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Article No More Muddy Waters
Article No More Muddy Waters
waters
Ren Kolman explains why applying Ecosystem Services to the
maritime industry benefits the industry, the client and the consumer
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DREDGING
Main photo and left: Aerial view of the coral reefs, red
mangrove and the luminous lagoon which are located in
close vicinity to the project footprint of the cruise terminal
in Falmouth, Jamaica. As a mitigation measure, coral was
detached from the cruise terminal access channel prior to
dredging and reattached in a comparable nearby marine
environment
having a very significant and not-so-positive impact on the biodiversity l Life-supporting, the long-term significance of nutrient cycles,
of global ecosystems; that people, as individuals and as corporations, photosynthesis and crop pollination; and
are contributing to the reduction and the lack of resilience and bio- l Cultural, such as educational, spiritual and recreational
capacity of ecosystems. The result is a growing loss of natural capital. enhancements.
Preserving natural capital How does this affect the maritime industry?
Natural capital is defined as the resources of the planets lands, waters The oceans are both key to sustaining life on Earth and simultaneously
and its biodiversity. Ecosystem Services are the benefits, which derive they are a conduit for 90 per cent of the worlds trade and for
from natural capital. It includes such obvious resources or assets connecting people and markets. How do we combine these two basic
as clean water and fresh air, agricultural crops for food, wild life and necessities?
plants as well as fossil fuels and minerals necessary for economic Ports and other maritime infrastructure construction projects
development. The MA defines four basic categories of Ecosystem regularly encounter resistance from stakeholders wishing to conserve
Services: valuable habitats. Internationally, this has led to the adoption of multiple
l Provisioning, products supplied from ecosystems, such as food, layers of legislation for instance, the RAMSAR Convention on
water and fuel; Wetlands (http://www.ramsar.org) and the European Unions Habitat
l Regulatory, the benefits derived from regulating water, erosion, Directives to protect and conserve fauna, flora and their habitats. Many
flooding, climate and air quality control; other countries have their own list of regulations guarding natural
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dredging
resources and assets as they interact with the maritime industry. But Nations Environment Programme). As of January 2014, TEEB has been
these regulations, as useful as they are, have proven to be insufficient. rebranded as the Natural Capital Coalition (NCC) and continues its
A new, bolder step was needed and that has given impetus to the co-operation with UNEP. NCC is working with key stakeholders from
Ecosystem Services approach. business, government and civil society, and the ultimate goal is to
achieve a shift in corporate behaviour to preserve and enhance rather
Co-operation is better than co-existence than deplete natural capital. Its first aim is to develop a harmonised
Recently a number of maritime organisations have been focusing on valuation system for natural capital in business decision making, e.g.,
the subject. The Central Dredging Association issued a white paper on supply chain management, financial accounting, corporate reporting and
ES, PIANC is examining how to apply the concept, and the IADC has disclosure.
also issued a Facts About Ecosystem Services and Dredging (http:// This effort to provide practical market tools marks a new path
tinyurl.com/njlzdzs). The knowledge institute EcoShape Foundation beyond contentious co-existence to actual co-operation. Since dredging
(www.ecoshape.nl) is a public-private group which for several years has contractors already implement processes for project management,
operated a research programme Building with Nature, through which it which reflect a deep concern with ecosystem preservation, taking the
conducts pilot projects that aim to make the ecosystem the focal point next step embracing Ecosystem Services and the natural capital
of a project rather than an after-thought. approach is a logical move. n
But how do natural assets weigh against concrete business assets?
If the loss of natural capital reduces essential long-term benefits to Ren Kolman is secretary general of the International Association of
people and the planet, can this loss (and conversely gain) be defined in Dredging Companies (IADC). IADC is the global umbrella organisation
financial terms? for contractors in the private dredging industry. As such the IADC is
An important step forward in creating a valuation framework is dedicated to not only promoting the skills, integrity and reliability of its
the recent formation of the Natural Capital Coalition (http://www. members, but also the dredging industry in general. IADC has over 100
naturalcapitalcoalition.org/). In 2007 a global initiative was launched by main and associated members. Together they represent the forefront of
Germany and the European Commission known as The Economics the dredging industry. For further information, visit:
of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) supported by UNEP (United www.iadc-dredging.com.
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