Assessing nature-based coastal defense

Abstract Nature-based Coastal Defense is increasingly used to reduce climate risk, because considered effective, inexpensive and cost-effective, easy to implement, and no-regrets. This article discusses this positive framing through the analysis of 23 projects implemented in French overseas territor...

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Main Authors: Virginie K. E. Duvat, Inès Hatton, Louise Burban, Alice Jacobée, Myriam Vendé-Leclerc, Lucile Stahl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96744-7
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author Virginie K. E. Duvat
Inès Hatton
Louise Burban
Alice Jacobée
Myriam Vendé-Leclerc
Lucile Stahl
author_facet Virginie K. E. Duvat
Inès Hatton
Louise Burban
Alice Jacobée
Myriam Vendé-Leclerc
Lucile Stahl
author_sort Virginie K. E. Duvat
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Nature-based Coastal Defense is increasingly used to reduce climate risk, because considered effective, inexpensive and cost-effective, easy to implement, and no-regrets. This article discusses this positive framing through the analysis of 23 projects implemented in French overseas territories, using an ex-post expert judgment method considering enabling conditions (context, governance, funding, social acceptability), risk reduction (technical effectiveness; studies, monitoring and evaluation) and externalities (co-benefits and disbenefits; contribution to adaptation). 80% of projects aimed at reducing coastal erosion; 47.8% were implemented in natural or rural areas; 87.1% included restoration; 82.6% targeted one single ecosystem and 51.7% beach/dune systems; 47.8% were led by public actors; all relied on multiple funding sources. Performance indices range from 39.4 to 77.2%. The highest scores concern governance and social acceptability, and the lowest scores risk reduction. No project included an evaluation of risk reduction and was calibrated for future risk. Internal (i.e. project related) and external (more general) levers and barriers to effectiveness were identified. Internal barriers include the lack of political support to nature-based options, the difficulty to secure the required long-term funding and to upscale action in the face of strong land tenure constraints.
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spelling doaj-art-2ff83531ef2240ecb6710012b90f5be32025-08-20T01:51:28ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-96744-7Assessing nature-based coastal defenseVirginie K. E. Duvat0Inès Hatton1Louise Burban2Alice Jacobée3Myriam Vendé-Leclerc4Lucile Stahl5UMRi LIENSs 7266, La Rochelle Université-CNRSUMRi LIENSs 7266, La Rochelle Université-CNRSUMRi LIENSs 7266, La Rochelle Université-CNRSUMRi LIENSs 7266, La Rochelle Université-CNRSObservatoire du Littoral de Nouvelle-Calédonie/DIMENCUMRi LIENSs 7266, La Rochelle Université-CNRSAbstract Nature-based Coastal Defense is increasingly used to reduce climate risk, because considered effective, inexpensive and cost-effective, easy to implement, and no-regrets. This article discusses this positive framing through the analysis of 23 projects implemented in French overseas territories, using an ex-post expert judgment method considering enabling conditions (context, governance, funding, social acceptability), risk reduction (technical effectiveness; studies, monitoring and evaluation) and externalities (co-benefits and disbenefits; contribution to adaptation). 80% of projects aimed at reducing coastal erosion; 47.8% were implemented in natural or rural areas; 87.1% included restoration; 82.6% targeted one single ecosystem and 51.7% beach/dune systems; 47.8% were led by public actors; all relied on multiple funding sources. Performance indices range from 39.4 to 77.2%. The highest scores concern governance and social acceptability, and the lowest scores risk reduction. No project included an evaluation of risk reduction and was calibrated for future risk. Internal (i.e. project related) and external (more general) levers and barriers to effectiveness were identified. Internal barriers include the lack of political support to nature-based options, the difficulty to secure the required long-term funding and to upscale action in the face of strong land tenure constraints.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96744-7Ecosystem-based adaptationNature-based solutionsCoastal risk reductionStructured expert judgmentClimate changeSmall Islands
spellingShingle Virginie K. E. Duvat
Inès Hatton
Louise Burban
Alice Jacobée
Myriam Vendé-Leclerc
Lucile Stahl
Assessing nature-based coastal defense
Scientific Reports
Ecosystem-based adaptation
Nature-based solutions
Coastal risk reduction
Structured expert judgment
Climate change
Small Islands
title Assessing nature-based coastal defense
title_full Assessing nature-based coastal defense
title_fullStr Assessing nature-based coastal defense
title_full_unstemmed Assessing nature-based coastal defense
title_short Assessing nature-based coastal defense
title_sort assessing nature based coastal defense
topic Ecosystem-based adaptation
Nature-based solutions
Coastal risk reduction
Structured expert judgment
Climate change
Small Islands
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96744-7
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AT louiseburban assessingnaturebasedcoastaldefense
AT alicejacobee assessingnaturebasedcoastaldefense
AT myriamvendeleclerc assessingnaturebasedcoastaldefense
AT lucilestahl assessingnaturebasedcoastaldefense