Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for Flood Management in Malaysia

Flash floods are a concerning social issue that affect urban areas all over the world. Flash floods can disrupt vital services, damage infrastructure, have socio-economic impacts on the earth’s surface, and significantly impact the community near the water body. Household and commercial damage, physical health issues from contaminated floodwater, mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder, and even fatalities are some of these common effects. Additionally, it is anticipated that climate change, continuous population growth, and urbanisation will increase flood events and flood risk exposure. Nature-based solutions (NbS) for flood management that lower flood risks include sustainable, economical methods that improve biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, and community well-being. This in-depth study analyses research and literature that previous researchers conducted related to flood management around ASEAN countries, as all these countries are closely located and share similarities in climate and temperature. This survey focuses on identifying the most suitable and effective NbS to overcome the problem and appropriate non-structural measures to support it in solving the flood problem in Malaysia. NbS provide a multi-benefit approach by improving ecosystem resilience, cutting costs, and offering co-benefits, including biodiversity conservation and better water quality, in contrast to conventional methods that put infrastructure before environmental sustainability. This survey also looks at the weaknesses in the existing flood management system and provides recommendations to overcome these problems. Additionally, this survey offers practical policy suggestions to help incorporate NbS into regional and national flood control frameworks, guaranteeing that the solutions are not only socially just but also ecologically sound.