The Ecologic Institute organised in June 2019 the two-day Future Workshop of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) on Floodplains and River Development as Future Tasks for Departmental Research.

The BfN introduced the instrument of future workshops in 2015 in order to determine and discuss medium- and long-term research needs in selected topic areas on an annual basis. The main target is the exchange between research institutions, operators and users of research results with the specialist departments of the BfN.

The BfN Future Workshop 2019 focused on flowing waters and floodplain-related research fields:

• Multifunctionality and ecosystem services of floodplains
• River and floodplain development in the planning process - moving towards blue-green infrastructure
• Water development in urban areas

Following introductory presentations, the topics were intensively discussed in three parallel World Cafés. The future workshop was moderated by Ina Krüger of the Ecologic Institute.