FORLAND
Hydro-geomorphologic risk in Portugal: driving forces and application for land use planning

Period
June 1, 2016 to November 30, 2019
Duration
42 months
Abstract

The increasing number of hydro-geomorphologic disasters worldwide has been related to the increasing frequency and magnitude of flood and landslide events, as a direct consequence of climate change, but also as a consequence of the increasing exposure of people and assets to disaster risk.


In Portugal floods and landslides are on the top of natural disasters. A recent improvement has been achieved with the gathering of basic information on past floods and landslides that caused social consequences in Portugal for the period 1865-21010 through the DISASTER database.


Until now, the hydro-geomorphological disaster events were not studied in detail to correctly characterize the climatic forcing of hydro-geomorphologic risk in Portugal. The previous analyses of selected case studies were focused on extreme events, which present very different large-scale atmospheric conditions in their genesis.


Understanding the multi-faceted nature of disastrous flood and landslide events occurred in Portugal is a key objective of the FORLAND project as it is decisive for designing and implementing effective adaptation and disaster risk management strategies.

Outcomes

The FORLAND project will provide a toolbox incorporating proactive guidelines for special planning, disaster risk management tool and adaptation strategies to promote disaster risk reduction, based on differentiated municipal risk profiles and involving scientists, regional and local authorities and stakeholders.

Partners

Principal Contractor:

Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território da Universidade de Lisboa (IGOT/Ulisboa)

Participating Institutions:

Direção-Geral do Território (DGT)

Fundação da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, FP (FFC/FC/UL)

Keywords
hydro-geomorphologic risk, climatic forcing, land use change, spatial planning
Funding Entity
Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology