The MiSRaR project is about protecting the environment, people and property against the destructive impact of natural and technological hazards. Recently many instances of such hazards, which did much harm to homes and businesses and had a devastating impact on the landscape, could be observed in Europe.

In response to this risk a growing number of European local and regional authorities have started to design and implement strategies to minimise the impact of such extreme events. These are called “spatial mitigation strategies” and are the first step in disaster management.
 

So far, extensive attention has been given to the reaction to disastrous events in regional policy development, which means that disaster management was aimed primarily at preparedness, response and recovery. However prevention, which entails long-term safety measures and tools, is still underestimated. European experience and best practices are widespread but rarely exchanged, which often leads to reinventing the “mitigation process wheel”. But this is specifically an aspect of disaster management that consists of similar processes, tools and models that can be applied by local and regional governments throughout the EU.

MiSRaR addresses the issue of mitigating relevant hazards through the inclusion of risk assessment and risk management in spatial planning. The project aims to develop an integrated approach for this to assist regional and local governments in the EU in developing their spatial mitigation plan for relevant risks. The dissemination of knowledge envisages a number of seminars, producing brochures on risk assessment and management accompanied by a “mitigation handbook” for local and regional policy and decision makers.

The Interregional Cooperation Programme INTERREG IVC, financed by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund, helps Regions of Europe work together to share experience and good practice in the areas of innovation, the knowledge economy, the environment and risk prevention. EUR 302 million is available for project funding but, more than that, a wealth of knowledge and potential solutions are also on hand for regional policy-makers.