How to make aquaculture more sustainable and efficient? In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta efforts towards establishing a nature-based filtration system to make aquaculture more sustainable and efficient are progressing. Two Dutch companies and one Vietnamese company have joined forces to use mangroves to address issues around groundwater extraction, water contamination and coastal protection in relation to shrimp farming.
This article elaborates on a feasibility study financed by Partners for Water and the consortium partners: Larive, Van Oord and RYNAN Smart Aquaculture.
The need for change in shrimp farming practices
Rogier Becker, an emerging market advisor at Larive International, is part of an initiative alongside Nienke Oostenbrink from Ocean Health, a programme by the Dutch marine contractor Van Oord, and Minh Anh Tran Ng from RYNAN Smart Aquaculture, a Vietnamese company focused on innovation in shrimp farming. Together, these three organisations have developed a model to transform the traditional shrimp farming practices in the Mekong Delta, which have been passed down through generations.
From left to right: Rogier Becker, Nienke Oostenbrink and Minh Anh Tran Ng.
Coastal protection and mangrove destruction
Becker begins by explaining the need for change. “The coastal regions of Vietnam, particularly the Mekong Delta, are characterised by vast rice fields further inland and extensive aquaculture, primarily shrimp farming, nearer the coast where the water is brackish. A natural belt of mangroves along the shoreline has played a vital role in preventing coastal erosion by trapping sediment and safeguarding the land.”
Water travels through various mangrove plots when flowing from aquaculture facilities to the river. These mangroves absorb nutrients from shrimp farming, using them for their own growth, creating a natural purification system. Over the years, many shrimp farmers have cleared parts of the mangrove belt to expand their operations. This deforestation has led to increased coastal erosion, shrinking the once-protective mangrove belt to a fraction of its former size.
Water pollution
“Another significant problem is water pollution”, Becker continues. “Upstream farmers use pesticides and other chemicals on their crops, which contaminates the Mekong River as runoff flows downstream. As the water continues its journey, it picks up additional pollutants from each subsequent farm, exacerbating the contamination. This is cumulative, creating a domino effect,” he explains, “leaving the farmers furthest downstream with severely degraded water quality, posing a serious challenge to the quality of the shrimp and the overall ecosystem.”
The TOMGOXY model
Becker, together with the other consortium partners, have been at the forefront of innovative technology. Now known as the TOMGOXY model, this digital system for operating shrimp farms in a sustainable manner has resulted in more efficient use of resources and less negative impacts on the environment. This approach is supported by replanting mangroves and integrating them into farming systems.
Becker explains, “We’re exploring a combined approach of aquaculture and mangrove restoration, involving local farmers. While mangrove replanting is welcome, many restoration projects fail due to poor location selection and monoculture planting. Our process involves transplanting seedlings from nurseries to carefully chosen sites where suitable conditions for mangroves are generated, with the goal of creating a diverse ecosystem.” By carefully selecting and nurturing mangrove seedlings in nurseries before planting them pitfalls are avoided, ensuring a better chance of survival
Testing and preliminary results
Becker adds, “We’re in a testing phase, exploring opportunities and preparing to report on the results at the beginning of next year. Tests to assess mangrove growth and water purification will start soon. While the business model exists due to shrimp profitability, we’re still determining the optimal ratio of mangrove blocks to shrimp ponds for economic efficiency. Previous tests have confirmed mangroves’ purifying capabilities, but we’re now focusing on creating a circular system for water reuse. The difference between these methods lies mainly in the density of shrimp in the ponds and the amount of oxygen they need.”
Mangrove integration in other regions
In some Vietnamese regions, like Cà Mau, intensive shrimp farming is naturally integrated into mangrove forests. Shrimp are grown in nets within the mangroves, benefiting from the natural environment. However, the model under development now involves a more controlled method where shrimp are raised in tanks. The wastewater from these tanks, which contains nutrients like nitrate, is not immediately released into rivers. Instead, it is first filtered through plots of mangroves, which use the nutrients for their growth, helping to purify the water before it is released back into the environment.
