Working with Nature – Introduction
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What is Working with Nature? |
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Working with Nature is a PIANC
Position Paper which calls for an important shift in thinking in our approach to
navigation development projects to help deliver mutually beneficial, ‘win-win’
solutions. It promotes a proactive, integrated philosophy which:
- focuses on
achieving the project objectives in an ecosystem context rather than assessing
the consequences of a predefined project design; and
- focuses on
identifying win-win solutions rather than simply minimising ecological harm.
Working with Nature considers the project objectives
firstly from the perspective of the natural system rather than from the perspective
of technical design. However, Working with Nature does not mean that we
no longer achieve our development objectives: rather it ensures that these
objectives are satisfied in a way which maximises opportunities and –
importantly – reduces frustrations, delays and associated extra costs.
In essence, adopting the Working with Nature philosophy means
doing things in a different order. Instead of developing a design and then
assessing its environmental impacts – an approach which inevitably revolves around
damage limitation and is ultimately not sustainable – Working with Nature advocates the following steps:
1. Establish
project need and objectives
2. Understand
the environment
3. Make
meaningful use of stakeholder engagement; identify win-win options
4. Prepare
project proposals/design to benefit navigation and nature
The PIANC
Position Paper, which was first published in December 2008, discusses the
extent to which the Working with Nature philosophy can already be put into practice, as well as some of
the outstanding challenges. It also recognises that developing and delivering
such win-win initiatives will take more innovation and imagination in some
cases than in others. Notwithstanding such challenges, PIANC is convinced that
the rewards of Working with Nature will extend far beyond the natural
environment into social and economic aspects.
Working with Nature represents an
important element of PIANC’s future strategy.
The paper – and the shift in thinking that it encourages – will be
actively promoted both within and outside the organisation as a necessary way
to contribute to truly sustainable development.
To read the full Working with Nature Position Paper, click here.
Working with Nature and Climate Change
Working with Nature Activities
Working with Nature – Position Paper