Havelland-Fläming | Umweltbundesamt

Background and Goals

The "Havelland-Fläming" model region includes 6,700km² in the South West of the state of Brandenburg and borders on Berlin in the North East. It is crossed by two glacial valleys running from North West to South East: the Berlin glacial valley in the North and the Baruth glacial valley in the South. South of the Baruth glacial valley, the hilly and heavily forested Upper Fläming lower moraine tract, rising to up to 200m, forms the region's border with Saxony-Anhalt. In the East, the Upper Fläming descends to the Lower Fläming, which consists of a flat, open agricultural landscape in the South and mainly wooded frontal moraine tracts in the North. The forested Zauche frontal moraine tract extends between the two glacial valleys, and is linked to the large Teltow plateau further East. The semi-natural river landscape of the lower Havel is of major ecological significance.

Objectives of the model project:

The Havelland-Fläming region has many years' experience in communicating global challenges. It has been shown that continuous, user-friendly and high quality information transfer to political decision makers at local level and to interest citizens provides a basis for establishing acceptance of planning activities. It is beneficial that particularly in the very rural parts of the region, medium-term monitoring of weather trends is resulting in a growing interest in climate change adaptation measures.

The basic concept of the Havelland-Fläming model region is that regional planning is a relatively weak stakeholder in Brandenburg and can only play an initiating role in terms of climate change adaptation measures. Therefore, it should limit itself to those issues in which the stakeholders are personally affected. The focus in the region has therefore been on an informal procedure.

In addition to creating a platform for discussion between academics and practitioners on foreseeable regional impacts of climate change and possible actions, there has been a focus on raising awareness among stakeholders and the general public of the challenges presented by climate change. The key elements of this are two sets of guidelines for local authorities and citizens on dealing with extreme weather events (heat and storm damage) and public relations work for the use of weather stations at schools in collaboration with the German Meteorological Office (DWD).

Objectives:

1. Broadening the regional knowledge base;

2. Determination of regional risk structures and need for action: Designation of areas with identifiable risks due to climate change (risk type 1: Areas with a threat of water shortages; risk type 2: Areas at risk of flooding and soil erosion; risk type 3: Areas with a higher probability of storms, heavy rain and freezing rain);

3. Public relations work: Weather monitoring by 6 schools in the region; project presentation by reporting on regional television; creation of guidelines for prevention of damage due to extreme events.

Content time

Research area/region

Participants