It is has been realized with the contribution of the LIFE programme, the European Union’s financial instrument supporting environmental, nature conservation and climate action projects.
The main objective of LIFE FRANCA was to promote a culture of flood risk anticipation and prevention in the Alps through the analysis and modification of collective socio-cultural attitudes, decision-making practices and common perceptions of the environmental risks affecting the territory.
Project title
Flood Risk ANticipation and Communication in the Alps
Acronym
LIFE FRANCA
Duration
Start date: 1 July 2016
End date: 31 dicembre 2019
Cost
Total budget for the project – 1.058.242 Euros
European financial contribution – 630.383 Euros
Flood hazards currently threaten many communities in Trentino, a region with numerous small mountain torrents and large rivers in the valley bottoms.
Thus, flood events in the Province of Trento are not at all rare.
Despite this, there is limited awareness of the risk among the population and proper communication about flood event management is sporadic.
The efficacy of risk prevention and mitigation depends on the participation of all parties involved.
Preparing the population for flood events through a participatory process involving citizens, experts and administrators.
The results of this pilot project will be transferable to other regions, as well as to other natural hazards connected with climate change.
The project partners are:
University of Trento
Department of Sociology and Social Research
Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering
University of Padova
Department of Land and Environment Agriculture and Forestry
Autonomous Province of Trento
Service for Torrent Control
Eastern Alps Hydrographic District
MUSE – Science Museum, Trento
Trilogis Srl
Three experimental study areas have been identified within the Province of Trento: the city of Trento and the Adige River, the town of Borgo Valsugana and the Brenta River, and the Rendena Valley and the Sarca basin. These areas have been selected based on flood hazard characteristics, vulnerability features of the territory and main economic activities (industry, agriculture, tourism).
Trento
The city of Trento is located in a highly urbanised area with a significant population density.
The flood risk originates from the presence of the Adige River and the Fersina Torrent, which flow through areas of the city.
The hydrologic issues of the two waterways are well-known and various flood mitigation structures and artificial basins have been built to contain flow rates and reducing the effects of flooding.
The typical flood of the Adige River is the “liquid flood”, which is characterised by large volumes of water, slow and predictable development and limited sediment transport.
Borgo Valsugana
The town of Borgo Valsugana is located in an urbanised environment. The town centre has a high population density, while the outskirts are less populated with numerous agricultural areas.
The flood hazard is due to the presence of the Brenta River, which flows through the town, as well as to the sediments transported by torrents located uphill (e.g. the Boali).
Several mitigation structures have been built to contain flow rates and regulate solid transport, both in the town and in the mountain network.
The hydrologic issues of the area are known and well-researched. The area is affected by events that develop rapidly and unpredictably, involving large volumes of water and an extensive territory.
Rendena Valley
The Rendena Valley, in particular the municipalities of Strembo and Bocenago, is immersed in a rural, mountain landscape.
The village centres have a low population density and the land is primarily used for agricultural activities.
The local flood hazard is connected with the presence of several minor waterways in the Sarca Torrent drainage basin, including Valle dell’Acqua, Rio Val di Pach and other torrents.
Several mitigation structures have been built to regulate sediment transport in the torrents and new structures may be added over the next years.
The floods that characterize this basin have significant solid material transport, are impulsive and hard to forecast, and have a high potential for damage but limited spatial extent.
The main actions of the project are:
Data
Collection, analysis and reorganisation of available flood risk data in Trentino.
Scenarios and Focus Groups
Production of strategic scenarios to evaluate the impact of potential flood events, starting in the experimental study areas identified in the Province of Trento.
Focus groups will be used to involve the public in preparedness exercises that simulate future flood scenarios.
Portal
Construction of an innovative online flood risk portal that provides a reference for anyone seeking information on hydrogeological conditions in the Trentino region.
The portal will be updated by employees of the Autonomous Province of Trento, but any citizen will be able to bring to attention anomalies observed in the region.
Professional training
Organisation of seminars for specialists, administrators and journalists to improve skills relating to handling and communicating regional hazards to the public.
Education and dissemination
Organisation of workshops, activities and educational outings for students and training courses for teachers.
Creation of travelling exhibitions, guided tours, conferences and meetings for the public in the informal setting of Science Café events.
Networking
Creation of a network of relationships and collaborations with other stakeholders, organisations and associations that are not project partners but have an interest in its results, like neighbouring regions, different drainage basin authorities, the Ministry of the Environment, environmental associations, insurance companies, etc.
Exchange of information with other LIFE projects promoting awareness of climate change-related hazards.
