In  collaboration  with  BPEC  and  B&H  Council      ‘’Flood  risk  management  and  the  public  engagement  process  in  Sussex  as  a  local  case  study’’    Flooding   is  becoming  a  more  serious  environmental,  economical  and  social  issue  in  many  countries  and  in  particular  in  the  South-­‐east  of  England.  This  project   has   the   final   scope   to   increase   local   knowledge,   create   awareness  and   discussion   on   a   Workshop   basis,   experiment   alternative   engagement  tools.  Landowners  and  communities  must  be  empowered,  as  by  working  with  the   local  Authorities  and  professionals  could  provide  an   important  support  on  flood  risk  management.  This  pilot  study  aims  to  define  a  practical  benefit  for  all.                            

                           The   idea  of   this  pilot   study  project  has  been   inspired  by   the  research  project   I  have  been  conducted   last  summer   for  my  Master  degree   in  Environmental  and  assessment  Management  course  in  Brighton  University.  The  proposal  of  this  pilot  study  was  also  supported  after  a  consultation  meeting  in   Utrecht   University   earlier   in   January   2016   with   Dr.   Dries   Hegger,   who   is  currently   involved   in   a   EU   project   called   FP7   STAR-­‐FLOOD;   a   key   research  question   that   came   up   from   the   discussion  with  Dr  Hegger  was   the   following:  what   is   the   lack   in  practice   and   in   scientific   knowledge   in   the   context   of   flood  risk  management.    

Therefore,   there   is   gap  between   (normative)   statement  of   official   papers,   legal  requirements  and  the  reality  in  practice’  according  to  Evers  (2016).  According  to  the  same  author  (Evers,  2009)  socio-­‐technical  approaches  could  help  to  promote  a   ‘   better   understanding   and   handling   of   such   complex   system   as   flood   risk  management   in   a   coherent   and   transparent  management   process  with  mutual  learning’.  

 

From  the  outcomes  of  my  Dissertation  project,  the  discussion  with  the  farmer  outlined  few  priorities  for  local  authorities  to  be  taken  into  account:    

a. Need  for  prevention  with  local  meeting  or  focus  groups;  b. Improvement  of  maintenance  of  land;   c. Engagement  of  landowners  forlocal  ecological  knowledge.  

Therefore,  once  the  community  is  empowered  key  issues  and  strategic  measures  can  define  more  effective  and  long  term  strategic  plans  (Nanci,  2015). As  also  explained  by  Fisher  (2000),  ‘professional  and  ordinary  knowledge  should  be  integrated  together,  as  farmers  can  provide  technical  skills,  but  also  identify  ideas,  perceptions  and  innovative  prospective  on  ecological,  biological  and  geographical  phenomena.’

In  spite  of   this  recent  research,  other  projects  have  been  already  conducted  on  this  topic.    1. Coastal  Community  2150  (CC2150,  2011-­‐2014)  was  an   international  project  

plan,  as  part  of  PRiME-­‐C  platform,  that  was  experimented  between  2008  and  2013  in  UK,  France,  Belgium  and  Netherlands,  in  order  to  improve  the  public  participation   and   awareness  methodologies   for   adapting   to   climate   change  and  identify  where  gaps  and  limitations  need  to  be  solved  (Nanci,  2015);  the  Atelier  Workshop  was  an  interesting  platform  of  discussion  between  groups  and  stakeholders  on  adapting  to  climate  change  issues.  

2. FLOODsite  (2002-­‐2006)  was  an  ‘’integrated    Project’’  in  the  Global  Change  and  Ecosystems   priority   of   the   Sixth   Framework   Programme   of   the   European  Commission;  as  an  active  educational  project  it  aimed  to  investigate  the  role  of  the  public  and  improve  flood  risk  awareness  and  perception.  

