PIANC website

Working with Nature – Activities

 

Working with Nature – Promotional Activities

 

Since its publication in 2008, PIANC representatives have been actively promoting Working with Nature.  Many other organisations have now signed up to the Position Paper and are now also actively supporting the philosophy it promotes.

 

PIANC is keen to monitor progress with the promotion and adoption of Working with Nature.  To this end, we would be grateful if you would submit any information on relevant initiatives in order that we can record the promotion of the Paper and the uptake of the philosophy.  If you have been involved in making presentations, etc. - or are aware of events or publications where the Working with Nature philosophy is being promoted - please advise PIANC of the following:

 

-       name(s) and affiliation(s) of speaker(s) or meeting participants, or the name of the relevant publication

-       location of the event, etc. if applicable

-       date of event or of the publication

-       organiser of the event or publisher if a publication

-       title of presentation (if applicable), link to website(s) and any other relevant information

 

A record of some of the events, publications, etc. which have already promoted Working with Nature can be found by clicking here.

 

If you are interested in helping PIANC to promote Working with Nature, please send an e-mail to wwn@pianc.org, providing details about your intended initiative and we may be able to provide you with a standard presentation designed to help communicate and promote the philosophy.  

 

Working with Nature – Correspondence Group

 

As part of the Working with Nature initiative, PIANC has set up an informal Correspondence Group. This Group, which operates mainly by e-mail, aims to encourage those who have an interest in promoting and implementing the Working with Nature philosophy to contribute to the process. 

 

If you are interested in participating in this group, please complete the Expression of Interest here and submit your completed application to wwn@pianc.org.

 

In due course, a Working with Nature Member Area will also be created, allowing those on the Working with Nature Correspondence Group to share examples and evolving ideas prior to their publication on the website.

 

Working with Nature – Database of Case Studies

 

PIANC’s ExCom recently agreed to support the development of a database (or similar) to help share information about port, waterway or navigation development projects which have adopted one or more elements of the Working with Nature philosophy. A first version of a template which will be used to collect information on practical case studies was agreed and can be found by clicking here. This template is now subject to ongoing testing and improvement as part of a pilot exercise by members of the PIANC Working with Nature Correspondence Group. 

 

If you have a navigation infrastructure case study which illustrates one or more elements of the Working with Nature philosophy and which you would like to share with the wider navigation community, please download the template, fill it in and submit it for review to wwn@pianc.org. 

 

Navigation infrastructure projects submitted for inclusion in the Working with Nature database will be evaluated by a PIANC EnviCom review panel.  Those responsible for evaluating the submitted projects will be looking for evidence of:

 

-          how the Working with Nature philosophy has been applied;

 

-          how the project ‘fits in’ to the natural function of the environment without causing damage, disturbance or loss; and

 

-          whether there is a net gain for nature, for example through an initiative to improve, restore or create habitat.  In this respect, please be aware that whilst PIANC understands the importance of mitigation measures designed to reduce adverse environmental impacts, a fundamental principle of Working with Nature is that any approach which aims only to limit damage is not sustainable.  Working with Nature is about delivering more than mitigation.  As a result, projects which only illustrate the mitigation of environmental impacts cannot be included in the database. 

 

Working with Nature – Potentially Useful References

 

A further action agreed upon by EnviCom members was the development of a list of potentially useful references which support the implementation of the Working with Nature approach to project development.  These references can be accessed by clicking here.

 

Working with Nature – Photography Competition

 

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‘Seal 7’ – Tim Green

 

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‘Nieuwe Waterweg The Netherlands’ – Bas Wijdeven

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‘Deurganckdok Hoge Dijk 2’ – Herbert Smitz

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‘Vasieres, Port of Le Havre’ – Paul Scherrer

 

As part of the preparation of PIANC’s MMX Congress, held in Liverpool, UK in May 2010, a photographic competition was organised.  The purpose of this competition was to capture a series of memorable images for use by PIANC in its publicity for the Congress and beyond.  One of the two themes of this competition was Working with Nature.  Entrants were asked to illustrate how navigation can co-exist with – or indeed benefit - the natural environment.  The competition was judged by Colin McPherson, an award-winning photojournalist and freelance photographer based in Liverpool.  

 

The winning photograph, entitled 'Bracciano Lake' by Leo Franco, is shown below, along with the runner-up ‘In the evening’, by Matt J. Niemi. Other entries in this category, including those ‘highly commended’ by Colin McPherson, can be viewed by clicking here.

 

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‘Bracciano Lake’ – Leo Franco

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‘In the evening’ – Matt J. Niemi

 

 

Working with Nature – Introduction

Working with Nature and Climate Change

Working with Nature – Position Paper

Member Area