Last June the Italian Senate Environment Commission called the Italian Centre for River Restoration for a hearing on a legislative proposal on flood risk prevention. CIRF director Andrea Goltara and president Ileana Schipani had the chance to discuss with senators critical issues for river basin management in Italy and especially to highlight benefits of river restoration for flood risk mitigation.

More details (in Italian) on CIRF website.

Following the release of  beavers into an enclosure in Cwm Einion near Machynlleth, Powys  2 years ago, the Welsh Beaver Project has published a report outlining a proposal to release beavers back into the river valleys of Wales. In an article by the BBC proponents of the project argue that the beavers will cut flood risk and help boost biodiversity. Project co-ordinator Adrian LLoyd Jones told the BBC that beavers are'gentle and effective managers of wetland and river woodland habitat and that beaver dams would help reduce flash floods by slowing down rivers in spate'

TRAP - Territories of Rivers Action Plans

Open Country, a Radio 4 programme dedicated to British wildlife and landscape, takes a look this week at the decline in eel populations in the UK.