Building a nature-inclusive port future

Developed with the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the Nature Vision aims to create a “nature-inclusive port” where economic growth aligns with the restoration of biodiversity in the Rhine-Meuse Delta. 

“The Port of Rotterdam Authority recognises its responsibility to contribute to a better living and working environment for everyone in and around the port area. Restoration of nature and biodiversity is an important part of this,” said Eric van der Schans, director of environmental management at the Port of Rotterdam Authority

A net positive port

Rotterdam’s Nature Vision supports the authority’s ambition to become a net positive port – or a port that is contributing more to society and the environment than it takes.

The Nature Vision outlines how nature and biodiversity will be structurally integrated into all organisational decisions, with nature-inclusive design becoming the standard for new projects.

Examples include the Maasvlakte Zuid railway yard, which is being developed with nature-friendly banks, amphibian ponds and breeding areas for coastal birds. These efforts demonstrate how port development can coexist with ecosystem restoration.

Key priorities for the port authority include improving soil and water quality, reducing light and noise pollution and enhancing ecological connections across nine characteristic landscapes.

The Port of Rotterdam said that collaboration with partners such as Naturalis, governments and local organisations is central to achieving these goals.

By embedding nature conservation into its long-term strategy, the Port of Rotterdam Authority said it reinforces its social responsibility by demonstrating that a thriving economy and a healthy environment can grow together.