In this new PIANC Guidelines, PIANC’s Working Group 157 offers international best management practices to prevent, minimize or mitigate environmental impacts from dredging, port- and waterway construction on coastal plant habitats, such as mangroves, tidal (salt) marshes, seagrass beds and macroalgal communities. This report comes at a crucial time when the critical role of these habitats in mitigating the effects of climate change through coastal protection, flood mitigation, and carbon sequestration and storage worldwide is increasingly being recognized.
The guide describes how dedicated environmental monitoring and adaptive management during dredging, port and waterway construction works can help avoid or minimize unwanted, detrimental effects to coastal plant habitats. State-of-the-art methodologies for assessment of impacts are described along with their practical application. Techniques to minimise, mitigate and/or compensate impacts are assessed with respect to their practicality, effectiveness and relevance around coastal plant habitats. Ways to restore and enhance these vital habitats – through applying principles of ‘Working with Nature’ (e.g. beneficial reuse of dredged material) – are also described. The guidelines are based on a review of available literature and practical experience in managing the environmental aspects of dredging, port and waterway construction activities around coastal plant habitats.
The guidelines were put together by an international team of experts and practitioners from universities, port authorities, dredging companies, consultancies and applied research institutes. The guidelines are richly illustrated with photographs and diagrams and feature nine practical case studies that describe examples of some of the main principles and practices addressed in the various chapters. It is the sincere hope ot the authors that these guidelines will prove valuable and effective in the environmental management of any dredging, port- and waterway construction activities in the vicinity of coastal plant habitats around the world for many years to come.
NOTE: The objective of this guidance is to provide information and recommendations on good practice. Conformity is not obligatory and engineering judgement should be used in its application, especially in special circumstances. This report should be seen as an expert guidance and state of the art on this particular subject. PIANC disclaims all responsibility in case this report should be presented as an official standard.
