A recently published project funded by the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) has shown that Scotland’s coastal habitats, such as kelp forests and seagrass beds, could play a bigger role in protecting communities from flooding and erosion.
Restoring river woodlands, trees and forests alongside rivers, streams and lochs, is gaining momentum across Scotland. These habitats are vital for improving water quality, reducing flood and drought risks, supporting biodiversity, and boosting community wellbeing. Yet over half of Scotland’s riverbanks are in poor condition, and efforts to restore them still face major challenges.
River woodlands (RW) play a crucial role in protecting river ecosystems, for example by reducing flooding, storing carbon, filtering pollution, and benefiting local communities. However, nearly 55% of surveyed riverbank in Scotland show poor RW health. This highlights a need for RW restoration. While RW initiatives like Riverwoods are gaining traction, scaling them up remains challenging. In 2022, Riverwoods conducted a review of existing research on RW benefits, identifying 60 key knowledge gaps.
Coastal flooding and erosion are increasing problems around the Scottish coastline resulting from climatic changes such as increased storm frequency and intensity, as well as rising sea levels. These pose risks to human life, infrastructure and properties, with negative consequences for the national economy.
Gaining a greater understanding of how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning could support better prediction, communication, and management of flood risks across Scotland over the coming years is a key priority.
Title: Natural Capital and River Basin Management Planning: Protecting and Improving Scotland’s Water Environment
Type of project: Capacity Building Project.
Welcome to our new quarterly CREW newsletter, CREW NEWS!
In this spring edition we’re reminding you of our current calls for proposals, highlighting completed projects and feeding back from our project evaluation forms. As it’s our first edition we’ve also included a refresher on ‘who we are and what we do’ and there’s a letter from our comms officer detailing some favourite moments from her first year in post.
We’d love to hear what you’d be interested in reading in future issues of CREW NEWS.
Type of project: Capacity Building
Aim: The overall aim of this project is to prioritise the research and development (R&D) gap opportunities identified in the Riverwoods evidence review for creating healthy and resilient river systems through improved riparian and floodplain management in Scotland, and identify opportunities to address these gaps to enable investment in new and extended river woodlands, and improved/restored riverscape environments.
Project Status: Project in progress
Type of project: Capacity Building Project
Overview: CREW invites proposals for a c. 9-month capacity building project to produce practical guidance for Scottish farmers and growers on how to effectively plan for water scarcity and manage water efficiently for irrigation, to increase resilience to water scarcity.
Budget: Funding available: £88,000 exclusive of VAT (where applicable).
Project Status: Project in procurement.
Research led by The James Hutton Institute, in collaboration with Scotland’s Rural College, the University of Aberdeen, and the British Geological Survey, highlights the increasing threat of water scarcity in Scotland due to climate change. Recently published in The Geographer (Winter 2024 edition, Adaption: Are we ready? And how far is it possible to adapt?), the study examines the potential impact on agriculture and distilleries.