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If we want to protect ourselves better against the impacts of climate change, we need to give water space once again<\/strong>.
\nNot by seeking to control it, but by restoring the systems that allow it to infiltrate, run off more slowly and be temporarily buffered.<\/p>\n

We should no longer see water as an adversary.
\nBy putting the water system back at the heart of how we design and organise our space<\/strong>, water can become a powerful ally in making our living environment more resilient and better adapted to a changing climate.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Water is the key to many climate challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
$\"cover$ <\/a>Belgian Climate Risk Assessment<\/em><\/a><\/td>\n The first Belgian Climate Risk Assessment by CERAC places climate challenges within a broader framework. CERAC identifies 28 key risks <\/strong>for Belgium arising from climate change and ecosystem degradation.
\nFlooding, drought, heatwaves and wildfires are already affecting communities, ecosystems and infrastructure today<\/a>.\u00a0CERAC does not treat these risks as isolated events, but as part of interconnected systems.<\/p>\n
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Drought<\/strong> affects agricultural production, drinking water availability, the condition of natural ecosystems, soil stability, inland navigation, energy supply, health and infrastructure.<\/li>\n
Flooding<\/strong> affects not only buildings, but also mobility, the economy, mental health, water quality and ecological systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nSweco\u2019s climate and environmental consultants also take an integrated approach to the challenges facing our water system, taking account of their impact on spatial planning<\/a>, soil, nature, infrastructure, agriculture, industry and society.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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Investing in water and nature means
\ninvesting in resilience<\/h2>\n
Our teams working across open landscapes focus on nature-based solutions<\/a> to address climate challenges. Nature restoration, in its many forms, is more than an ecological choice: it actively helps to strengthen our resilience.<\/p>\n
Wetlands, valleys, marshes, re-meandered streams and healthy soils play a vital sponge function.<\/strong> They slow run-off, temporarily store water, replenish groundwater<\/a>, improve water quality and create habitats for plants and animals.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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147,000 ha<\/h3>\n
are estimated by INBO to have restoration potential.<\/p>\n
The Flemish Climate Adaptation Plan 2030<\/a> aims to restore or improve the quality of 20,000 hectares of wet nature<\/strong> by 2030.
\nThis is not a luxury. It is a necessary investment<\/strong> in a more robust landscape.<\/p>\n
Source: Research Institute Nature and Forest<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Only 0.5%<\/h3>\n
of Flemish surface water bodies \u2014 1 in 203 \u2014 are in good ecological condition.
\nWater quality also underlines the urgency.<\/strong><\/p>\n
In Wallonia, the third Walloon River Basin Management Plan<\/a> states that climate change, flooding and drought are major challenges for water management<\/a> and the condition of water bodies.<\/p>\n
Source: Flemish Parliament<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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Anyone who invests in nature restoration is also investing in flood protection, drought resilience, water quality, biodiversity and liveability.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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What does this mean for investors?<\/h2>\n
The question is no longer whether investment in water resilience is necessary.
\nThe question is where, when and how that investment will create the greatest social and economic value<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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$\"Circulair$
For public authorities and
\nwater managers<\/h4>\n
Local authorities, provinces, regions and water managers face the challenge of better aligning policy, spatial planning<\/a>, permitting and delivery<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Stormwater and drought plans, valley restoration, de-paving and creating space for water need to reinforce one another.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>
$\"Eerste$
For farmers and agricultural investors<\/h4>\n
Agriculture is highly dependent on water security<\/a><\/strong>.
\nDrought affects yields, while intense rainfall can lead to erosion, soil compaction and crop damage.
\nStorage basins, infiltration zones, controlled drainage, wetland crops and landscape buffers can help make farms more resilient.<\/p>\n
The challenge is to see water not only as a factor of production, but as part of the business model. <\/strong>
\nInvestments in water buffering and soil quality<\/a> can reduce risk while also contributing to nature restoration.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>
$\"Een$
For nature organisations and site managers<\/h4>\n
For site managers, the challenge is to restore hydrological processes.
\nNature restoration often starts by restoring groundwater<\/a> levels, natural flood dynamics and connections between watercourses, valleys and surrounding landscapes.<\/p>\n
