The challenges of implementing nature-based solutions (NBS) in reach-scale river management in NSW (138325)
Rhiannon Hughes
1
,
Rebecca Mabbott
1
,
Guy Lampert
1
- Soil Conservation Service, Parramatta, NSW, Australia
- Nature-based solutions (NBS) are considered an important tool in establishing resilient fluvial corridors with research suggesting they will be integral to upscaling efforts from the local to catchment scale.
- While nature-based methods are frequently cited as a more sustainable alternative to conventional practices there is little research examining the challenges and practicalities of implementing this approach in the current NSW context.
- Building on our long history of working in catchment management, we examine and present the real-world challenges we have experienced in implementing NBS during a period of ‘climate whiplash’ in eastern NSW from 2019 to 2025.
- From this examination we outline some of the key challenges to nature-based catchment management as: lacking industry and landholder capacity, understanding of where NBS can be effective, nature-based timescales, reactive/short-term funding models, community perception and stakeholder risk tolerance.
- This examination offers lessons and suggestions to increase or support the implementation of NBS, help focus attention on areas for future research, and inform pathways forward in establishing resilient fluvial corridors in our changing climate.