Taljaard, SusanSlinger, JHArabi, SumaiyaWeerts, Steven PVreugdenhil, H2020-12-012020-12-012020-10Taljaard, S., Slinger, J.H., Arabi, S., et al. 2020. The natural environment in port development: A ‘green handbrake’ or an equal partner? Ocean & Coastal Management, Vol 199, pp. 1-110964-56911873-524Xhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569120302970https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2020.105390http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11679Copyright: 2020, Elsevier. Due to copyright restrictions, the attached PDF file contains the abstract of the full-text item. For access to the full-text item, please consult the publisher's website.Rapid urbanization of the coast, growing global trade, stakeholder emancipation and ongoing depletion of natural resources mean that ports can no longer operate and develop without acknowledging and incorporating societal and environmental considerations. Drawing primarily on first-hand experiences in South African ports, supplemented with learning taken from international literature, this paper proposes a conceptual change in the position of the natural environment in port development from that of a ‘green handbrake’ to ‘equal partner’. The argument for this conceptual change is developed in three stages. First, we merge two concepts emerging from the literature, namely natural capital (or natural infrastructure) and infrastructure systems, to embed the natural environment as an integral component or ‘equal partner’ in port development. We then identify practical avenues through which the profile (or value) of the natural environment can be enhanced in port development, drawing on concepts such as Building with Nature (BwN) and multi-use of natural capital. Finally, we build a framework for Integrated Port Management (IPM) by conceptually positioning and aligning environmental processes within the traditional port development cycle, as well as identifying the need for coordination across and continuity between individual environmental assessment processes. In essence, bridging the disconnect between natural environmental issues and port development requires early consideration of the natural environment in port development, and an acknowledgement of multi-use benefits from natural capital. Further, in the operations and maintenance phases, environmental management systems in ports should not only focus on environmental performance, but also embrace multi-use valuation of the natural environment (ecosystem services) to give purpose to the need for environmental protection. However, crucial to effective implementation of an Integrated Port Management (IPM) framework will be its integration in organisational processes, supported by collaborative institutional structures. Only then will the environment take its place as equal partner in port development.enGreen portsEnvironmental assessmentSustainable port developmentIntegrated port managementNatural capitalArticleTaljaard, S., Slinger, J., Arabi, S., Weerts, S. P., & Vreugdenhil, H. (2020). The natural environment in port development: A ‘green handbrake’ or an equal partner?. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11679Taljaard, Susan, JH Slinger, Sumaiya Arabi, Steven P Weerts, and H Vreugdenhil "The natural environment in port development: A ‘green handbrake’ or an equal partner?." (2020) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11679Taljaard S, Slinger J, Arabi S, Weerts SP, Vreugdenhil H. The natural environment in port development: A ‘green handbrake’ or an equal partner?. 2020; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11679.TY - Article AU - Taljaard, Susan AU - Slinger, JH AU - Arabi, Sumaiya AU - Weerts, Steven P AU - Vreugdenhil, H AB - Rapid urbanization of the coast, growing global trade, stakeholder emancipation and ongoing depletion of natural resources mean that ports can no longer operate and develop without acknowledging and incorporating societal and environmental considerations. Drawing primarily on first-hand experiences in South African ports, supplemented with learning taken from international literature, this paper proposes a conceptual change in the position of the natural environment in port development from that of a ‘green handbrake’ to ‘equal partner’. The argument for this conceptual change is developed in three stages. First, we merge two concepts emerging from the literature, namely natural capital (or natural infrastructure) and infrastructure systems, to embed the natural environment as an integral component or ‘equal partner’ in port development. We then identify practical avenues through which the profile (or value) of the natural environment can be enhanced in port development, drawing on concepts such as Building with Nature (BwN) and multi-use of natural capital. Finally, we build a framework for Integrated Port Management (IPM) by conceptually positioning and aligning environmental processes within the traditional port development cycle, as well as identifying the need for coordination across and continuity between individual environmental assessment processes. In essence, bridging the disconnect between natural environmental issues and port development requires early consideration of the natural environment in port development, and an acknowledgement of multi-use benefits from natural capital. Further, in the operations and maintenance phases, environmental management systems in ports should not only focus on environmental performance, but also embrace multi-use valuation of the natural environment (ecosystem services) to give purpose to the need for environmental protection. However, crucial to effective implementation of an Integrated Port Management (IPM) framework will be its integration in organisational processes, supported by collaborative institutional structures. Only then will the environment take its place as equal partner in port development. DA - 2020-10 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Green ports KW - Environmental assessment KW - Sustainable port development KW - Integrated port management KW - Natural capital LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2020 SM - 0964-5691 SM - 1873-524X T1 - The natural environment in port development: A ‘green handbrake’ or an equal partner? TI - The natural environment in port development: A ‘green handbrake’ or an equal partner? UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11679 ER -