Technology Transfer for Climate Resilient Flood Management in Vrbas River Basin
BiH is significantly exposed to the threats of climate change, but has very limited capacity to adapt to its negative impacts, in particular the floods from its major rivers.
The Vrbas River basin is characterized by a large rural population comprised of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including war returnees and displaced people, with high exposure to flooding and its devastating impacts.
The project aims to support communities along the Vrbas river basin to adapt to flood risk through the transfer of adaptation technologies for climate resilient flood management, upgrade and rehabilitation of the hydro-metric monitoring network, development of a flood forecasting system and early warning system, development of emergency response plans, and provision of training in flood-specific civil protection. The enabling environment will be enhanced by embedding climate change into key sector policies, strategies and plans to enable climate resilient flood risk management within sectors that impact flood risk significantly, including land use and spatial planning, forestry, agriculture and energy sectors. Specifically, the project will introduce floodplain management regulations that will enhance zoning of development and activities away from high risk areas.
Flagship results achieved:
- EU Flood Directive 2007/60/EC has been transposed to BiH legislative framework.
- Flood hazard and risk has been incorporated in Law on Spatial Planning and Construction RS.
- Automated hydrometric monitoring network established in Vrbas River Basin, which makes it the first river basin in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a sufficient hydro-meteorological network coverage.
- Data collection and processing has been centralized and is taking place in hydro-meteorological institutes. The network is consisting of 7 hydrological, 2 meteorological and 20 rain gauges.
- Civil protection units equipped with 168 radio stations, 8 digital sirens and 3 radio relays, allowing citizens and businesses alike to benefit from early warnings about upcoming flood events.
- Provided support to the 13 municipalities to improve their ability to better cope with flood events, improve their preparedness and response.
- Flood Intervention Planning improved, as well as knowledge and flood awareness, trainings and flood simulation exercise implemented.
- Climate change model for Vrbas River Basin developed.
- Socio-economic survey in the Vrbas River Basin completed and it includes vulnerability assessment for women in flood risk areas.
- Flood risk modelling and mapping methodology developed and adopted by local institutions.
- Hydrological and hydraulic (1D and 2D) models developed for the purpose of flood mapping and forecasting.
- Flood hazard and risk maps developed and handed over to water agencies and municipalities.
- Project Spatial Data infrastructure, in line with the EU INSPIRE directive developed.
- The Vrbas GeoPortal has been established and activated on http://vrb.pmfbl.org/ and it offers flood hazard and risk maps, flash floods sensitivity model, landslides cadaster and torrential streams cadaster, hydrometric measurements in real time and Participatory GIS (PGIS) tool for flood risk management for local level.
- Professionals in hydro-meteorological institutes and water agencies trained on hydrometric monitoring, on-work training in hydrological and hydraulic modelling.
- Designed and implemented trainings aimed to introduce local agriculture advisors/extension service to better cope with flood: reduce damage and risk.
- The Water Information System (WIS) upgraded and it includes a platform for exchange of data among water agencies.
- The set of non-structural measures in Vrbas River Basin implemented in 13 municipalities, through 21 realized projects in total value of 1.600.000,00€.
- Developed and distributed guidance document for local and entity level on: Spatial planning and zoning in accordance to flood risk
- Established Flood Forecasting and Early Warning System (FFEWS) which is in testing phase for the Vrbas Basin.
Contact:
Raduska Cupać, Project Manager, UNDP, raduska.cupac@undp.org