Ports play a significant role in global trade, especially for low- and middle-income countries. They handle more than 11 billion tons of goods each year and support millions of jobs worldwide. As these ports face growing challenges related to efficiency, climate resilience, and sustainability, there is increased interest in using nature-based solutions (NBS) alongside traditional engineering methods.
Nature-based solutions involve integrating natural processes into port infrastructure and operations. These approaches can help ports improve climate resilience, promote environmental responsibility, and meet broader development goals. According to a new guidance note titled "Nature-Based Solutions for Ports: An Overview of NBS Implementation in Practice - Opportunities and Challenges," NBS also help maintain ports’ social license to operate by building stronger relationships with coastal communities and creating chances for public-private partnerships.
The guidance note is the result of collaboration between the World Bank, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), PROBLUE, and EcoShape. It was funded by the Government of Japan.
The report states that NBS provide value by offering ecosystem services that are difficult to replicate with traditional infrastructure alone. When combined with conventional engineering in hybrid projects, NBS can upgrade or retrofit existing facilities. Benefits include reducing hazards from storms or waves, supporting biodiversity, improving water quality, capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and providing recreational spaces. These advantages may lower capital investment needs as well as ongoing maintenance costs.
Four main types of NBS opportunities for port resilience are identified:
- Working with coastal systems by using natural processes to manage sedimentation and inform port design.
- Attenuating wave and coastal dynamics through living shorelines or reefs that lessen wave impacts.
- Beneficial reuse of dredged sediment to cut down on dredging expenses while supporting other NBS efforts.
- Enhancing grey structures—such as docks or seawalls—by adding features like micro-habitats to boost their environmental value.
Case studies included in the guidance note show how these strategies work in practice. In Nigeria’s Lekki port area, a sandbar breakwater supports sediment transport and reduces both construction time and costs. In Jakarta’s Batavia port in Indonesia, local materials including mangroves were used to expand a fishing port while reinforcing its breakwater—a solution helpful where land subsidence or rising sea levels are concerns.
The guide offers advice on all phases of an NBS project cycle: evaluating technical feasibility; securing funding; developing designs; identifying opportunities within a port’s region; learning from similar case studies; crafting value propositions; enabling successful implementation; assessing benefits for stakeholders; and exploring financing options.
Recent advances such as ecological breakwaters or new ways to manage sediments have added new tools for ports working with natural landscapes. The report highlights examples ranging from wetland creation through sediment reuse to innovative concrete mixtures that support marine habitats.
"By working with nature, port authorities can find a pathway to align resilience and sustainability goals. This guidance note provides an initial starting point to help unlock such opportunities," according to the authors.