Principles of sustainable dredging agreed

The newly agreed principles emphasise the need to work in harmony with natural processes and the site-specific characteristics of ecosystems. It’s hoped that they will contribute to the worldwide dredging community moving forward in a sustainable manner.

Polite Laboyrie, Chairman of the WODA and CEDA Environment Commissions, said: “With these Principles of Sustainable Dredging our organisations show what their driving force is achieving goals for the environment and for prosperity by promoting and organising active collaboration, exchange of views and using best available knowledge.”

He pointed out that projects should take into account social, environmental and economic objectives and should engage a broad range of stakeholders from the start and that beneficial use of dredged materials should be a priority.

By following this blueprint, WODA believes that dredging will contribute to sound solutions that improve our well being and protect our aquatic environment for future generations.

The three WODA constituents – WEDA (Americas), CEDA (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) and EADA (Asia and Australia) – operate around the world and sometimes find significant differences in the way dredging projects are planned and implemented. The Principles of Sustainable Dredging statement captures the common values and principles to which each association subscribes.

Every three years leading experts meet for WODCON, the single most important opportunity for the worldwide dredging community to explore and share the latest developments in the industry.

In 2013 the Congress was organised by the Netherlands based Central Dredging Association (CEDA) on behalf of the World Organisation of Dredging Associations (WODA), with the support of the Government of Flanders.

With the theme ‘The Art of Dredging’, WODCON XX brought together around 450 researchers and practitioners from industry, academia and government.