What a unique approach to marine restoration can teach about tackling biodiversity loss

Fine dredged sediments, often discarded at sea, are typically seen as unwanted byproducts of port and channel dredging. Yet as climate change and biodiversity loss intensify, the need for scalable nature-based solutions becomes urgent.

One such solution – AquaForest – demonstrates how the circular reuse of dredged sediments can unlock new pathways for ecological restoration and climate resilience.

As a maritime construction firm, our company, Jan De Nul, holds a 25-year concession for maintaining the access channel to the port of Guayaquil, Ecuador, meaning we are responsible for ensuring safe and navigable waters by regularly dredging the channel to remove sediment buildup.

Dredged sediments are notoriously difficult to manage. They are often fine-grained, unstable and potentially contaminated, making disposal a logistical and environmental challenge. Traditionally, these sediments are dumped at sea or stored in containment sites, contributing little to ecological or economic value.

In Guayaquil, the recurring need to dredge the channel raised a critical question: could these sediments be repurposed to stabilize the coast and restore degraded ecosystems? Coastal erosion, habitat loss and sediment disposal were converging problems and we needed a solution that addressed all three.

Moreover, Jan De Nul collaborates with local communities in our projects – many of whom rely on mangrove ecosystems for fishing, crab collection and protection from storm surges. Engaging with these communities became a cornerstone of the project. Their insights, needs and knowledge shaped our approach and helped us co-create within AquaForest.

Our proposed solution was to elevate an existing sand flat in the Guayas Delta – an intertidal zone composed of compacted sand and silt – into a new island ecosystem, known as the AquaForest.

The Guayas Delta, located in western Ecuador, is one of the country’s most ecologically significant estuarine systems, home to extensive mangrove forests and rich biodiversity.

We drew inspiration from mangrove forests, one of nature's most effective coastal stabilizers and we designed AquaForest as a living, adaptive structure.

Unlike traditional fixed stabilization structures, such as concrete dikes or groynes, mangroves provide critical functions, including erosion control, biodiversity support, water quality improvement, carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation, along with significant socio-economic benefits.

To ensure feasibility, we conducted a year-long field investigation. This included:

These investigations were crucial to confirm that mangroves could thrive in repurposed sediments and that the island design would withstand hydrodynamic forces. The hydraulic stability of the design was also verified using hydrodynamic modelling to simulate the interaction between waves, currents, sediments and structures and presented to the relevant authorities.

Based on this data, we co-created with local stakeholders to develop an eco-engineered mangrove island design incorporating optimal conditions for mangrove development, including: protection of the island against wave and current action, use of suitable types of sediments, establishing effective drainage conditions on the island and developing a tailored afforestation plan.

The AquaForest project has focuses on tangible results:

Local stakeholders were integral to every phase. We began by mapping communities and initiating open dialogue to understand their needs. Key activities included:

Awareness-raising workshops educated communities on mangrove restoration, while skill-building sessions empowered them to diversify income sources. These included training in eco-tourism, sustainable aquaculture and governance practices to ensure long-term stewardship.

A formal commitment act – signed by the consortium, community representatives and stakeholders – cemented shared responsibilities and ensures a smooth transition from a Living Lab to a mature ecosystem.

As governments and institutions increasingly prioritize climate-aligned infrastructure, demand for nature-based solutions such as AquaForest is set to grow. But scaling requires more than technical success. It demands:

If this shift doesn’t happen, we risk missing a critical opportunity to turn ecological threats into regenerative solutions.

AquaForest shows that with the right partnerships and vision, even dredged waste can become a foundation for biodiversity, resilience and community empowerment.