Building with Nature integrates Nature-based Solutions into water and marine engineering practice. To make nature the fundament of the solution, a paradigm shift is needed in in all aspects of project development. One of the main barriers to mainstream adoption is unfamiliarity with the Building with Nature approach. This guideline aims to help users to understand how to apply the approach and to choose and implement the best Building with Nature solution for their challenge.
In this guideline, the Building with Nature design and implementation process is illustrated with insights from our successful coastal protection and aquaculture practices in an Indonesian coastal district. In Indonesia, work alongside a multi-disciplinary consortium enhanced the resilience of both the mangrove greenbelt and the local economy. This multi-faceted approach brought together local expertise, employed some traditional skills and materials alongside advanced engineering solutions to restore coastal integrity, and has been described as innovative.
We learnt that Building with Nature principles produced a solution tailor-made for the situation, and added considerable value throughout all stages of the project: from design through to implementation and maintenance. We argue that the methodology is very suitable across Indonesia and Asia.
The intention is to inform the development of government guidelines, the organisation of tenders and the design and implementation of water infrastructure projects. It is dedicated to the wide range of professionals and stakeholders involved, including national and local government, port authorities, project developers, consultants, designers and contractors, scientists and educators, NGOs and civil society. In addition, the guideline can be used by the international community working on Nature-based Solutions for water infrastructure.
This guideline is largely based on the Building with Nature guideline by EcoShape, which is itself the product of knowledge and experience gained in multiple Building with Nature projects implemented between 2008 and 2020.
Technical Guidelines #1: Building with Nature approach
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