Ecosystem-Based Approach for Flood Risk Reduction in Bulgaria

Floods in many cases appear as natural phenomenon which is beneficial for the natural environment. Nevertheless, as human society is part of the natural environment it is therefore exposed and susceptible to flood hazard. Floods are seen as damage to the socio-economic activity on one hand, but on the other it is the latter that exacerbates the risk of floods. Our society constantly changes the land use and this appears to be one of the factors for an increase in flood risk. Ecosystem-based approach for flood risk management is a fast growing notion in the field of disaster risk reduction. During the last decade even more research has been done in this field with emerging interest in the applicability of natural measures for flood risk reduction, as they also have multiple benefits such as reducing soil erosion, purification of water and groundwater recharge and can be implemented in different parts of the watershed, i.e. forests, urban areas or agricultural lands. The aim of this paper is to present the opportunities for the implementation of natural water retention measures in Bulgaria with particular focus in agricultural lands