Van Oord’s role: designing and testing
Nienke Oostenbrink, from Van Oord’s Ocean Health initiative, oversees the restoration initiative in Vietnam. “We collaborate closely with RYNAN, to strengthen their ‘TOMGOXY solution’, by adding the mangrove component to it. During testing at the demonstration site in Vietnam, we aim to gather valuable insights into the filtering capacity of mangroves in different set ups.”
While RYNAN implements the broader concept, Van Oord’s expertise lies in designing and testing how mangroves can naturally filter wastewater. According to Oostenbrink, the TOMGOXY concept allows for hyper intensive farming, producing high outputs per square meter. This reduces the need for land and makes space available for restoration of mangrove areas.
Studying mangrove filtration capacity
“We study the capacity of mangroves to absorb nutrients by pumping wastewater from the shrimp ponds into three different mangrove plots. The three plots have unique experimental conditions, allowing us to identify the most favourable conditions for nutrient uptake and mangrove growth. In order to obtain this information, the nutrients in the water and soil and health of the mangroves are closely measured. After the experimental phase, we have acquired the necessary knowledge of the filtration capacity of mangroves in combination with shrimp farming using TOMGOXY.”
The project is complex and will require about nine months of testing before definitive conclusions can be drawn. Even then, the scalability of this solution depends heavily on local conditions. Oostenbrink acknowledges that mangroves require specific environmental conditions to thrive, such as tide-induced flooding of and salinity levels. The design of the mangrove area and site conditions need to be tailored to the selected location.
Scalability and future goals
Ultimately, the success of this project depends on demonstrating that the mangrove filtration system is both effective and economically viable. “If so,” Oostenbrink states, “we will upscale from the current demonstration project to a larger pilot project, where a site needs to be selected and prepared for large scale filtration of aquaculture effluent by mangroves.” This will entail ongoing collaboration with local partners, insights from continued experimental testing and the development of a sustainable financial model. Partners for Water helped finance the initial feasibility study and Oostenbrink highlights how crucial this support was in getting the project off the ground.
RYNAN’s optimism
Minh Anh (RYNAN) embarked on this ambitious project in early 2024. She explains that the collaboration with Van Oord represents a significant development in the net-zero shrimp farming paradigm, lays out a strong foundation for maximising the effect of mangroves in reducing the amount of gas emissions released from shrimp farming activity and also “seeks to overcome the limitations of relying solely on NGO and government funding for such initiatives.”
While RYNAN has been working on shrimp farms issues, the mangrove integration aspect is relatively new for them. Based on Van Oord’s specifications, RYNAN is preparing to collect data using advanced digital tools, including drones and a network of IoT devices that automate operations and assist in real-time measurement. The testing will involve monthly data collection to assess the effectiveness of the mangrove-shrimp farming system in terms of:
- Treating waste water from shrimp farming activities;
- Reduce the gas emissions amount from shrimp farming;
- Potential scale up to apply to wider range of shrimp farming/mangrove rehabilitation.
Challenges and concerns
In order to ensure the accuracy of the measurements, Van Oord also helped in surveying and conducting comparison experiments with natural mangrove sites. The project promises to not only resolve the environmental issues of the area, but also the social and economic problems faced by local farmers and agricultural funding.
While the team is optimistic about the project’s potential, they have identified some concerns. Minh Anh notes, “The project duration might be extended if turbulent weather conditions occur”. She also questioned the next step of scaling up the project amongst the local shrimp farming community, which farmers are not technically prepared for.
Conclusion
In summary, the model represents a significant departure from traditional shrimp farming methods, paving the way for a more responsible and productive shrimp farming industry.
Partners for Water in Vietnam
Are you currently working on water projects in Vietnam or exploring how to do so? Or just curious about participating in the Partners for Water initiatives?
Visit the Vietnam Delta Page to discover ways in which you can get involved.
As we look forward to the upcoming event co-organized by Partners for Water, RVO and IUCN on biodiversity, Heleen van den Hombergh explains why nature’s diversity is “extremely important” and extends far beyond just environmental benefits.
Heleen van den Hombergh is an advisor on agricultural-commodities and nature-based solutions at the IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands. She got involved in organizing this event with PFW and RVO because companies that work abroad or have an impact abroad are key to helping preserve biodiversity, which is the IUCN’s greatest concern.
