Flood resilience strategy: consultation

Annex A: Glossary/Definitions

Adaptation Scotland Programme

Adaptation Scotland is a programme initiated by the Scottish Government to address the challenges posed by climate change. It focuses on enhancing Scotland’s resilience and preparedness for the impacts of a changing climate.

Annual Average Damages (AADs)

Annual average damages (AADs) are the theoretical average economic damages caused by flooding when considered over a very long period of time. It does not mean that level of damage will occur every year: in many years there will be no damages, in some years minor damages and in a few years major damages may occur.

Biodiversity

Short for biological diversity. The number and types of plants and animals that exist in a particular area. Biodiversity is central to all of our lives and it is now very widely accepted that biodiversity is in crisis, both globally and in Scotland.

Biodiversity strategy to 2045: tackling the nature emergency

Blue and green infrastructure

The combination of blue and green infrastructure.

Blue infrastructure

Water environment features within the natural and built environments that provide a range of ecosystem services. Blue features include rivers, lochs, wetlands, canals, other water courses, ponds, coastal and marine areas including beaches, porous paving, sustainable urban drainage systems and raingardens.

Green infrastructure

Features or spaces within the natural and built environments that provide a range of ecosystem services.

Blue and green drainage networks

Connected areas of blue and green infrastructure, sustainable drainage systems and open space, that together form an integrated drainage system. These work side-by-side with manmade drainage infrastructure such as roads drainage and sewer systems to improve the drainage of urban areas to reduce flooding.

Catchment

The area of land and the water collected in it, especially the collection of rainfall over a natural drainage area. For example, a river catchment is the area of land drained by a river and all its tributaries. The catchment area may include hill slopes and floodplains, lochs, forests, agricultural fields and urban areas.

ClimateXChange

Scotland’s centre of expertise on climate change.

ClimateXChange | Scotland's centre of expertise on climate change

Coastal Erosion

More Information about coastal erosion can be found at Dynamic Coast.

Community Flood Resilience Group(s)

Local groups reflecting the interests of their communities. these differ from area to area, depending on the particular issues faced by communities. Scottish Flood Forum provide help and ongoing support to such groups in flood risk areas.

Improving Flood Resilience Through Community Action - SFF

Edinburgh’s Water Vision

The City of Edinburgh Council’s long-term and sustainable approach to river, coastal and storm water management across the city and its environs, respecting its unique historic heritage. It involves all stakeholders with the aim of addressing the flooding and water quality risks associated with our changing climate as a result of changes in rainfall and sea level rise.

Edinburgh’s Water Vision – Planning Edinburgh

Edzell Flood Group

A local flood action group set up by residents in Edzell in Angus. The group works together as a community to reduce the flooding impacts in Edzell.

Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about the assessment and sustainable management of flood risks, including provision for implementing European Parliament and Council Directive 2007/60/EC; to make provision about local authorities' and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's functions in relation to flood risk management; to amend the Reservoirs Act 1975; and for connected purposes.

Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009

Flooding in Scotland – Who does what?

The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 allocates clear roles and responsibilities for managing flood risk in Scotland, in which we work in partnership with SEPA, local authorities, Scottish Water and other responsible authorities including the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority and Cairngorms National Park Authority.

Floodline

Floodline provides live flooding information and advice on how to prepare for or cope with the impacts of flooding 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Floodline | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Greenspace

Space, other than agricultural land, which serves or could serve a recreational or an amenity function for the public, or provides aesthetic value to the public including

parks, gardens, playing fields, children’s play areas, woods and other natural areas, grassed areas, cemeteries and allotments, green corridors like paths, disused railway lines, rivers and canals, derelict, vacant and contaminated land which has the potential to be transformed.

Just Transition

Is how we secure a fairer, greener future for all by working in partnership to deliver fairness and tackle inequality and injustice.

Large flood protection structures

Larger flood protection schemes for urban areas are delivered by local authorities under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009.

An example is the recently completed Stonehaven flood protection scheme.

Stonehaven Flood Protection Scheme - Aberdeenshire Council

Make space for water

The process of understanding where water will naturally go and considering how we can make space for it. Making space for water is particularly useful in terms of increasing our flood resilience by reducing our exposure to flooding.

