A floating ecosystem for deployment in a body of water, the ecosystem comprising a number of elongate members which are arranged side-by-side and define one or more corresponding elongate planting lanes between them. These planting lanes allow for the insertion and support of plants at predetermined lateral separations. The elongate members are advantageously resilient and closely spaced so as to provide structural support to plants inserted in the planting lanes. The ecosystem may also comprise a material or component which is partially biodegradable and partially durable and/or non- biodegradable; the biodegradable portion initially provides natural planting media for improved plant establishment then makes way for root spread and plant growth as it decays