Nature-based erosion protection along fairways can benefit biodiversity
Photo: SGI/Anette Björlin
Shorelines along fairways are exposed to erosion caused by vessel traffic. Various types of erosion protection are used to mitigate this erosion. Traditionally, these have consisted of different types of hard protection, often rock revetments, which can have a negative impacts on the environment. In new guidance, the Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI) presents nature-based erosion protection as an alternative and provides guidance on how such measures can be designed and constructed.
Nature-based erosion protection consists of sustainable solutions aimed at preventing erosion-related damage while taking account of an area's ecological values and, at the same time, promoting biodiversity and ecosystem services.
A step-by-step approach
The new guidance describes, step by step, how measures to manage erosion along fairways can be planned and implemented. The process ranges from analysing the causes of erosion and the problems it creates, to selecting suitable erosion mitigation measures, designing the protection and monitoring the results.
“It is important to develop an understanding of the entire area. An investigation assesses the physical and hydrological forces that cause erosion. However, ecological and social values affected by the erosion must also be identified,” says Per Danielsson, National Coordinator for Shoreline Erosion.
“Choosing nature-based erosion protection can help manage conflicts of interest and find appropriate compromises. Such measures can be designed to preserve or enhance ecological and social values while fulfilling their primary function of preventing erosion,” says Anette Björlin, Climate Adaptation Strategist.
Combining different materials
The method is based on combining different materials and vegetation in various forms and structures to create diverse environments that benefit ecosystems. The design can also be adapted to create social values, for example by making the protection accessible to the public, ensuring that it blends into the surrounding landscape and enhances the quality of the area.
The guidance is based on SGI’s own trials of nature-based erosion protection, including projects in the Stockholm Archipelago, the Göta River and along the Bohus Coast. Knowledge has also been gathered from international reports and guidance documents.