Integrating community knowledge and ecosystem values into flood risk management: insights from the Tagliamento river, northeastern italy

This study examines how community engagement, historical knowledge, and risk perception can inform participatory and ecosystem-based flood risk management, focusing on the Tagliamento River, the last free-flowing Alpine river in Europe. Using a mixed-methods approach encompassing surveys, interviews, participatory mapping, and historical and flood risk analysis, we investigate local perceptions of flood risks and river socio-cultural values. Results reveal a strong desire to preserve the river’s natural state while reducing risk, alongside persistent gaps in public communication, awareness and preparedness. Also, critical analyses of historical events, combined with local and bottom-up knowledge, reveal how communities have adapted to river dynamics over time, uncovering ecosystem-based strategies that can guide future multi-hazard planning and support more informed decision-making.  The recently established Tagliamento Living Lab builds on this experience, providing a platform for collaborative, evidence-based approaches that bring together academia, grassroots organization and civil society to bridge past experiences and contemporary community perspectives. We discuss its scientific foundations and outline the initial scientific considerations for developing a long-term strategy. We also exemplify how scientific communication can support this experience. The research highlights the need to integrate local knowledge, interdisciplinary science, and stakeholder participation into decision-making, showing that long-term disaster risk reduction and river conservation can be jointly pursued through participatory, ecosystem-based strategies, and offering a blueprint for citizen- and stakeholder-centered risk governance.

Acknowledgements: Anna Scaini acknowledges support by Formas - the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development - grant 2022-00329.