Theme 3C: Changing urban structures as a form of restoration.

Deterioration of coastal marine and estuarine habitats is inevitable in areas where human development is active. This is particularly the case in New South Wales (and throughout Australia) where a very large proportion of the population live on the edges of the coast-line. To sustain biodiversity and to maintain ecological processes and functions (for its own sake or for anthropocentric, human reasons), it will be necessary, for a very long time, to recreate, rebuild or repair habitats (Programme 3: Restoration of Disturbed Coastal Habitats). The science of restoration of coastal habitats is virtually unknown, and there is no sensible theory or understanding of how to create habitat that develops ecological function and maintains natural biodiversity.

Around cities, there must be extensive infrastructure for ports, runways, bridges, roads, sea-walls, etc. Most of these create very alien habitats. For example, sea-walls are vertical and relatively featureless compared with the irregular, mostly horizontal natural rocky shores.

The Centre for Research on Ecological Impacts of Coastal Cities (EICC) has generated many scientific papers and theses from research projects on changing urban structures as a form of restoration. The link to the URL provided in this record provides a link to this research.

In addition, there is research on the ways discarded objects (e.g. old cars) on the sea-floor can replace lost subtidal habitat for animals and plants and what are the overall consequences for fauna and flora when rubbish is removed from areas of an urban harbour.