Floodplain Preservation as a Nature Based Strategy for Flood Risk Mitigation: A Global Comparative Analysis
Independent Researcher, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Review
Open Access Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2025, 09(02), 001-006.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjet.2025.9.2.0084
Publication history:
Received on 02 September 2025; revised on 08 October 2025; accepted on 10 October 2025
Abstract:
Flooding represents a persistent and intensifying hazard for communities globally, driven by climate change, urbanization, and the degradation of ecosystems that naturally buffer flood impacts. Floodplain preservation is increasingly recognized as a key nature‑based solution offering both hydrological and ecological co‑benefits. This study presents a comparative analysis of floodplain preservation initiatives in five geographic contexts: the Netherlands, the United States, Germany, Bangladesh, and the United Kingdom. Through a structured literature review and cross‑case comparison, the paper assesses the extent to which floodplain preservation reduces flood risk, enhances biodiversity and ecosystem service provision, and contributes to long‑term resilience. Results indicate that while flood attenuation is commonly observed at local to regional scales, effectiveness at broader catchment or basin scales depends critically on the spatial extent of interventions, governance and policy integration, and socio‑economic contexts. Initiatives anchored in robust institutional frameworks—such as the Netherlands’ Room for the River programme—tend to deliver superior outcomes. Nevertheless, challenges including land‑use conflicts, equity concerns, and financing constraints are nontrivial, especially in lower‑income or densely populated settings. We argue that floodplain preservation is most successful when embedded in integrated flood risk management strategies that align environmental, social, and policy goals.
Keywords:
Floodplain Preservation; Nature‑Based Solutions; Flood Mitigation; Integrated Flood Management; Governance; Cross‑Case Analysis
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Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0