Deterioration of coastal marine and estuarine habitats is inevitable in areas where human development is active. This is particularly the case in New South Wales (and throughout Australia) where a very large proportion of the population live on the edges of the coast-line. To sustain biodiversity and to maintain ecological processes and functions (for its own sake or for anthropocentric, human reasons), it will be necessary, for a very long time, to recreate, rebuild or repair habitats (Programme 3: Restoration of Disturbed Coastal Habitats). The science of restoration of coastal habitats is virtually unknown, and there is no sensible theory or understanding of how to create habitat that develops ecological function and maintains natural biodiversity. The biodiversity of animals and plants on rocky shores and in subtidal kelp-beds is vast, complex and variable in space and time. It is very different on many artificial hard surfaces (pilings, sea-walls, etc.) from that on natural rocky shores. As a result, it is necessary to find ways to change the construction of these essential infrastructural developments to enhance their capacity to provide suitable habitat for the natural fauna and flora of our coast-line. The Centre for Research on Ecological Impacts of Coastal Cities (EICC) has generated many scientific papers and theses from research projects on the restoration of intertidal and subtidal habitats. The link to the URL provided in this record provides a link to this research.

Deterioration of coastal marine and estuarine habitats is inevitable in areas where human development is active. This is particularly the case in New South Wales (and throughout Australia) where a very large proportion of the population live on the edges of the coast-line. To sustain biodiversity and to maintain ecological processes and functions (for its own sake or for anthropocentric, human reasons), it will be necessary, for a very long time, to recreate, rebuild or repair habitats (Programme 3: Restoration of Disturbed Coastal Habitats). The science of restoration of coastal habitats is virtually unknown, and there is no sensible theory or understanding of how to create habitat that develops ecological function and maintains natural biodiversity. Most projects on restoration of habitat have unclear or no defined aims. Where there are clear aims, it is unusual, if not rare, to find any assessment of whether the aims are being achieved. The Centre for Research on Ecological Impacts of Coastal Cities (EICC)'s research in the area of ecology includes development and testing of protocols to allow assessment of the progress and achievements of programmes of restoration. This is complex because, like assessments of impacts, any actual restoration must be detectable against large natural variation in numbers and types of animals and plants from place to place and time to time. Also, the goals of restoration cannot depend on vague hopes of "restoring a balance" when it is known there is no "balance" to restore. So, sampling and experimental design, logical structures for statistical analysis and interpretation of results must all be developed, tested and improved. The EICC has generated many scientific papers and theses from research projects on the development and testing of protocols to allow assessment of the progress and achievements of programs of restoration. The link to the URL provided in this record provides a link to this research.

Deterioration of coastal marine and estuarine habitats is inevitable in areas where human development is active. This is particularly the case in New South Wales (and throughout Australia) where a very large proportion of the population live on the edges of the coast-line. To sustain biodiversity and to maintain ecological processes and functions (for its own sake or for anthropocentric, human reasons), it will be necessary, for a very long time, to recreate, rebuild or repair habitats (Programme 3: Restoration of Disturbed Coastal Habitats). The science of restoration of coastal habitats is virtually unknown, and there is no sensible theory or understanding of how to create habitat that develops ecological function and maintains natural biodiversity. Around cities, there must be extensive infrastructure for ports, runways, bridges, roads, sea-walls, etc. Most of these create very alien habitats. For example, sea-walls are vertical and relatively featureless compared with the irregular, mostly horizontal natural rocky shores. The Centre for Research on Ecological Impacts of Coastal Cities (EICC) has generated many scientific papers and theses from research projects on changing urban structures as a form of restoration. The link to the URL provided in this record provides a link to this research. In addition, there is research on the ways discarded objects (e.g. old cars) on the sea-floor can replace lost subtidal habitat for animals and plants and what are the overall consequences for fauna and flora when rubbish is removed from areas of an urban harbour.