Masterplanning

Strategic planning for an area proposed to be regenerated or changed in order to meet a perceived challenge or strategic need.

Multiple benefits

In the context of flood resilience, multiple benefits refers to the actions we take to make places more flood resilient that also deliver other benefits for communities. For example, natural flood management can improve flood resilience, habitat, biodiversity, increase green space in our towns and cities, and contribute to our health and well-being.

National Standards for Community Engagement

The National Standards for Community Engagement are good-practice principles designed to improve and guide the process of community engagement.

National Standards for Community Engagement | SCDC - We believe communities matter

Natural flood management (NFM)

Using natural processes to reduce the risk of flooding. These measures protect, restore, and mimic the natural functions of catchments, floodplains and the coast to slow and store water and dissipate wave energy.

NFM measures can include soil and land management, river and floodplain management, woodland management, run-off management and coast and estuary management.

Place-based approach

A place-based approach is about understanding the issues, interconnections and relationships in a place and coordinating action and investment to improve the quality of life for that community.

Place Based Approaches | Our Place

Placemaking

The process of creating good quality places that promotes people’s health, happiness and wellbeing. It concerns the environment in which we live; the people that inhabit these spaces; and the quality of life that comes from the interaction of people and their surroundings. Placemaking is a collaborative approach involving the design and development of places over time, with people and communities central to the process.

Public body

A formally established organisation that is publicly funded to deliver a public or government service.

Raingarden

A garden that lies below the level of its surroundings, designed to absorb rainwater that runs off from a surface such as a patio or roof.

Run-off

This refers to water running across a surface before it enters a drain or watercourse. For example, during heavy rainfall more water may fall onto a field than can soak into the soil. The water that can’t soak in will run off.

Scotland’s Flood Risk Management Plans

Are Scotland’s route map for increasing community flood resilience. They are key to Scotland’s health, wellbeing and economic success, with an estimated 284,000 homes, businesses and services identified as at risk of flooding. The plans are also an important response to the climate emergency, as the number of homes businesses and services at risk of flooding are projected to increase by an estimated 110,000 by the 2080s. SEPA leads Scotland’s flood risk management planning process. The plans outline the long-term ambition for increasing flood resilience by setting objectives and identifying actions.

Flood Risk Management Plans | SEPA

Scotland’s National Planning Framework 4

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) is Scottish Government’s national spatial strategy for Scotland. It sets out spatial principles, regional priorities, national developments and national planning policy.

Supporting documents - National Planning Framework 4

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Scotland's national flood forecasting, flood warning and strategic flood risk management authority.

Flooding | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Scottish Flood Forum

The Scottish Flood Forum is an independent organisation which supports individuals and communities at risk from flooding.

The Scottish Flood Forum - Supporting Flood Risk Communities

Scottish National Adaptation Plan 3

The climate adaptation plan for Scotland covering the period 2024-2029. Currently in draft form, this document was available for public consultation between 31 January and 24 April 2024.

Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space

Scottish and Southern Energy Networks Resilient Communities Fund

Scottish and Southern Energy Networks Resilient Communities Fund's core aim is to help communities become more resilient in the face of storms, severe weather and prolonged power interruptions.

Resilient Communities Fund - SSEN

Sniffer

Sniffer is an organisation helping Scotland get ready for the impacts of climate change by raising awareness of climate risks and opportunities and creating catalysts for collaborative action through the Adaptation Scotland Programme.

Sniffer

Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)

Are a natural approach to managing drainage in and around properties and developments. They work by slowing and holding back water that runs off from a site. They help manage and control surface water.

Sustainable drainage (susdrain.org)

Transport and utility organisations

This includes road and rail, ports and harbours, electricity, gas and water service providers.

Water body

Is a certain, clearly distinguishable part of surface water, such as the sea, a loch, a pond, a wetland, a stream, river or a part of a stream or river.

Water butt

A container for storing rainwater which can then be used to water gardens or clean driveways etc.

Watercourse

A natural or artificial channel through which water flows. This could be a river, canal etc.