“Biodiversity forms the foundation of our lives, of the resources we all depend on,” explains Van den Hombergh without any doubt in her voice. It is essential for ecosystem health, but also crucial to combat climate change, ensure human well-being, and for economic activities like agriculture, and the water sector. Biodiversity provides vital services such as clean air and water and pollination, and is key for climate mitigation and adaptation.
However, as we all know, it faces threats from habitat loss, climate change, pollution, over-exploitation, and invasive species. Protecting biodiversity is crucial for sustaining life.
Hondsbossche Dunes
In the water sector, the Hondsbossche Dunes in the Netherlands provide a good example of an area with high biodiversity. This project was initiated to offer protection against rising sea levels but also included nature development, such as dune formation and creating habitats for plants and animals. This kind of nature-based solution combines infrastructure with nature restoration and has been exported to other countries, such as those in West Africa, to protect coasts against erosion and flooding. Developing ‘robust nature’ is essential in this context; it means an ecosystem that can sustain itself over time and has high biodiversity, including plants, birds, and grasses that are resilient and can survive under changing conditions.
Without proper care for nature – protecting, supporting, and restoring it – our productivity and food security are at risk.
Agricultural crops
Van den Hombergh works a lot with the sustainable production of agricultural commodities. “Without proper care for nature – protecting, supporting, and restoring it – our productivity and food security are at risk,” she explains, pointing out why preserving biodiversity is also crucial for the stability and yield of agricultural crops.
“Deforestation and loss of vegetation lead to unstable water systems and poor harvests, as has happened with soya in Argentina and the United States.”
Van den Hombergh argues that while promoting conversion-free sustainable agricultural practices in international value chains is vital, we also need to strive for a better balance in our diet, with more plant-based proteins instead of animal proteins.
“The current intensive model does need to change to allow more space for nature and healthy food in the long term. Farmers around the world can be invited to contribute to this transition.”
Sharing knowledge
According to Van den Hombergh, the event is “a unique opportunity for cross-pollination between different sectors: the water sector, the agricultural sector, the financial sector, and transformation thinkers. Participants are offered the chance to look beyond their own field and be inspired by best practices from other sectors.”
An important theme is how biodiversity affects water security and management. She explains that robust nature can help manage water flows, retain water, and prevent sudden shocks such as floods or droughts.
The ‘Room for the River’ programme in the Netherlands has helped prevent flooding by giving rivers more space and restoring natural areas that work like sponges.
The challenge, she acknowledges, is communicating the importance of biodiversity and nature-based solutions. Although there are already many collaborations taking place, the main goal of the event is to “inspire people, show them the latest insights and best practices, and encourage transformative thinking.”
Helene van den Hombergh is a specialist in the fields of biodiversity, agricultural commodities and sustainability, with a particular focus on integrating ecological concerns into business practices and policy. She has worked extensively with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), governmental bodies, and the private sector to promote sustainable development strategies that align economic activities with environmental protection.
Biodiversity event
On 1 October, we are organising a biodiversity event together with the International Union for Conservation of Nature in The Netherlands (IUCN).
Join the event: Shaping a Biodiversity Proof Future on October 1, 2024.
NOTE: The event is fully booked, but you can register. You will then be put on the waiting list. Should a place become available, you will receive an e-mail confirming your participation in the event.
Join us for: Shaping a Biodiversity Proof FutureThis year’s World Water Forum (WWF) is a significant one as it marks the events 10th anniversary
The jubilee edition is hosted by Indonesia and will take place in Bali under the main theme of ‘Water for shared prosperity’. The event will officially open with a traditional Balinese water purification ceremony, followed by 6 days of knowledge sharing, presenting, listening and networking.
Liliane Geerling, Programme Coordinator for Partners for Water and Ivo van der Linden, Delegated Representative for Indonesia discuss the importance of this event and the relationship between the Netherlands and Indonesia.
Liliane Geerling – Programme Coordinator, Partners for Water
‘At the WWF, we will present the Netherlands as a “Centre of Excellence with a shared pavilion where we showcase our broad expertise and knowledge related to water security. Partners for Water serves as host, but there are many other organisations involved, such as the Dutch embassy, Dutch companies and several Indonesian organisations. We feel that by attending the WWF we will benefit greatly because it will bring together so many stakeholders including; governments, multilateral institutions, academia and businesses.’
