Building back better after devastating floods in Germany
After deadly floods devastated Germany’s Ahr Valley in 2021, reconstruction is focused on resilience rather than simply restoring what was lost. Five years after 135 people were killed and billions of euros in damage occurred, authorities are widening riverbanks, redesigning bridges, and restoring natural floodplains.
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Local officials have even bought riverside land to turn it back into green overflow zones planted with trees and shrubs. At the same time, a network of 17 dams is planned to better manage extreme rainfall and reduce future risk.
Read theGermany’s Ahr Valley: Rebuilding better after deadly flood
Turning wastewater into drinking water in a hotter world
While some regions are dealing with too much water, others are running out. Cities in drought-prone areas are increasingly turning wastewater into safe drinking water and capturing stormwater to replenish underground aquifers.
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Researchers at the Technical University of Munich are also developing smarter storage systems to hold water more efficiently. What was once considered a last-resort solution is quickly becoming a reliable way to keep water supplies stable in a hotter, drier world.
Read the: Running dry: How to store more groundwater for dry seasons
Tourists help with endangered sea turtle conservation
Not all solutions rely on large infrastructure projects — some depend on everyday people.
In marine conservation on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, tourists are being trained as citizen scientists to help protect endangered sea turtles.
Snorkelers are taught to observe without disturbing the animals and use cameras to document their unique facial markings. These images allow researchers to identify individual turtles and better understand their behavior, health, and habitats over time.
Edited by: Sarah Steffen
