Living Seawalls offers a Beacon of Hope for the Future of Marine Ecosystems.
In the fight to restore and preserve marine ecosystems, Australia is leading the charge with an innovative project—living seawalls. Spearheaded by the Reef Design Lab in collaboration with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), living seawalls are revolutionizing coastal barriers by adding a vital ecological component to their structure.
Living seawalls are an ingenious blend of technology and design that aim to revitalize habitats obliterated by waterfront development. As the team behind the initiative explains, “Living seawalls provides an evidence-based solution to increasing the ecological value of artificial structures in the marine environment.”
After only one to two years post-installation, the living seawalls in Sydney Harbour are already boasting impressive results. The project has seen an increase of at least 36% more species compared to plain, unmodified seawalls. These revamped barriers now host up to 85 different species of invertebrates, seaweeds, and fish, mirroring the biodiversity found in natural rocky reefs nearby.
But the perks of living seawalls extend beyond providing a home for invertebrates and seaweeds. They also create a refuge for fish, which benefit from the additional food sources found on the panels. After two years, the team observed a greater number of fish residing in and around the Living Seawalls than on the unmodified seawalls.
Reef Design Lab, committed to “better design below the waterline,” has a diverse portfolio of systems designed to mitigate the damage caused by human activities in marine environments. Their “fish apartment” variant of Habitat Panels transformed the underwater exterior of the iconic Sydney Opera House into a nurturing shelter and breeding ground for harbor sea life.
These panels not only provide native species like blue gropers and seahorses with a sanctuary from predators but also help replenish their populations, previously decimated by dredging and development along the harbor edges. Moreover, the panels allow numerous smaller aquatic species and crustaceans to inhabit the harbor walls, thus reintroducing a naturally cleansing ecosystem to the waters.
In Victoria, Australia, Reef Design Lab is further expanding their environmental endeavors by partnering with Melbourne University’s National Centre for Coasts and Climate on a “hybrid coastal defense” project. They have developed a unique mangrove planter designed to help the native southern mangrove species reestablish its root base. These mangroves, prior to coastal development and urbanization, played a critical role in safeguarding coastal areas from erosion and storms.
The designed planter is not a one-time solution. After a three-year maturation period for the mangrove plant, the planter can be reused for further plantings, perpetuating a cycle of marine restoration.
Mangroves are a critical part of coastal ecosystems, providing an array of benefits for the waterfronts they inhabit. They form dense forests that can be found in intertidal zones of more than a hundred countries around the globe. Here are some key benefits that mangroves offer:
1. Storm Protection: Mangroves act as natural buffers against severe weather events such as hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons. Their extensive root systems are efficient at dissipating wave energy, thereby reducing the impact of storm surges. This plays a significant role in limiting erosion and property damage along the coast.
2. Erosion Control: In addition to weather protection, the sturdy root systems of mangroves help maintain the stability of shorelines. They hold the soil together, preventing its erosion and loss due to tidal action, wave currents, and human activity.
3. Carbon Sequestration: Mangroves are powerful carbon sinks, meaning they absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release. They store three to five times more carbon per equivalent area than tropical forests, helping mitigate the impacts of climate change.
4. Biodiversity: Mangroves are hotspots of biodiversity, providing a habitat for a vast array of organisms. Their root systems serve as nurseries for numerous fish species, including many that are commercially important. They also host various bird species, mammals, and invertebrates.
5. Fisheries Support: Many fish species, including ones significant to commercial fisheries, depend on mangroves for at least part of their life cycle. They serve as breeding and nursery grounds for these species, making them vital for the sustenance of local fisheries.
6. Livelihood Support: For local communities, mangroves often form the basis for their livelihood. They provide timber, firewood, fish, and other resources.
7. Water Purification: Mangroves also act as natural water purifiers. Their dense root systems filter pollutants and trap sediments from the water, improving its quality and benefiting both humans and marine life.
Despite their crucial role in sustaining coastal ecosystems, mangroves worldwide are threatened by deforestation, climate change, and urban development. Preservation and restoration efforts, such as those involving living seawalls and mangrove planters, are of paramount importance to ensure the continued survival of these vital ecosystems.
The Living Seawalls project is a testament to the potential of harnessing innovative design and technology to enhance biodiversity and repair ecosystems damaged by human activity. In a world where marine habitats are increasingly at risk, this evidence-based solution offers hope for the future of our oceans.