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Building with nature: infrastructure AND ecosystems for climate resilience. &. By Vera Coelho, Bonn, June 2013. Infrastructure for climate change adaptation?. Infrastructure projects rely on finite and often scarce resources; Some infrastructure provides ‘static’ protection only;
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Building with nature: infrastructure AND ecosystems for climate resilience & By Vera Coelho, Bonn, June 2013
Infrastructure for climate change adaptation? • Infrastructure projects rely on finite and often scarce resources; • Some infrastructure provides ‘static’ protection only; • Project efficiency is often judged based on tangible costs and benefits, leaving out the “invisible” ones.
Building with Nature Advantages: • Multiple benefits: CCA + carbon storage, fisheries, recreation etc; • Often low construction costs; • Adaptive (within boundaries); • Enables multi-purpose land use.
Example 1. Room for the River Removing hard infrastructure in heavily modified systems: €2,4 billion investment in the Netherlands
Example 2. protective foreshores Saltmarshes, flood forests and oyster reefs in front of dykes reduce construction & maintenance costs Clay dike lower than trad. design 100m wide Wave reducingwillow-tree plantations Credits: Building with Nature
What about costs? Study commissioned by Dutch water infrastructure authority (Rijkswaterstaat): Green alternatives to conventional infrastructure measures were substantially cheaper, despite slightly higher maintenance costs.
Conclusions • Not a choice between infrastructure or nature • Many applications are possible. This requires further testing in different environments • Shift in thinking required • Need for major pilot initiatives • More research required: costs; adress uncertainties risks, institutional matters etc…
More Information? www.wetlands.org Vera.Coelho@wetlands.org
Building with Nature From fighting nature towards building with nature? soft solutions hard solutions Temperate Pilot Sand Engine Delfland Coast “Underwater garden” IJsselmeer foreshore nourishment Oyster reefs Tropical Singapore ‘rich levee’ Coastal protection Sea grass BwN design Singapore Labrador Park Coastal protection Mangroves focus on infrastructure development focus on ecosystem functioning Credits: Building with Nature
Example 3. Mangrove mud-coasts Eroding coasts: combining sediment nourishment, small-scale infrastructure and mangrove rehabilitation
Example 4. The sand motor The sand motor: using natural currents for reinforcing coastlines Credits: Building with Nature