Objective

Protect against natural rockfall hazards.

Description

Knowing rockfall activity in the past, identifying the hazards, reducing existing risks, increasing adaptability through carefully planned regeneration of the forest species, or positioned rockfall warning signs; planned designation of building measures; localised protection modifying terrain deposition of rock and soil at the side adjacent to the slope; planned emergency plan; utilization of  rockfall protection systems (hexagonal, gabion mesh, twisted cables, soil embankments); monitoring.

Expected results

Determining the effect of the forest and other biological protection measures and taking them into account accurately in hazard protection projects. This method aims to evaluate the forest protection functions against natural hazards or the need for implementing technical protective measures (i.e. barriers or nets) to prevent from rockfall damages.

Result indicators

Number of preserved rockfalls
Limitation of damage [€]

Involved actors

Public administration, landslide experts, office for forest and natural hazards, office for civil engineering.

Expected timeline for action

• Short term (1-4 years)
• Medium term (5-10 years)
• Long term (> 10 years)

Best practices

• Engadin Region – Switzerland
• Switzerland
• Spain

Criticalities

The role of protection forest services against natural hazards such as avalanches, landslides and debris flows, are rather difficult to assess and quantify; data are not available in every location.

Scope of the action

• Adaptation

Type of proposed actions

• Grey
• Green

Sector of action

• Biodiversity / Conservation of ecosystems
• Coastal management
• Public health
• Transport and infrastructure
• Urban settlement
• Other

Climate impacts

• Change or loss of biodiversity
• Coastal erosion
• Drought
• Extreme precipitation
• Extreme temperatures
• Floods
• Other

Implementation scale

• Municipality
• Region / Country

Source

https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/data-and-downloads/