Enhancing cooperation
‘The pavilion will offer a comprehensive programme with lots of opportunities for interaction and in-depth sessions. For example, we are organising some sessions around the theme “Status and trends in global water cooperation”, where we will discuss what makes water cooperation work, how we can enhance bilateral cooperation and which role the international multilateral system should play. Another example is a presentation by the Ecoshape consortium about their research into Nature-based Solutions for increased water resilience in South-East Asia.’
‘At this year’s WWF, there will be many young water enthusiasts attending which is a great idea as after all they’re the future of the water sector. This is why we involved them in the run up to the event and it will continue to engage with them during and afterwards. One of the “youth activities” at the forum is a “pressure cooker challenge” (Raincarft Bali). Young professionals must come up with solutions to specific water challenges on the spot and then present them. I will be part of the jury and am very curious to hear what they come up with.’
Water action agenda
‘For me the WFF will be successful if, through our pavilion, we can spark discussions on how to advance innovative water solutions and how we can make these inclusive to all. Following that, I hope we can share knowledge and approaches towards water security for all. I also hope we can build upon the Water Action Agenda, which was launched at the UN Water Conference in New York in 2023. Since then, we’ve taken the lead on further developing this agenda and we hope to continue this in Bali. There is plenty of overlap between the action agenda and the themes of the WWF so I’m confident we will manage this.’
Ivo van der Linden – Delegated Representative, Indonesia
‘The fact that this year’s World Water Forum (WWF) is taking place in Bali is special for the Netherlands, due to our long-standing relationship with Indonesia. This collaboration was formalised in 2007 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), but we have been working together for much longer. We do this in an integrated, inclusive, sustainable and equal manner. We want to commend Indonesia for hosting this WWF and applaud their leadership role in addressing global water and climate challenges. We will help them out wherever we can, to ensure this edition is a memorable one.’
‘Indonesia is developing rapidly and we have ambitious goals regarding our collaboration. This includes new ways of working, where we work together to create an agenda and activities. As we’re both delta countries, we face common challenges such as coastal erosion and rising sea levels. We’re not only partners on water issues, but we also collaborate on other topics too, like renewable energy, sustainable cities and agriculture innovation. But water is an important driver for our broader collaboration.’
Shared knowledge agenda
As we knew that this year’s WWF would be hosted in Bali, we’ve been working together with the Indonesian Government to organise several joint activities. One aspect of this is giving young people a greater platform, as Liliane already explained. In addition to that, we also created a shared “knowledge agenda” for the event, which will culminate in two panel sessions that we’re jointly moderating. In one of them we will discuss small islands development and how we can help mitigate the water problems they face, like a lack of fresh water or climate change-related challenges.’
In the coming years, we will continue investing in our relationship with Indonesia through enhanced dialogue and aligning policy agendas. Part of that process includes evaluating our past collaboration and discussing how we can further improve it. During these sessions, we also include other partners such as the Asian Development Bank as they can use their funding programmes to help turn ideas and plans into concrete, actionable projects.
For more information about the Netherlands Pavilion programme, visit the event page.
With passion and enthusiasm, the results of bilateral collaborations between Indonesia and the Netherlands where shared with 52 participants from the Dutch and Indonesian water sector on Wednesday 14 December. Partners for Water, EcoShape, Invest International and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jakarta elaborated about successful projects of 2022 and gave a sneak preview of what is to come in 2023. One thing was clear, all the parties are looking forward to increasing their impact in Indonesia.
The Indonesian – Dutch relationship of the water sector has been long and will be continued for a long time
Nature Based Solutions in Sidoarjo
The Indonesian government has requested support from the Government of the Netherlands for the improvement of the regional aquaculture sector in Sidoarjo in East Java, whilst strengthening coastal sediment management and the conservation of the mangrove system. The Partners for Water programme has assigned a scoping project to Ecoshape, and in the beginning of December, a team of experts in Building with Nature visited Sidoarjo.
