Nature Positive Role of the Ports Sector

Ports are located at the junction of land, water and sea, which are often critical habitats and breeding grounds for native endemic flora and fauna. The land area of some large ports can be as large as hundreds of square kilometres, with water/sea area extended to thousands of square kilometres beyond it. For example, the Port of Shanghai covers an area of approximately 3,619 square kilometres.71 In addition to the construction of necessary terminals along the coastline, ports occupy substantial areas of adjacent land to build supporting facilities such as cargo yards, warehouses, roads and offices. The  use of raw materials throughout the entire value chain can contribute to the loss of nature, so an overconsumption of natural resources could be a driver of nature loss due to the port sector. Port construction and operation disturb and alter the use of land, water and sea, resulting in habitat destruction and increased siltation. If not properly managed, this could have additional impacts on ecosystem services – the heat island effect, exacerbating coastal erosion and flood risk, and water quality runoff. One of the most significant physical impacts in port construction and maintenance occurs on the ocean floor. River, bay and ocean floors constantly change as currents and other environmental factors cause sediments to shift and accumulate. To ensure the safety of ship navigation and avoid ships running aground, ports need to regularly monitor the depth of the waterways and dredge if needed to maintain or deepen the port area. Additionally, ports may dredge to accommodate new routes or larger vessels, as well as to remove hazards to ships. Dredging can disturb and damage the sea floor, creating biodiversity loss and destruction of habitats. Globally, 41% of ports have indicated that they intend to use more land for logistics and distribution activities, and 38% plan to expand their land use to accommodate non-fossil energy production.72 As global maritime trade volumes increase, dredging is likely to follow to maintain ports and accommodate additional traffic. If the current trend continues, the land, water and sea use change caused by the development of ports will likely result in some species facing existential crises due to habitat loss. Furthermore, ports can facilitate the trade of goods that may entrench unsustainable production practices, adversely affecting both nature and climate. Given that ports generate revenue from the products they handle, it is imperative for them to be aware of and accountable for the impacts of these goods.2.2 Land, water and sea use change The land area of some large ports can be as large as hundreds of square kilometres, with water/sea area extended to thousands of square kilometres beyond it. Nature Positive: Role of the Port Sector 20