AquaForest: A nature-based solution for dredged sediments
AquaForest is a demonstration project led by Jan De Nul showcasing a green-grey approach, where dredged sediments are being reused to create 50 hectares of mangrove habitat in the Guayas Delta, Ecuador. The project aimed to advance knowledge on the conceptual design and eco-engineering approaches of mangrove habitats, while strengthening local engagement and generating diversified income opportunities for local communities. A new mangrove island was built in the end of 2024 and is currently being monitored to quantify the provision of ecosystem services over time with the aim of future upscaling of this type of nature-based solutions.
Bankbusters: Ecosystem-based riverbank management
Estuarine tidal wetlands offer vital ecosystem services, including flood protection, erosion control and water purification. However, these estuarine ecosystems actually face significant pressures caused by both human activities and natural forces, leading to habitat and ecosystem degradation and loss. The Bankbusters project adressess these issues by reusing soft dredged sediments to restore tidal marshes and mudflats as natural riverbank systems. As such, this initiative promotes biodiversity, enhances flood resilience and supports sustainable economic growth through innovative, eco-friendly and resilient solutions in the Scheldt estuary.
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DELTA21
Sustainability, innovation and collaboration are key to successfully facing today’s global challenges of grid congestion and climate change. To combat these challenges, the Delta21 concept has been developed in the Netherlands. Located in the mouth of the Haringvliet estuary in the Dutch Delta, the project combines energy storage, flood protection and the restoration of nature. The concept could be elaborated upon and applied worldwide, inspiring governments, public bodies knowledge centres and developers to face climate change and move away from fossil fuels.
DEPLOYING PRIVATE CAPITAL TO ACCELERATE THE GREEN TRANSITION
Green solutions in ports, waterways and coastal projects have increasingly become available thanks to many years of research and pioneering efforts in practice. These sustainable solutions have shown to be good alternatives for classic solutions, but application is far from mainstream yet. One of the major hurdles is the lack of access of private capital to finance these kinds of solutions despite the strong interest of capital markets in green infrastructure opportunities. Identifying the hurdles and paving a way forward to overcome these hurdles could therefore help to increase the uptake of those green solutions.
Editorial: Dredging for sustainability
Guest editor Pieter de Boer Senior Advisor, Rijkswaterstaat