Nature Positive Role of the Ports Sector

–The port’s spatial arrangement should match the zoning of its different functions and optimize space use and connectivity between sections. Planning should fully consider nature. Natural conditions such as natural bays and deep troughs should be used to efficiently lay out wharves, harbour pools, fairways and anchorages to reduce the amount of construction work in the early stages and dredging and maintenance in later stages. –Planning needs to consider the space for clean energy facilities, such as wind turbines and fundamentals. –Make use of vertical space to accommodate facilities, such as air rail container transport and solar panels. Plan ports in an integrated, coordinated way with upstream and downstream value chains, including efficient multi-modal transport networks, intensive industrial zoning, concentrated supply chains, etc. Across the value chain, ports should implement the following actions to minimize land/water/sea use change: –Position upstream and downstream industries in proximity to ports to optimize supply chain transport efficiency. –Plan container, liquid and dry bulk cargo terminals to coordinate inbound rail, waterway and pipeline connections. –Develop inland ports with direct and frequent connections to optimize cargo distribution. –Ensure moderate separation between port transport collection and evacuation network from urban transport while arranging transition and buffer zones between ports and cities. –Coordinate planning with external utilities services, such as power supply, waste management, wastewater treatment and water supply. –Coordinate port planning and functions with other ports in the region to maximize efficiencies. Integrating sustainable practices throughout the supply chain involves using advanced technologies and data analytics to optimize logistics, reduce emissions and minimize waste. By facilitating collaboration among stakeholders, including shipping companies, local communities and environmental organizations, ports can implement initiatives that promote biodiversity, restore natural habitats and support local ecosystems. Ultimately, the goal is to shift towards a nature-positive port model that balances economic growth with ecological preservation, ensuring that port activities contribute positively to the environment. Ports are also encouraged to use nature-based solutions and green infrastructure to provide disaster reduction services, particularly for river and coastal flooding and sediment/erosion control, which increases the need for dredging. All ports should evaluate opportunities to use these strategies to offset built infrastructure needs and improve performance. Ports are encouraged to use nature-based solutions and green infrastructure to provide disaster reduction services. DP World London Gateway Port and its Logistics Hub provide a good example of how effective planning can successfully integrate measures into the master planning to minimize impacts on nature and enhance the environment, including: –Rehabilitation of a former oil refinery site, including remediation of soils and groundwater. –Construction of 3.4 km of open surface water drainage corridors and balancing ponds that are integrated into the landscaping strategy and design for the Logistics Park. These corridors provide important drainage infrastructure for the operations and habitats of a wide range of species, including protected and endangered water voles. This is a good example of working with nature to achieve engineering needs. –Designation of DP World-owned land surrounding the operational areas as mitigation land provides over 80 hectares of habitat, including more than 50 ponds for the protected great crested newt. This also provides a green habitat corridor surrounding the development. –To offset impacts associated with the port development, two locations were established for the construction of new intertidal wetland (mudflat) habitat through managed realignment of existing flood defences. These have been successfully implemented and monitored for several years, providing more than 80 hectares of important intertidal habitat for overwintering water birds and other species, together with additional land areas providing habitat that is enhanced through successful management strategies.CASE STUDY 1 DP World London Gateway Port and Logistics Hub Nature Positive: Role of the Port Sector 29