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Rethinking the responsible application of nature-inclusive design in marine infrastructure to restore ecosystems and enhance biodiversity
Degraer, S.; Cornacchia, L.; Ziemba, A.; Agardy, T.; van den Burg, S.W.K.; van de Braak, K.; van Duren, L.A.; Declercq, A.M.; Eggermont, M.; Van Gerven, A.; Kerkhove, T.R.H.; Moulaert, I.; Patel, T.; Petersen, J.K.; Poelman, M.; Stratigaki, V.; Strothotte, E.; Vanaverbeke, J.; El Serafy, G. (2026). Rethinking the responsible application of nature-inclusive design in marine infrastructure to restore ecosystems and enhance biodiversity. ICES J. Mar. Sci./J. Cons. int. Explor. Mer 83(4): fsag050. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsag050
In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. Academic Press: London. ISSN 1054-3139; e-ISSN 1095-9289
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open access 420887 [ download pdf ]
Author keywords
    nature-inclusive design typology, marine infrastructure, offshore wind, green consumerism
Authors  Top 
  • Degraer, S.
  • Cornacchia, L.
  • Ziemba, A.
  • Agardy, T.
  • van den Burg, S.W.K.
  • van de Braak, K.
  • van Duren, L.A.
  • Declercq, A.M.
  • Eggermont, M.
  • Van Gerven, A.
  • Kerkhove, T.R.H.
  • Moulaert, I.
  • Patel, T.
  • Petersen, J.K.
  • Poelman, M.
  • Stratigaki, V.
  • Strothotte, E.
  • Vanaverbeke, J.
  • El Serafy, G.
Abstract
    Nature-inclusive design (NID) of marine infrastructure comes in different forms, but always refers to the creation of optimized artificial habitat to locally enhance biodiversity. In essence, NID comprises the local addition of something non-natural to infrastructure with the aim of providing habitat for biodiversity assets in its widest sense. In its purest sense, NID is inspired by how the local environment would be without the infrastructure being present. NIDs of marine infrastructure, however, often comprise actions that promote biodiversity which does or did not naturally occur at that location. To ensure consistent use of terminology, we recommend adopting an NID trichotomy when reflecting on the appropriateness of NID applications in the marine realm, distinguishing between (i) restorative NID, linked to the restoration of lost local ecosystem values, and (ii) creative NID, referring to artificially created ecosystem assets and containing either (a) optimized infrastructure or (b) add-on structures. Restorative NID refers to measures which facilitate and speed-up nature restoration, while creative NID refers to measures to boost biodiversity ‘beyond the natural’. Beyond the importance of distinguishing different types of NID, it is important to also reflect on which biodiversity assets we elect to boost. Nowadays, much focus is placed on species richness or select species of commercial or conservational interest, while a focus on functional ecosystem assets may be more effective. A focus on functional ecosystem assets also provides better options for climate-proof NID designs. To adopt NID in an offshore renewables context, it is imperative to hold our horses and carefully consider what is the target to be achieved and how to get there. This requires a careful selection of the ecological assets that we aim to promote, while preserving the functional purpose of the marine infrastructure and incorporating the differing societal viewpoints on any potentially negative ecological consequences that may be incurred by NID solutions. In summary, restorative NID can be actively promoted, whereas creative NID requires more careful reflection; NID preferably prioritizes functional ecosystem assets and explicitly considers which ecological values to promote and why.
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