Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
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
Citation preview
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
Latest revision January 2011
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
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 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 identifying win-win solutions, rather than simply minimising ecological harm
Working with Nature: why does it matter?
Population is growing; trade will increase
Need improved efficiency; need new infrastructure
Natural environment under increasing pressure
Aquatic ecosystem goods, services vital to human economic well-being
Net ongoing loss of biodiversity
Need to adapt to climate change
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
Do: acknowledge economic objective; understand ‘need’
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
Don’t: wait until decisions have been made to consult stakeholders
Do: engage stakeholders early, whilst they can still influence the outcome
Do: listen Then prepare project proposals and begin design Be aware: developing/delivering win-win solutions
needs more imagination and innovation 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 Similar opportunities to support important
ecosystem services by acknowledging and enhancing or restoring:
provisioning services (e.g. food, fuel, water, etc.)
regulatory services (e.g. control of flooding, climate, carbon, disease)
cultural (e.g. recreation, spiritual services) supporting services (e.g. nutrient cycling;
pollination)
Climate change adaptation Certain amount of change is
now inevitable 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
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
existing pressures (on biodiversity, ecosystem services)
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?
(2) Understand the environment Until 10 - 15 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
Flood defence / navigation dredging (2)
(2) Understand the environment (continued) 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
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
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
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 support and enhance lost ecosystem services
and 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
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
Thanks for listening!
PIANC Working with Nature website: www.pianc.org/workingwithnature.php
Contact Jan: [email protected]
