Preventing/mitigating water and mudflows and floods in urbanized mountainous hydrological catchments through avoidance of deforestation of critical tree covered locations and afforestation of critical tree-less locations

Reducing the risks and alleviating the impacts of extreme meteorological events in urban contexts have become increasingly important. Trees and forests have proven to have protective effects when their locations and species are determined based on sensible technical and multi-dimensional scientific evidence. This project will further elaborate methods and tools that have been developed in the past, to contribute to appropriate urban forest planning. The focus is on urban areas in mountainous regions and is new. These tools will be introduced to stakeholders and decision makers to help them determine the forest areas of which deforestation should be avoided and the presently tree-less areas to be afforested with a view to mitigate the risks for and damage of dangerous water and sediment flows and imminent floods.