The past 7 years, EcoShape has been actively working on restoring the eroding mangrove coast in Demak with Nature Based Solutions. This has been co-funded by Fund Sustainable Water (RVO). Now EcoShape can translate the lessons learned in Demak to Sidoarjo and potentially integrate solutions to improve the aquaculture and environmental issues in the region. One of the aims of the scoping assignment is to share the knowledge and results with the Dutch and international water sector. A dissemination webinar will be planned in Q1 of 2023.
Asia Water
Robin van Boxtel, First Secretary at the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta, elaborated about the trade mission ‘ASIAWATER 2022’ in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was organised by the Dutch Embassies of the ASEAN countries, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP). The Dutch Embassy presented the current water cooperation between the Netherlands and Indonesia and 10 Dutch companies from the water sector where part of the expo. Van Boxtel ended with the announcement of more events to be held in the coming years and the representation of the ASEAN countries at Aquatech Amsterdam in 2023.
Semarang Urban Flood Resilience
Jeroen Bakker from Invest International talked about the Semarang Urban Flood Resilience project. To support the City of Semarang in becoming more flood resilience, Invest International has provided 1 million Euro coming from the Develop2Build Dutch Government to Government grant. This money will be used to conduct studies and design and select infrastructure measures to improve Semarang’s climate resilience by reducing the incidence and frequency of floods. Once the research is conducted and the interventions are selected, the project will be handed over to Indonesian project owners who will finance and procure the interventions. The kick-off of this exciting project will be in January 2023!
Finally, Partners for Water gave a warm goodbye to Rien Dam, who has been the Delegated Representative Water in Jakarta and an appreciated contributor to the bilateral collaborations between the Indonesian and Dutch water sector.
The different water parties are looking forward to continuing sharing their knowledge and expertise in the coming year. As Rien Dam said: “The Indonesian – Dutch relationship of the water sector has been long and will be continued for a long time. “
Can environmentally sustainable solutions contribute to economic growth? We are optimistic about their potential. Within the recently launched knowledge and innovation initiative NL2120, we are conducting thorough research on the implementation of Nature-based Solutions and their capacity to drive economic growth, both domestically in the Netherlands and internationally. Job Udo (Ecoshape-HKV) together with Petra Dankers (Ecoshape-RHDHV) and Heleen van den Hombergh (IUCN) will tell you all about it in the deep dive at Waterproof 2024.
Shift in solutions
Job has been addressing water safety issues for nearly a quarter of a century. His career has taken him from Eastern Europe and Asia to Africa, where he has championed innovative solutions in flood risk management. “In recent years, there has been a shift in water management solutions towards greener measures, both in the Netherlands and internationally,” Job explains.
Cost-benefit of Nature-based Solutions
While Nature-based Solutions (NBS) are increasingly being highlighted, actual implementation is lagging behind, primarily due to cost-benefit concerns, but institutional challenges and unfamiliarity with benefits are also hampering implementation. The higher costs and the need for large-scale application to achieve significant effects often lead to a preference for traditional methods. “What is often overlooked are the secondary benefits, such as the reduction of heat stress and the improvement of living environments,” he adds. The NL2120 programme aims to identify and lower the barriers to choosing NBS, thereby unlocking their economic potential in both the Netherlands and internationally.
Accelerating implementation through knowledge
In this unique knowledge and innovation programme, over 25 partners are committed to integrating, deepening, and enriching the knowledge of Nature-based Solutions. “We focus on the physical-ecological, socio-economic, and governance aspects of water management. In doing so, we aim to accelerate the implementation of NBS in the Netherlands and beyond. It’s not just about reducing flood risks, but also about creating broad prosperity and improving biodiversity,” Job emphasises. “Everything developed in the NL2120 programme is applicable for businesses, NGOs, and institutions currently engaged in initiatives abroad.”
Taking steps together during the deep dive
“We are currently assessing the knowledge needs, exploring the questions that arise, and the obstacles that parties experience, in order to practically shape the knowledge agenda. In our deep dive, we will collectively identify obstacles and develop strategies to overcome them.”
Join us at Waterproof 2024
Can environmentally sustainable solutions contribute to economic growth? We believe they can! Join us for this deep dive at Waterproof 2024.