This requires ecological expertise, but also hydrological modelling, stakeholder management<\/a>, permitting, cost-benefit assessments and delivery capacity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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Integrated solutions from analysis through to implementation<\/h2>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Sweco supports, guides and takes pressure off the various organisations working in open landscapes. They are the ones who must translate objectives and ambitions <\/strong>into concrete projects on the ground<\/strong>, in consultation with all the stakeholders involved.<\/p>\n
We support numerous projects that strengthen the resilience of our landscapes. These are complex challenges that call for integrated solutions<\/a>. We bring together<\/strong>:<\/p>\n
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hydrology<\/li>\n
ecology<\/li>\n
spatial planning<\/a><\/li>\n
infrastructure design<\/a><\/li>\n
environmental impact assessment<\/a><\/li>\n
data analysis<\/li>\n
participation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In this way, we map out the entire water system<\/strong>: from source to valley, from rainfall to groundwater<\/a>, from natural areas to the built environment.<\/p>\n
Added value is created where challenges intersect and reinforce one another<\/strong>: where synergies are harnessed and different spatial demands do not compete, but strengthen each other. In this way, we aim to contribute to climate-resilient, biodiverse landscapes and places where people and nature can thrive, now and in the future.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
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A selection of our projects shows how we help make a difference<\/h3>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n
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RESTORATION OF WETLANDS AND WETLAND HABITATS<\/h5>\n
<\/p>\n
In the\u00a0Leie Valley<\/strong>,\u00a0we are working on several nature development plans aimed at restoring wetland habitats and, with them, the valley itself as part of \u201cRiver Restoration Leie\u201d.
\nCommissioned by the Flemish Land Agency.<\/em><\/p>\n
In the\u00a0Dender Valley<\/strong>,\u00a0we developed design plans for De Nuchten and Kwaadbroeken-Pollaremeersen as part of \u201cRoom for Water \u2013 T.OP Dender\u201d.
\nCommissioned by the Agency for Nature and Forests.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"Re-meandering$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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STREAM RESTORATION THROUGH THE RE-MEANDERING OF WATERCOURSES<\/p>\n
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In the\u00a0Nete Basin<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0we are helping to restore natural watercourses through Blue Deal projects.
\nCommissioned by the Flemish Environment Agency.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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FLOOD RESILIENCE<\/h5>\n
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In and around\u00a0Lillo\u00a0<\/strong>, we are implementing the Sigma Plan in the highly valuable natural environment of the Scheldt Delta. Elsewhere, we are preparing an integrated nature management plan for the Sigma project areas.<\/p>\n
Around the\u00a0Yser<\/strong>,\u00a0we are working on a broadly supported multi-year programme for a \u201cResilient Westhoek\u201d. The programme also focuses on upstream measures to tackle drought.
\nCommissioned by De Vlaamse Waterweg and the Flemish Environment Agency.<\/em><\/p>\n
In\u00a0Voeren<\/strong>,\u00a0we investigated the potential for additional water storage in the valleys of the Voer and Noorbeek. The aim is to reduce the\u00a0flood risk<\/a>\u00a0near the centre of \u2019s-Gravenvoeren.
\nThe integration of water buffers into the landscape in Voeren forms part of the Water+Land+Schap 2.0 project \u201cTowards a climate-resilient landscape in the Voeren region\u201d.
\nCommissioned by the Flemish Environment Agency.<\/em><\/p>\n
In the\u00a0Vesdre Valley<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0too, the need for systems thinking remains significant following the floods of July 2021, which claimed at least 37 lives in Belgium (source:\u00a0ECDC<\/a><\/em>).
\nCommissioned by the Public Service of Wallonia.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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BUFFERING AND INFILTRATION FACILITIES WITH ADDED VALUE FOR NATURE OR AGRICULTURE<\/h5>\n
<\/p>\n
The \u201cBETONwater voor irrigatie\u201d project buffers rainwater at\u00a0business parks in Torhout and Zedelgem<\/strong>. The new water basins will also be made available to farmers in the surrounding area. The project reduces peak run-off and flood risk, promotes the sustainable use of scarce water resources and illustrates how agriculture and industry can reinforce one another.
\nCommissioned by the Province of West Flanders.<\/em><\/p>\n
In\u00a0East Flanders<\/strong>,\u00a0we are working to improve\u00a0buffering and infiltration facilities on business parks<\/a>, so that more rainwater is captured during heavy rainfall and can infiltrate gradually, with greater emphasis on\u00a0 biodiversity<\/a>.
\nCommissioned by Veneco.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t
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Would you like to dive deeper into water? Watch these videos.<\/h4> <\/div>\n \n
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\n $\"\"$ <\/figure>\n
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Flood management in action: the transformation of the Brugse Polders<\/h5> \n

Flood management in action: the transformation of the Brugse Polders<\/h5> \n

Revitalizing Blokkersdijk: returning purified water to nature<\/h5> \n