VERONICA consists in the implementation of submerged aquatic vegetation along navigation channels located in inner coastal areas, such as coastal lagoons and inlets, to promote sediment stability on the channel margins and hence reducing accretion rates in inside the navigation channels. This promotes an improved management of channel maintenance operations through a reduction in the need of dredging operations.

Restoration of salt marsh and seagrass vegetation along navigation channels will be enhanced using eco-friendly, bio-based substrate fixation materials. The vegetated bottom will contribute to a reduction of tidal velocities along the sides of the navigation channels and consequently reduce the rate of sedimentation inside the channel. VERONICA provides many services to local coastal communities including ecosystem restoration, relevant contributions to carbon sequestration and optimized channel maintenance dredging activities.

 

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Concrete Application

VERONICA is to be applied along navigation channels located in coastal lagoons and inlets.

Suitable environments correspond to wave-protected coastal areas, with sediments mainly characterized by finer sediment fractions, where navigation channels suffer from regular accretion that compromises vessels’ traffic. Such environments also typically correspond to natural ecosystems for seagrass meadows and saltmarsh development. In this sense, the application of VERONICA, takes advantage from natural environmental conditions prone to development of certain vegetation species to provide benefits to the management of human economical activities.

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Market Potential

VERONICA solution presents a good market potential. On general terms, both political and environmental frameworks are favorable to the development of business solutions that are aligned with sustainable development including the optimized use of natural resources and improved resilience to climate change effects.

The active use of NBSs is still at an early stage, being competitor alternatives mostly exploratory and under testing phase. Therefore, the NBS market presents a high growing potential as there is currently very little (internationally) to no competition (nationally).

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Key Points

• Coastal resilience enhancement through system thinking.

• Nature-Based Solution for sedimentation control in navigation channels.

• Blue economy development through ecosystem restoration

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