“Embracing space in water management will take our knowledge from a local to a global level” explains Kathelijne Beenen. Satellites and spatial information services, intricately linked with climate and water systems, form a vital part of our environmental management toolkit. All stakeholders in water management, agriculture and Nature-based Solutions should be informed about the ways this technology can enhance our understanding and management of water resources. Want to find out how and why? Discover the answers by joining the “Space Technology for (Water) Dummies” deep-dive session at Waterproof 2024, hosted by the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) and users who have benefitted from space technology.
Who is Kathelijne Beenen?
Kathelijne’s expertise lies in innovation, and she has supported both the private sector and governments through her work with the NSO for the past three and a half years. Her academic background is in geoscience and remote sensing at Delft University of Technology, where she utilised satellite data to improve local agriculture. She is currently focussing on applying space technology to environmental challenges, ranging from local projects in Mozambique and Colombia to advising the Dutch government and Dutch businesses on leveraging satellite data for environmental solutions.
The urgency of space technology in water management
When asked why this topic is crucial, Kathelijne emphasised the role of space technology and data in addressing water management and climate challenges. “Earth observation and Internet-of-Things sensors (connected via satellites) provide us with real-time data and long-term trends, which are essential for making informed decisions in water management,” she explains. The ability to monitor and predict agricultural yields, understand land use, and manage our natural resources more effectively are indispensable to how we approach environmental challenges.
International developments and the future
Kathelijne highlights a significant shift in the space sector: from technology-driven satellite development to user-centric solutions. This evolution means more tailored services for a variety of end-users. Looking forward, seeing the steep increase in the number of Earth observation satellites and use of machine learning and AI, she predicts an increase in the availability and accessibility of satellite data and information services, fostering a more sustainable approach to managing our natural resources.
Why attend “Space technology for (water) dummies”?
“It’s a sneak preview of what space technology and Earth observation have to offer for water, climate change, and biodiversity. The session aims to inform, inspire, and engage us in meaningful dialogue.”
Join us at Waterproof 2024
Join us at Waterproof 2024 to explore how space technology can assist us in understanding, managing, and preserving our most precious resource: water.
“Choosing long-term, Nature-based Solutions over short-term, economical alternatives is pivotal for our future,” asserts Rosa de Wolf. Biodiversity, together with our climate and water systems, forms our life-support system. All initiatives under the Partners for Water umbrella should strengthen this life-support system. But how do we transcend the abstract nature of this concept? Find the answer by joining the design charrette led by Rosa de Wolf and Nico Tillie from TU Delft.
The expertise of Rosa de Wolf
Rosa’s expertise stems from her background in urban planning and her current role as a PhD candidate in Landscape Architecture at TU Delft. Her work, which began with pioneering designs for arid urban landscapes in Morocco, now focuses on revitalizing over 3,800 industrial sites in the Netherlands into vibrant, multifunctional, and nature-inclusive spaces, a programme financed by the Nationaal Groeifonds (National Growth Fund).
Biodiversity is more than a box to tick
Rosa emphasizes that biodiversity should not be merely an afterthought or a box to tick at a project’s end. Instead, it must be a starting point. “Designing for biodiversity means creating spaces that are not just aesthetically green and pleasant but also resilient to climate change,” she explains. This approach is about understanding and catering to the specific needs of various species, ensuring that our urban environments are as welcoming and nurturing for them as they are for us.
Why now? The urgency of biodiversity
The importance of this topic has never been more evident. With increasing water management challenges in the Netherlands and globally, Rosa stresses the need for immediate action. “Nature requires time to flourish, and if we aim to secure a habitable environment for the next fifty years, we cannot afford to delay,” she insists.
Global perspectives and local impact
Rosa’s involvement with international projects such as Africa Wood Grow in Kenya, offers a wider view on the efficacy of Nature-based Solutions. Another exemplary global initiative is the mangrove plantation in Indonesia, which demonstrates how nature can be instrumental in coastal restoration. These worldwide examples provide concrete evidence of the critical role biodiversity plays in tackling environmental challenges, from soil erosion to effective water management.
The future is green and diverse
Looking forward, Rosa envisions a world where biodiversity is at the forefront of urban design. “The future should see green, diverse spaces as a standard, not an afterthought,” she says. This vision requires a paradigm shift in how we approach urban development, prioritizing long-term ecological benefits over short-term gains.
