Posted on June 26, 2025
Ghent University and DEME are proud to announce the launch of the new Chair “Nature-based Solutions for Resilient Coasts”. This collaboration aims to deliver a practitioner guide that summarizes nature-based approaches and provides guidance on how to design and apply them for the protection of coastal areas. The focus is on solutions that not only protect against rising sea levels but also help restore natural ecosystems.
Working in the marine environment, protecting nature and ecological value are at the heart of DEME’s activities. One of the ways in which we increase ecological value is by exploring opportunities to recover, improve, or develop ecosystems in each of our projects through the application of nature-based solutions. Instead of relying solely on traditional concrete or stone sea defenses, we believe we can adopt more natural systems that work in harmony with the environment. These include, among other things, gently sloping beaches reinforced with dunes and vegetation, as well as salt marshes and mudflats that naturally buffer and protect riverbanks. Such approaches not only enhance coastal resilience but also support biodiversity and landscape integration.
Nature and ecological value are at the heart of our work. Through this Chair, we are aiming to recover, enhance, and develop ecosystems in all our projects by applying nature-based solutions. Read more at:
