicate that the presence of NbS significantly reduces flood risks, with retention ponds and woodlands leading to flood depth reductions ranging from 0.09 m to 0.18 m and 0.06 m to 0.11 m, respectively. Regarding flow velocities, retention ponds reduced them by an average of 0.11m/s, and woodlands, by 0.07 m/s. These results indicate that both NbS types reduce flood depth and velocity, with ponds being slightly more effective than woodland in the particular setting of the Kitwe District. The findings suggest that integrating NbS into river restoration can mitigate flood risks, improve ecosystem resilience, and contribute to long-term sustainability. These results inform risk management policies and emphasise the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to upscale NbS for maximum ecological and societal benefits.
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spelling CGSpace1726132025-02-25T09:26:54Z Nature-based solutions for river restoration and flow management: the case of Kitwe City, Zambia Umer, Yakob Debele, S. E. Mvula, C. Amarnath, Giriraj Chisola, M. N. Marti-Cardona, B. climate change nature-based solutions river restoration stream flow flooding disaster risk reduction risk management ponds woodlands reforestation policies regulations ecosystem resilience environmental degradation extreme weather events biodiversity conservation water management water quality socioecological systems stakeholders local communities non-governmental organizations collaboration River systems worldwide are under significant anthropogenic pressures and climate-related challenges, leading to ecosystem degradation and increased flood risk. This chapter demonstrates how Nature Based Solutions (NbS) can contribute to river restoration while reducing flood risk, supporting wider sustainable goals. To this end, this chapter evaluates the effectiveness of NbS interventions in river restoration and flood risk management in the Kitwe City, Zambia. The methodology involves using a hydraulic model to simulate river flow under different NbS scenarios (retention ponds and woodland reforestation), and to compare the simulated flood depth and flow velocity in pre- and post-intervention conditions. The findings indicate that the presence of NbS significantly reduces flood risks, with retention ponds and woodlands leading to flood depth reductions ranging from 0.09 m to 0.18 m and 0.06 m to 0.11 m, respectively. Regarding flow velocities, retention ponds reduced them by an average of 0.11m/s, and woodlands, by 0.07 m/s. These results indicate that both NbS types reduce flood depth and velocity, with ponds being slightly more effective than woodland in the particular setting of the Kitwe District. The findings suggest that integrating NbS into river restoration can mitigate flood risks, improve ecosystem resilience, and contribute to long-term sustainability. These results inform risk management policies and emphasise the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to upscale NbS for maximum ecological and societal benefits. 2025-01-30 2025-01-31T06:41:23Z 2025-01-31T06:41:23Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172613 en Open Access IntechOpen Umer, Yakob; Debele, S. E.; Mvula, C.; Amarnath, Giriraj; Chisola, M. N.; Marti-Cardona, B. 2025. Nature-based solutions for river restoration and flow management: the case of Kitwe City, Zambia. In Guo, C. (Ed.). River Basin Management - Challenges and Coping Strategies [Working Title]. London, UK: IntechOpen. 20p.
spellingShingle climate change
nature-based solutions
river restoration
stream flow
flooding
disaster risk reduction
risk management
ponds
woodlands
reforestation
policies
regulations
ecosystem resilience
environmental degradation
extreme weather events
biodiversity conservation
water management
water quality
socioecological systems
stakeholders
local communities
non-governmental organizations
collaboration
Umer, Yakob
Debele, S. E.
Mvula, C.
Amarnath, Giriraj
Chisola, M. N.
Marti-Cardona, B.
Nature-based solutions for river restoration and flow management: the case of Kitwe City, Zambia
title Nature-based solutions for river restoration and flow management: the case of Kitwe City, Zambia
title_full Nature-based solutions for river restoration and flow management: the case of Kitwe City, Zambia
title_fullStr Nature-based solutions for river restoration and flow management: the case of Kitwe City, Zambia
title_full_unstemmed Nature-based solutions for river restoration and flow management: the case of Kitwe City, Zambia
title_short Nature-based solutions for river restoration and flow management: the case of Kitwe City, Zambia
title_sort nature based solutions for river restoration and flow management the case of kitwe city zambia
topic climate change
nature-based solutions
river restoration
stream flow
flooding
disaster risk reduction
risk management
ponds
woodlands
reforestation
policies
regulations
ecosystem resilience
environmental degradation
extreme weather events
biodiversity conservation
water management
water quality
socioecological systems
stakeholders
local communities
non-governmental organizations
collaboration
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172613
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