We are proud to announce that Partners for Water has entered into a partnership agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
This agreement enables PFW to provide technical assistance and expert advice for ADB’s developing member countries on the application and scaling up of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) for increased water security.
A ceremony was held at PFW’s NBS event on 22 June 2023, with representatives from the ADB and PFW.
We are looking forward to a fruitful cooperation on this important topic!
What does it take to implement and scale up Nature-based Solutions (NBS) in the global water sector?
This was the central question at the ‘Scaling & Improving Together – The next steps in Nature Based Solutions’ conference. The much-anticipated NBS professionals event was held on 22 June at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) in The Hague.
One of the frequently cited success factors was making sure implementation and scaling-up processes are inclusive and collaborative.
Enthusiastic panel discussions
“Every country has its own challenges, yet we all face similar problems. For example, too much water in one place and not enough in another. Together, we can develop solutions that benefit us all.” Said Sergio Lopez, the executive coordinator at the Argentinian Ministry of Public Works, getting to the heart of the matter. He and his fellow officials from Chili and Indonesia talked enthusiastically about their recent field trips to several Dutch NBS projects as part of a delegation from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and national governments visiting the Netherlands ahead of the event.
It was so interesting to hear the perspectives from overseas delegates. It is wonderful to see their enthusiasm, openness to learn and commitment towards implementing NBS.
Inspiring plenary presentations
The lively buzz in the room fell silent as keynote speakers Bregje van Wesenbeeck (Deltares) and Eva Pfannez (OOZE) took turns inspiring the 150 attendees with their vision on integrating NBS into spatial design. “We are in energy, infrastructure and agriculture transitions”, Bregje says, “but we’re taking on each transition individually. We need solutions that support all of these transitions together. NBS meets this ‘multifunctionality’ criterion.”
Eva emphasised the versatility of NBS by demonstrating how the Indian city of Chennai plans to face both flooding and water shortage by storing excess water in aquifers. A pilot project on a school site in the centre of Chennai provides valuable lessons learnt: “For instance, we now know that to mitigate risk, we need to incorporate the cost of client management, capacity building and awareness raising.”
Bregje supported this observation and pointed out the added significance of collaboration. “It helps to have diverse people at the table. Different people offer different perspectives and solutions. This encourages us to let go of tunnel visions.”
Valuable breakout sessions
Fortunately, the event featured plenty of diverse perspectives. The NBS professionals were given the opportunity to break out into small groups to delve deeper into the relevant themes and discuss them together. These were the key outcomes of those breakout sessions:
- NBS are likely to be an outcome of integrated and inclusive processes during project initiation.
- The IUCN NBS Standard can help to effectively design, implement and scale up NBS.
- An inclusive, bottom-up approach inspires more ownership, creativity and fun.
- Some stakeholders might seem more important than others, but in the decision-making process, you’ll need all of them.
- When implementing NBS, nature should be able to do its work. It should be managed as little as possible.
- Enhancing biodiversity is as important as improving the water safety for inhabitants.
Make sure all people from the designated area benefit from your solution. They’ll want to know what’s in it for them. And you should be able to answer that.
Informal networking
As the final speaker concluded his remarks, the power of collaboration and the value of diverse voices were enthusiastically embraced. The attendees then continued to share their insights and look for collaborative opportunities. They did this at either the informal social gatherings or at the so-called ‘country tables’, which were set up for participants interested in water sectors in specific countries.
When the time came for the participants to head home, there was a collective sense of confidence. The NBS community came together, connected and listened to each other. Now it’s up to everyone to continue doing so. With the evident determination, innovative ideas and enough people at the table, this goal certainly is attainable.
I love the fact that such a diverse group of people came together today. And I think everyone here is aware that we all need to work together.
Questions about the event or about Nature-based Solutions?
Please sent an e-mail to administratiepvw@pvw.nl, or reach out to Matthijs Zijlmans.
Partners for Water is a Dutch government programme enhancing water security internationally in long-term cooperation with local partners and the Dutch water sector. By facilitating strategic planning and support in the early stages of innovation, the programme aims to contribute to systemic change for sustainable water management and infrastructure. This is how we initiate impactful changes for a better living environment.
