Navigating Nature-Based Coastal Adaptation through Barriers: A Synthesis of Practitioners’ Narrative from Nova Scotia, Canada

Nature based coastal adaptation (NbCA) sustainably helps minimize sea-level rise impacts, using and enhancing the natural capacity of coastal ecosystems. Despite its relative advantages over conventional hard protection infrastructure, the implementation of NbCA is challenged by diverse barriers, many of which cannot be overcome in the absence of appropriate policy directives. This paper draws on organizational practitioners’ case study narratives collected from six NbCA projects planned and/or implemented in Nova Scotia, Canada, to answer how the implementation of NbCA approaches can be navigated through adoption barriers. Results reveal that institutional and psychological barriers dominate, and they also show path-dependency. In addition, barriers are often influenced by the biophysical properties of a restoration site. To navigate through barriers, it is important to identify policy opportunities and redistribute roles and responsibilities. Organizational knowledge creation through partnership and community engagement are two other strategies required for the successful implementation of NbCA.