Coastal Nature-Based Solutions: A Quick Scoping Review
This research assessed any developments in the evidence base for coastal Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) since 2017.
Documents
The final report, an annex and a summary report can be downloaded from Defra Science Search.
Details
This research assessed any developments in the evidence base for coastal Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) since 2017. The research provides an overview of the current academic and grey literature and the evidence gaps.
It provides examples of successful implementation of coastal NBS using:
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coastal wetland
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beach
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dune ecosystems
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reef ecosystems
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NBS alongside hard structures
Conclusion
The research found that there are common enablers and best design practices for using each of these 5 types of NBS These include suitable size and conditions to allow for the establishment of natural processes and enabling legislation and finance models.
The review highlights developments in the evidence base for:
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better modelling of coastal wetlands and dune NBS
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developments in specific guidelines for best practices
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a drive to better define economic value for the range of ecosystem services provided by coastal NBS. Case studies demonstrate approaches to using NBS.
Recommendations
There remains a need to gather evidence and standardise monitoring and evaluation metrics. A further review of tools and methods to assess the efficacy of coastal NBS is recommended, alongside continued engagement with local, regional, and national actors. The learnings from this report have important lessons for planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects using NBS for FCERM.
This project was completed internally and started in 2021 and was completed in 2022.