are missing at the federal level in Belgium which might be a reason why the
Flemish region favours the centralized and less bottom-up approach. The Flanders
level is the highest scale policy level at which the main objectives and strategies for
water management are developed and at the same time the implementation of
activities are covered.
The moderate supportive but partially restrictive governance setting can—if also
in a limited manner—support the motivation, cognitions and resources of actors for
implementing drought activities. Most actions are taken by VMM as Environmental
Agency at the Flanders level which wants to push the topic but is also relying on a
strong strategic vision still to be developed. Further bottom-up measures are taken
by individual actors such as farmers who are installing water basins at their
properties. So, motivation can be recognized partially in some actor groups.
Resources are only available partially. Activities are relying on research money
coming from external institutions such as the European Commission. The search for
resources is taken on a case-by-case basis.
It can be summarized that Flanders is at an early stage of establishing drought
resilience measures. First activities, e.g. by VMM, are starting and are initiating
further motivation and processes. Water scarcity and drought is integrated in some
general water management strategic documents.
7.5.2 Increasing Awareness for Droughts
Essential for further development of drought activities in Flanders seems to be an
increase of awareness in different actor’s groups, especially the groups which do
not incorporate the risk in their operations. The most important audiences would be
intermediaries and multipliers, such as farming associations or energy industry
associations. The awareness should also be raised slowly so that in case of a
drought event, at least a low media attention exists. Interviewees suggested that
water pricing for actors, other than the broad public, is an important tool to increase
awareness for resource scarcity. Awareness and additionally more involvement can
also be increased if the flexibility to include stakeholders in the planning processes
(especially selection, prioritization and calibration of measure) can be increased.
Some interviewees suggested they see their involvement in current planning processes as occurring too late in the process. In other DROP case study areas (e.g. in
the areas of the two Dutch pilots), authorities have had very positive experiences
with strongly participatory approaches. The existing Flemish approach is focused
on using models to make a scientific case for drought actions. It would seem
valuable to expand VMM’s strategy to include additional approaches, e.g. use of
pilot measures, demonstration projects, showcasing actions, best-practice exchange
schemes, and working more strongly in network-building and improving relationships with actors. Interviews showed significant potential to expand risk communication and information exchange to different economic sectors, with the objective
to integrate drought risks and planning into private actors’ activities. They could,
7 Flanders: Regional Organization of Water and Drought …
155
Flemish region favours the centralized and less bottom-up approach. The Flanders
level is the highest scale policy level at which the main objectives and strategies for
water management are developed and at the same time the implementation of
activities are covered.
The moderate supportive but partially restrictive governance setting can—if also
in a limited manner—support the motivation, cognitions and resources of actors for
implementing drought activities. Most actions are taken by VMM as Environmental
Agency at the Flanders level which wants to push the topic but is also relying on a
strong strategic vision still to be developed. Further bottom-up measures are taken
by individual actors such as farmers who are installing water basins at their
properties. So, motivation can be recognized partially in some actor groups.
Resources are only available partially. Activities are relying on research money
coming from external institutions such as the European Commission. The search for
resources is taken on a case-by-case basis.
It can be summarized that Flanders is at an early stage of establishing drought
resilience measures. First activities, e.g. by VMM, are starting and are initiating
further motivation and processes. Water scarcity and drought is integrated in some
general water management strategic documents.
7.5.2 Increasing Awareness for Droughts
Essential for further development of drought activities in Flanders seems to be an
increase of awareness in different actor’s groups, especially the groups which do
not incorporate the risk in their operations. The most important audiences would be
intermediaries and multipliers, such as farming associations or energy industry
associations. The awareness should also be raised slowly so that in case of a
drought event, at least a low media attention exists. Interviewees suggested that
water pricing for actors, other than the broad public, is an important tool to increase
awareness for resource scarcity. Awareness and additionally more involvement can
also be increased if the flexibility to include stakeholders in the planning processes
(especially selection, prioritization and calibration of measure) can be increased.
Some interviewees suggested they see their involvement in current planning processes as occurring too late in the process. In other DROP case study areas (e.g. in
the areas of the two Dutch pilots), authorities have had very positive experiences
with strongly participatory approaches. The existing Flemish approach is focused
on using models to make a scientific case for drought actions. It would seem
valuable to expand VMM’s strategy to include additional approaches, e.g. use of
pilot measures, demonstration projects, showcasing actions, best-practice exchange
schemes, and working more strongly in network-building and improving relationships with actors. Interviews showed significant potential to expand risk communication and information exchange to different economic sectors, with the objective
to integrate drought risks and planning into private actors’ activities. They could,
7 Flanders: Regional Organization of Water and Drought …
155