Standards Development

Scope

This PAS gives recommendations on how to specify the design of marine nature-inclusive structures in a way that positively integrates them with the marine environment. It also provides recommendations on how to plan for and implement such structures in a sustainable, practical manner; how to assess the ecological efficacy of nature-inclusive structures and how to decommission them responsibly.

This PAS covers guidance relating to the core principles of nature-inclusive design, integration of nature-inclusive design with sustainable planning practices, such as biodiversity net gain (BNG) and other emerging practices including marine net gain (MNG), net positive impact (NPI), natural capital approaches, etc. It also covers guidance relating to the integration of nature-inclusive structures with the restoration of biogenic habitats by augmenting structures with habitat-forming species.

This PAS is applicable to any structure or set of structures that will be placed in marine environments during marine construction projects (hereafter referred to as “projects”). It is also applicable to the modification or enhancement of existing man-made structures already located in the marine environment.

This PAS is intended for use by anyone procuring, using, designing, or developing marine structures. It is intended for use by:

a)    design and pre-construction professionals specifying nature-inclusive designs, selecting existing designs and developing new designs;

b)    developers and lease holders procuring nature-inclusive structures or nature-inclusive design services;

c)     project managers and engineers integrating nature-inclusive designs or nature-inclusive structures into projects; and

d)    ecologists aiming to improve post-build biodiversity metrics of projects with nature-inclusive design.

This PAS is also of interest to marine licensing authorities and regulators responsible for the permitting of projects, aiming to verify eco-centric and sustainable development practices.

This PAS does not cover:

1)    technical engineering criteria or tests, such as structural design, lifting methodologies or maintenance inspections;

2)    quality control measures for the production of structures;

3)    deployment methods and logistics processes;

NOTE 1 Users are advised to follow existing specialist advice, industry standards, guidance notes and requisite legislation for these topics. For example, BS EN ISO 9001 provides guidance on the establishment of effective quality management systems.

4)    recommendations for specific nature-inclusive design features to suit different locations;

NOTE 2 For design recommendations, users are advised to seek up to date guidance documents, especially those that synthesize ecological engineering theory and peer reviewed research, for example, Evans, 2021 [3]; Glarou et al., 2020 [4]; Lengkeek et al., 2017 [5].

5)    specific guidance on the comprehensive assessment and mitigation of environmental impacts across a project;

NOTE 3 Environmental impacts and appropriate mitigation has to be assessed on a project by project basis.

6)    guidance on whether the use of marine structures is appropriate to a given area or on the criteria for acceptance of a project during licensing processes; or

7)    comprehensive guidance on the development and management of nature-based solutions.

NOTE 4 Nature-inclusive design can be used as a tool within nature-based solutions, in which case users are advised to integrate nature-inclusive structures with wider best practice for the management of nature-based solutions, for example, Bridges et al., 2021 [6]; IUCN, 2020 [7]).

NOTE 5 It is important to provide clarity on the crossovers and distinctions between these concepts: nature-based solutions and nature-inclusive design. Both nature-based solutions and nature-inclusive design aim to enhance biodiversity or ecosystem services while addressing societal needs, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and the integration of natural processes. Nature-inclusive design can be seen as a specific approach or tool within the broader framework of nature-based solutions. However, there are notable differences: nature-based solutions have a broader scope, addressing a wide range of societal challenges through ecosystem-based approaches, often at larger scales such as landscapes or regions. In contrast, nature-inclusive design is more focused on the built environment and infrastructure, dealing with the integration of natural elements within man-made structures. Additionally, nature-inclusive design is typically implemented at a more granular level, such as individual buildings or construction areas, whereas nature-based solutions can span larger geographical areas and encompass more diverse applications.