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 reducing
willow-tree plantations
Credits: Building with Nature
What about costs?
What about costs?
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.
Green alternative
Construction + maintenance (€/m)
Dyke with swampy foreshore (reeds) 2000-3500 cheaper
Dyke with flood forest protection
2500 cheaper
Seawall with saltmarsh foreshore
16-875 cheaper
Source: Rijkswaterstaat 2011
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?
hard solutions
Temperate
soft solutions
IJsselmeer
foreshore nourishment
Oyster reefs
BwN design Singapore
Labrador Park
Coastal protection
Mangroves
“Underwater garden”
Tropical
Pilot Sand Engine
Delfland Coast
Coastal protection
Sea grass
focus on
ecosystem
functioning
Singapore
‘rich levee’
focus on
infrastructure
development
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
July 11, 2011
September 5, 2011
October 13, 2011
January 10, 2012
March 20, 2012
May 14, 2012
July 7, 2012
September 4, 2012
Credits: Building with Nature