Learning from the river: integrating community knowledge and participatory methods to co-create river management strategies

This contribution reflects on the path to incorporating local knowledge and active participation to co-create river management and river-related risk mitigation strategies. These topics are explored through the double lenses of embedded scientists, both working on the Tagliamento and local community members with deep roots in the context of the river Tagliamento, in Italy. 

As part of our scientific approach, we have examined how communities perceive the river in terms of river-related risks, but also as a living entity shaping the landscape and enhancing natural and ecosystemic values. A mixed-method approach was used including surveys, interviews, workshops, participatory mapping, as well as outreach events. Different levels of participation and collective discussions have helped shape the scientific work we have carried out. In particular, historical storylines of villages adapting to the river’s dynamics highlight past ecosystem-based strategies that can inform future planning considering multiple river-related risks and community input in planning. With this contribution we discuss the relevance of a range of co-design and co-creation initiatives, focusing on shared experiences that have focused on creating safe spaces to celebrate personal relationships with the river. We discuss the effectiveness of different workshops, lectures and field-based programs carried out over the last 5 years and directed towards different groups of students, from 9 to 12 years old children to high-school students, to adults. We share what we, and our students, have learned through these experiences.

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