 The   following   Fig,1   shows   the   key   methodologies   used   for   delivering  FLOODsite  project.      Figure  1.  Methodological  approach  of  task  11  (elmholtz  Centre  for  Environmental  Research  –  UFZ,  2009)  

       

         

         However,  for  all  these  reasons  this  pilot  project  aims  to  increase  knowledge,  awareness  and  discussion  on  the  topic,  by  producing,  on  one  side,  an  online  blog   and,   on   the   other   side,   a   series   of   focus   group/consultation  meetings.  The   final   outcomes   of   this   study   could   be   the   improvement   of   strategic  collaborations   on   flood   risk   management   and   the   creation   of   a   practical  common   agenda   for   stakeholders   and   the   community   in   flood   risk  prevention.                    The  objectives  that  can  deliver  this  aim  could  be  listed  below:  

 I. IDENTIFY  issues  and  evidences  on  the  need  to  improve  flood  risk  

management  and  public  engagement  through  blogs,  academic  research  and  internet  (step1)  

II. SELECT  a  series  of  group  representatives  among  EA,  Trusts,  local  community,  businesses  or  landowners,  Council  for  creating  a  focus  group/consultation  meeting  trial  (step  2)  

III. EXPERIMENT  and  DISCUSS  alternative  engagement  tools  through  blog  discussion  and  focus  groups  (step  3)  

IV. CONDUCT  a  literature  review  research  on  the  following  topics:  collaborative  modelling,  participatory  governance,  socio/technical  tools,  sustainable  flood  risk  management,  social  learning  (to  support  a  potential  PHD  proposal  or  a  publication  report)  

 I  believe  that  two  levels  of  outcome  could  be  identified  at  this  stage:  A. Review  PUBLIC  engagement  tools  and  identify  new  alternatives  methodologies;  B. Discuss  strategies  on  flood  risk  management  between  stakeholders  and  the  

community.  In   fact,   alternatives  methods   of   public   engagement   could   be   experimented,   in  collaboration  with  BPEC,   such   as  Theatre   or   Festival   Events.   In   accordance   to  Nisker   (2006)   theatre   could   be   an   innovative   tool   for   public   engagement   in  health-­‐policy   development.   As   stated  by   the   same   author,   ‘theatre can engage large numbers of citizens of diverse perspectives, emotionally and cognitively, in a fair manner that promotes their informed opinions on the policy issue under consideration’.  

   

A  general  idea  of  the  project  timeline  is  presented  in  Table  1  and  2  below.  

    February   March   April   May  

Every  participant  

Proposal  Plan,  Consultation  and  first  

Start  of  the  project:    Mailing  list  or  participant  confirmed    Plan  the  blog  structure    

Reading  and  upload  docs    Research  case  studies,  update  blog      

Workshop  with  community      Update  blog  …      

Myself   Feedback,  research  for  grant  or  fund  

Monthly  meeting/  update  

Report  1  (on  the  blog)  

Monthly  meeting/update    Training  for  Facilitator  (The  SureFoot  Effect)    Plan  final  report    

       

June   July   August  

Consultation  1  (*)  Trial    Update  blog          

Consultation  2              

Consultation  3  (if  necessary)      OPEN  DAY  in  public  space,  workshop,    

Report  2  (on  Consultation)        Read/  Write  1  final  report  

Facilitator  with  BPEC            Write  2/revise  final  report  

FINAL  REPORT  with  other  docs  included  

 Table  1.2.  Timeline  proposal  for  the  project  pilot  study  and  key  steps  

 In  conclusion  I  also  believe  that  the  outcomes  of  this  project  could  suggest  benefits  for  both  the  communities  along  river  Ouse  (e.i.  Lewes,  NewHaven,  Seaford)  and  Brighton  &Hove,  as  listed  below.      

Improve  public  awareness  and  increase  local  knowledge  on  flood  risk  management  and  prevention  

Create  local  networking  between  community  and  key  stakeholders,    Support  long  term  action  plan  on  flood  risk  management  for  South  East  of  

England  

Experiment  a  pilot  project  for  the  benefit  of  the  community