Elias Verbanck is a project manager for the LIFE SPARC (Space for Adapting the River Scheldt to Climate Change project) in Belgium.
He studied forest and nature management in the Netherlands and has been been working in the environmental sector for 20 years.
Currently Elias works on the Sigma Plan for the Flemish government (carried out by De Vlaamse Waterweg NV and the Agency for Nature and Forests). Its objective is to better protect Flanders from flooding of the Scheldt river and its tributaries while at the same time giving the valuable river nature a boost.
The plan also develops recreation on and along the water and the accessibility of the river for inland navigation. This plan can also be considered a climate adaptation plan.