Working with Nature: why it matters Presentation on behalf of Jan Brooke Environmental Consultant and UK representative PIANC EnviCom

Background Working with Nature: a new way of thinking 2008 position paper developed by PIANC EnviCom 2008 position paper developed by PIANC EnviCom Latest revision January 2011 Latest revision January 2011 A practical philosophy for developing sustainable navigation infrastructure A practical philosophy for developing sustainable navigation infrastructure

Working with Nature: why do we need a new way of thinking? Requirement to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of a project is well-established Requirement to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of a project is well-established However, if ‘the project’ has already been decided, EIA becomes an exercise in damage limitation However, if ‘the project’ has already been decided, EIA becomes an exercise in damage limitation EIA is useful, but as often applied is not therefore sustainable EIA is useful, but as often applied is not therefore sustainable EIA process as often applied also misses many opportunities EIA process as often applied also misses many opportunities

Working with Nature: what is different? Working with Nature requires a subtle shift in our approach to infrastructure projects, to: focus on achieving project objectives in an ecosystem context, rather than assessing consequences of a pre- defined design focus on achieving project objectives in an ecosystem context, rather than assessing consequences of a pre- defined design focus on identifying win- win solutions, rather than simply minimising ecological harm focus on identifying win- win solutions, rather than simply minimising ecological harm

Working with Nature: why does it matter? Population is growing; trade will increase Population is growing; trade will increase Need improved efficiency; need new infrastructure Need improved efficiency; need new infrastructure Natural environment under increasing pressure Natural environment under increasing pressure Aquatic ecosystem goods, services vital to human economic well-being Aquatic ecosystem goods, services vital to human economic well-being Net ongoing loss of biodiversity Net ongoing loss of biodiversity Need to adapt to climate change Need to adapt to climate change Again, current approach is not sustainable Again, current approach is not sustainable

Working with Nature: doing things in a different order 1. Establish (only) the project need and objectives 2. Understand the environment 3. Make meaningful use of stakeholder engagement; identify win-win options 4. Then: prepare project proposals and design to benefit navigation and nature

Working with Nature Do’s and don’t’s Don’t: decide what is required and how it will be delivered Don’t: decide what is required and how it will be delivered Do: acknowledge economic objective; understand ‘need’ Do: acknowledge economic objective; understand ‘need’ Don’t: carry out an EIA on a pre-determined design Don’t: carry out an EIA on a pre-determined design Do: develop understanding of the environment; including physical processes, (eco) systems and climate relevance Do: develop understanding of the environment; including physical processes, (eco) systems and climate relevance Don’t: wait until decisions have been made to consult stakeholders Don’t: wait until decisions have been made to consult stakeholders Do: engage stakeholders early, whilst they can still influence the outcome Do: engage stakeholders early, whilst they can still influence the outcome Do: listen Do: listen Then prepare project proposals and begin design Then prepare project proposals and begin design Be aware: developing/delivering win-win solutions needs more imagination and innovation Be aware: developing/delivering win-win solutions needs more imagination and innovation Transition will take time: perseverance and patience vital Transition will take time: perseverance and patience vital

Meeting biodiversity and ecosystem service objectives Important role for Working with Nature in Supporting achievement of biodiversity targets through enhancement, restoration, and creation Supporting achievement of biodiversity targets through enhancement, restoration, and creation Similar opportunities to support important ecosystem services by acknowledging and enhancing or restoring: Similar opportunities to support important ecosystem services by acknowledging and enhancing or restoring: provisioning services (e.g. food, fuel, water, etc.) provisioning services (e.g. food, fuel, water, etc.) regulatory services (e.g. control of flooding, climate, carbon, disease) regulatory services (e.g. control of flooding, climate, carbon, disease) cultural (e.g. recreation, spiritual services) cultural (e.g. recreation, spiritual services) supporting services (e.g. nutrient cycling; pollination) supporting services (e.g. nutrient cycling; pollination)

Climate change adaptation Certain amount of change is now inevitable Certain amount of change is now inevitable Projected changes in air and water temperatures, seasonal precipitation, sea level rise, wind, fog, extreme events, etc. Projected changes in air and water temperatures, seasonal precipitation, sea level rise, wind, fog, extreme events, etc. Measures are needed to reduce vulnerability and improve resilience of both infrastructure and nature Measures are needed to reduce vulnerability and improve resilience of both infrastructure and nature Potentially important role for Working with Nature in delivering climate change adaptation Potentially important role for Working with Nature in delivering climate change adaptation

