Waterproof

For centuries, the Dutch have been good at keeping the water out using increasingly engineered structures of concrete and steel like the Delta Works. And for years, they’ve exported that technology too.  But times are changing. Macho dikes keep the water out, but they’re terrible for nature and biodiversity. The Dutch are - slowly - discovering that you can work with nature rather than against it. It’s called Nature Based Solutions and they work - in the Netherlands, in Ghana, basically everywhere. And that is why this week’s show is called: Let Nature Do It! We speak with Bregje van Wesenbeeck, who is experimenting with willows and mangroves to see how they stand up to storms. Carel Nobbe of the Blue Deal says: first you have to make sure the people you’re working with are on board. Wetlands ecologist Emmanuel Nii Attram Taye from Ghana is working to save the mangrove forests that protect the coast. For the Netherlands, says Alex Hekman of NL2120, it’s both: Nature-based Solutions are essential, but always in combination with hard infrastructure.  PARTNERS FOR WATER  WATERPROOF ONLINE BREGJE VAN WESENBEECK & DELTARES CAREL NOBBE AND THE BLUE DEAL EMMANUEL NII ATTRAM TAYE AND THE CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION RESEARCHALEX HEKMAN AND NL2020

Waterproof is the six-part Partners for Water podcast that travels the globe sharing uplifting stories about how today’s water crises are being tackled through smart ideas, local knowledge and international partnerships. Hosted by water expert Tracy Metz, Waterproof delves into six crucial water themes with local and international experts, researchers, practitioners and other water professionals. Following each episode, listeners can participate in live meetups with other water professionals to go deeper into the themes. Listen to the trailer and discover what the “Waterproof” podcast is all about.