Abstract

ABSTRACT

There is increasing government and public interest in using methods based on natural processes to reduce flooding. The evidence base for natural flood management (NFM) is growing, but still insufficient to be confident about its use on a large-scale. There are a number of economic, social and cultural barriers to implementing NFM. Against this background, the role for landscape architects in implementing NFM projects is considered. Based on the Landscape Institute’s survey of the profession and research in the Netherlands, there may be landscape architects with the planning, spatial and public participation skills that would allow them to take a strategic role in NFM projects. Understanding agri-environmental policy is key to working with farmers and landowners to implement coordinated NFM projects. Post-Brexit changes to agricultural subsidies in the UK present an opportunity to rethink upland land use. By adding knowledge of agrieconomics and agri-environmental policy to existing knowledge and skills, landscape architects can position themselves to take a pivotal role in introducing NFM to rural landscapes. As with all other professionals engaging in NFM, landscape architects should be prepared to work with uncertainty and add to the evidence base.