This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Research Plan 2023 project 3.7 – Identifying and overcoming barriers to coastal and marine habitat restoration and Nature based Solutions in Australia. All outputs of this project are written (i.e. no data outputs).

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There is an increasing need for and investment in coastal and marine restoration around Australia to help manage habitat and biodiversity loss, water quality, coastal inundation and erosion, and blue carbon assets. These projects are undertaken by a range of Commonwealth, state and local government agencies, NGOs, and community groups, and range across different habitat types and scale. However, a number of barriers currently preclude widespread uptake and implementation of habitat restoration and nature-based solutions (NbS) in Australia, which centre on: 1) policy and legislative barriers; 2) engineering adoption of NbS; and 3) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inclusion and co-design.

Overcoming barriers to marine and coastal restoration, and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) adoption is critical to safeguarding Australia’s marine estate. We focus this research on three thematic areas that represent roadblocks and opportunities for more inclusion in implementing and scaling-up restoration and NbS:

1. Engaging policy and permitting regulators to identify and breakdown barriers for marine and coastal habitat restoration;

2. Understanding and up-take of NbS by the engineering sector; and

3. Inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in restoration and NbS

This research was conducted through in person and virtual workshops, with the outcome being advancement of effective approaches to overcome these challenges.

Outputs

• Identifying and overcoming barriers to marine and coastal habitat restoration and nature-based solutions in Australia [project summary - written]

• A blueprint for overcoming barriers to the use of nature-based coastal protection in Australia [written]

• Legislative permitting processes for restoration [written]

• Pathways to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inclusion and co-design in restoration [written]