Ousewem is building an evidence base that helps investors, funders and policy makers understand what catchment-scale natural flood management (NFM) can delivery. Combining advanced modelling with practical delivery across the Swale, Ure, Nidd and Upper Ouse (SUNO) catchments, Ousewem improves confidence in NFM as part of a wider flood resilience system.
Understanding the case for NFM
Across the SUNO catchment, approximately 8,000 residential properties, 2,400 non-residential properties and 3,000 properties in York are at risk of flooding from the River Ouse. Understanding how catchment-scale land management can contribute to reducing that risk – and what the evidence actually shows – is central to Ousewem’s work.
Measuring what matters
Knowing what NFM delivers requires the right evidence – and agreeing what to measure is itself part of that work. Ousewem is working with researchers at the University of York, practitioners, policy makers and funders to develop a practical, standardised set of indicators that can show NFM’s impact consistently across projects and funding models – covering flood risk reduction, soil health, biodiversity, carbon sequestration and water quality. That shared evidence base is what makes long-term investment decisions well founded.
What Ousewem offers investors and policy makers
Modelling confidence – Ousewem’s modelling work identifies where NFM is most likely to be effective providing a more reliable evidence base for investment and policy decisions. This includes being clear about confidence ranges and the limits of catchment-scale interventions
Informing policy and strategy – Ousewem shares its learning with Defra, the Environment Agency, local authorities and more, supporting more evidence-led decision-making at regional and national level
Green finance and natural capital - Ousewem is exploring how biodiversity net gain (BNG) and environmental land management (ELM) schemes and other green finance mechanisms can support long-term investment in NFM at catchment scale.
Preparing for continuation – in 2026, Ousewem is focused on governance, evidence consolidation and investment readiness, building the foundations for long-term, fundable flood resilience beyond the current programme
Green finance and NFM
Public finance along cannot deliver flood resilience at the scale needed. Ousewem is exploring how green finance mechanisms cold help bring sustain private investment into nature-based solutions across York and North Yorkshire. The potential is real.
Ousewem is building the evidence, governance and partnerships that make future investment decisions well-founded. If you work in flood risk finance, insurance, policy or strategy and would like to understand more about what Ousewem is learning, we welcome the conversation.
