Although society tends to have a short memory for natural disasters, we still vividly remember August 2002 when half of Europe was inundated by flooding and Whitsuntide 1999 when major damage was caused throughout the Alps by landslides and mudflows. The countries of the Alpine space are confronted with similar problems and challenges in many respects, such as a shortage of building land, high population densities on a seasonal basis, and the ubiquitous threat of natural hazards. The situation is exacerbated by the findings of climatologists who are predicting a clear increase in extreme precipitation events in the years to come. It is all the more meaningful, therefore, to find and implement common solutions.

In response to these facts, the EU Interreg IIIb Alpine Space Programme has been established to provide the funding needed to pursue new approaches. Measure 3 in Priority 3 makes explicit reference to the subject of natural hazards, which are listed as a specific objective. The :nab Project – Natural Potential of Alpine Regions fully meets these specifications and was approved in 2003 with the highest possible rating.
Protection against natural hazards for the population and infrastructure is to be achieved by sharing information and methods, and by developing and implementing common measures (risk analysis, consolidation of protection forests, prediction and monitoring of natural hazard processes, strategy development and action plans for risk reduction).

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Objectives:
Data evaluated on a transdisciplinary basis and the use of new tools will provide a valuable foundation for the prevention of natural hazards.

• Enhanced transdisciplinary collaboration for the reduction of natural hazards in the Alpine space
• Optimisation of natural hazard evaluation processes in catchments, and derivation of scenarios and protection measures
• Standardised site modelling procedure for protection forests, and development of management plans for alpine protection forests (site map, including site description and silvicultural manual)
• Blue-print for natural space management (including management plans and action plans) for enhanced analysis and prevention
• Establishment of a Web-based information system for the authorities involved and a communication strategy for heightened hazard awareness

Background:

The common answer to problems with emphasis on regional evaluation of natural hazards potential was practised successfully with the EFRE Art. 10 Project “EGAR” (1998-2001) and a deepening is recommended (Handbook of good Practices).
This successful road is to be enhanced with the project “:nab”.

Intended Activities and Results:

• Improvement of interdisciplinary collaboration and coordination as well as a common enhancement of methods and instruments for risk mitigation of natural hazards.
• Optimisation of standardised, transnationally harmonised evaluation methods of slope- and trench-processes as well as transportation processes in catchment areas at regional and local level and deduction of scenarios and protection measures.
• Laminar, standardised and transnationally harmonised evaluation of actual site circumstances and the potential vegetation in test areas (site modelling procedures), elaboration of a practice handbook, as well as the development of reconciled management plans (catalogue of target types) for the recordation and process oriented cultivation of protection forests.
• Minimisation of utilisation conflicts – conception and build-up of a nature area management (including management plans and measure planning)
• Setup of a internet-based information system for the involved departments and as basis for the dissemination of results.

Overall expenditure for the project „:nab“

Due to the participation of 8 partners and the EU, a considerable financial scope could be provided. This is precondition for a successful realisation of the “:nab”-project.
Total amount for the project duration 2003-2006 (4 years): 1,450.000 €

Partners:

• Office of the Provincial Government of Tyrol
• Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water
• Forest Technical Service for Torrent and Avalanche Control – Section Tyrol
• Forest service South Tyrol
• Bavarian State Institute for Forests and Forestry
• State Office for Water Management Bavaria
• Torrent and Avalanche control Slovenia
• Schweizer Gebirgswaldpflegegruppe
• Region Lombardy