NESP MaC Project 3.7 - Identifying and overcoming barriers to coastal and marine habitat restoration and Nature based Solutions in Australia

Research Project

Researchers: Dr Megan Saunders (Principal investigator, Point of contact) ,  Dr Megan Saunders (Principal investigator, Point of contact) ,  Morris, Rebecca (collaborator, Principal investigator, Point of contact) ,  Morris, Rebecca (collaborator, Principal investigator, Point of contact) ,  Saunders, Megan (Principal investigator, Point of contact)
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Brief description 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. No data outputs are planned for this project. -------------------- 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 & 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 The research will be conducted through in person and/or virtual workshops, with the outcome being advancement of effective approaches to overcome these challenges. Planned Outputs • Final technical report with analysed data and a short summary of recommendations for policy makers of key findings [written]

Lineage Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded

Notes Credit
Nathan Waltham (JCU), Megan Saunders (CSIRO), Rebecca Morris (UM), Mibu Fisher (CSIRO), Stephen Swearer (UM), Sean Connell (UA), Alice Jones (UA), Phillipa McCormack (UA), Ales Wawryk (UA), Dominic McAfee (UA), Georgina Drew (UA), Justine Bell-James (UA), Nicole Shumway (UQ), Mariana Mayer Pinto (UNSW) Melanie Bishop (MU), Vishnu Prahalad (UNSW), Ana Bugnot (CSIRO)

Notes Credit
National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub

Notes Credit
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Australian Government

Notes Credit
In addition to NESP (DCCEEW) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.

Notes Purpose
Project Aims and Objectives: • Final report that collates the information/data generated and lessons learned. • Major research proposal for RP24 breaking down governance and approvals • Case studies of specific Indigenous restoration projects or a desktop analysis of applications with Indigenous involvement • Capacity building of the team to gain confidence in their ability to build meaningful relationships with communities • Framework on pathway to restoration activities, including where the barriers are (Indigenous specific)

Data time period: 2023-01-10 to 2023-12-31

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