Brief communication: On the environmental impacts of 2023 flood in Emilia-Romagna (Italy) 

Abstract. The impacts of floods to environmental assets are often not assessed. This communication reflects on this issue by analysing the reported environmental consequences of the 2023 Emilia-Romagna flood. The information on the environmental impacts is constructed by collecting data from reports, press releases and interviews in the aftermath of the event. The most frequently reported damages involve water resources and water-related ecosystems, with cultural and supporting ecosystem services particularly affected. Indirect effects in time and space, intrinsic recovery capacity, cascade impacts on socio-economic systems and lack of established monitoring activities appear as the most challenging aspects for future research.