Hydrology and earth system sciences · 2018 · 143 citations · 47 references
Natural ResourcesEmergency PlanningEmergency PreparednessDisaster PreparednessFlood Risk ManagementRisk AnalysisFlood Control EngineeringFlood GovernanceFlood Hazard MitigationFlood Risk AssessmentFlood Risk ReductionStructural Flood ProtectionFlood Control ReservoirsFlood Mitigation PolicyFlood Risk Mitigation MeasuresFlood Risk Reduction PoliciesInterdisciplinary Research StrategyResearch Agenda SettingStructural Flood ControlStructural Flood Defenses
Abstract. One common approach to cope with floods is the implementation of structural flood protection measures, such as levees or flood-control reservoirs, which substantially reduce the probability of flooding at the time of implementation. Numerous scholars have problematized this approach. They have shown that increasing the levels of flood protection can attract more settlements and high-value assets in the areas protected by the new measures. Other studies have explored how structural measures can generate a sense of complacency, which can act to reduce preparedness. These paradoxical risk changes have been described as levee effect, safe development paradox or safety dilemma. In this commentary, we briefly review this phenomenon by critically analysing the intended benefits and unintended effects of structural flood protection, and then we propose an interdisciplinary research agenda to uncover these paradoxical dynamics of risk.
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ADAPTIVE GOVERNANCE OF SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
Carl Folke, Thomas P. Hahn, Per Olsson et al. · Annual Review of Environment and Resources · 2005 · 5.5K citations · Full text