Working with Nature: wider benefits 1. Recognise project objectives, establish need not design 2. Understand the environment: biodiversity characteristics; existing ecosystem goods and services; current status and recent trends biodiversity characteristics; existing ecosystem goods and services; current status and recent trends existing pressures (on biodiversity, ecosystem services) existing pressures (on biodiversity, ecosystem services) key climate drivers; projected rates of change; implications for navigation and nature; likely adaptation requirements key climate drivers; projected rates of change; implications for navigation and nature; likely adaptation requirements 3. Use stakeholder engagement to identify opportunities for project to deliver enhancement or restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem goods and services; and to incorporate climate change adaptation 4. Prepare ‘climate-proof’ project to benefit navigation and nature, including biodiversity and ecosystem services

Working with Nature: UK flood defence / navigation dredging case study (1) Establish project need and objectives The toe of an estuarine flood defence (earth embankment) is exposed and eroding, increasing the flood risk locally: need to do something, but what? The toe of an estuarine flood defence (earth embankment) is exposed and eroding, increasing the flood risk locally: need to do something, but what? (2) Understand the environment Until years ago, a wide mudflat and saltmarsh area fronted the defence Until years ago, a wide mudflat and saltmarsh area fronted the defence Now ‘coastal squeeze’: the intertidal area is ‘squeezed’ between the fixed line of the defence and high water as a result of relative sea level rise linked to climate change Now ‘coastal squeeze’: the intertidal area is ‘squeezed’ between the fixed line of the defence and high water as a result of relative sea level rise linked to climate change

Flood defence / navigation dredging (2) (2) Understand the environment (continued) Dredged arisings from the nearby navigation channel are disposed offshore: out of the system Dredged arisings from the nearby navigation channel are disposed offshore: out of the system Numbers of overwintering bird using the foreshore for feeding are now much reduced Numbers of overwintering bird using the foreshore for feeding are now much reduced Local catches of sea bass declined as the saltmarsh was lost; sea anglers no longer visit the area Local catches of sea bass declined as the saltmarsh was lost; sea anglers no longer visit the area Saline intrusion threatens the viability of agriculture behind seawall Saline intrusion threatens the viability of agriculture behind seawall

Flood defence / navigation dredging (3) (3) Stakeholder engagement Confirms loss or reduction of regulatory (wave attenuation); provisioning (fish nursery in saltmarsh); supporting (food resource for wading birds); and cultural (recreational fishing) ecosystem services Confirms loss or reduction of regulatory (wave attenuation); provisioning (fish nursery in saltmarsh); supporting (food resource for wading birds); and cultural (recreational fishing) ecosystem services Identifies win-win option of managed realignment supported by beneficial use of dredged sediment - an alternative to the conventional engineering solution of concrete revetment or steel sheet piling Identifies win-win option of managed realignment supported by beneficial use of dredged sediment - an alternative to the conventional engineering solution of concrete revetment or steel sheet piling (4) Prepare project proposals to benefit navigation, nature and local economy and benefit navigation, nature and local economy and support and enhance lost ecosystem services and support and enhance lost ecosystem services and ensure sustainability in the face of climate change ensure sustainability in the face of climate change

Key conclusions Working with Nature, particularly doing things in a different order ………establish need, understand environment, engage stakeholders, then prepare project ……… enables a move from ‘damage limitation’ to environmental gain; from reactive to proactive, adaptive management Working with Nature, particularly doing things in a different order ………establish need, understand environment, engage stakeholders, then prepare project ……… enables a move from ‘damage limitation’ to environmental gain; from reactive to proactive, adaptive management EIA still has a role, but Working with Nature should set the scene for an EIA by identifying win-win alternatives which meet the project objectives but also benefit the wider environment EIA still has a role, but Working with Nature should set the scene for an EIA by identifying win-win alternatives which meet the project objectives but also benefit the wider environment Benefits of adopting the Working with Nature philosophy; of changing our way of thinking; extend also to ecosystem services and climate change adaptation Benefits of adopting the Working with Nature philosophy; of changing our way of thinking; extend also to ecosystem services and climate change adaptation

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