• Hybrid nature-based solutions are predominant in France • Social acceptability, procedures, and financing are the main difficulties encountered by coastal managers • France still lacks nature-based solution projects compared to its European neighbors • Six recommendations are proposed to support the implementation of nature-based solutions project . Nature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as viable alternatives to conventional coastal defenses, offering risk reduction and climate adaptation benefits while sustaining ecosystem services. Despite growing international interest, the extent of NbS deployment in France remains limited and insufficiently documented. This study presents the first national-scale assessment of coastal NbS in France, combining a literature review with a structured survey of 47 coastal managers. We identified 89 projects, including 52 NbS initiatives, 60% of which were hybrid approaches integrating NbS with soft or hard engineering measures. Dunes and marshes emerged as the most frequently targeted ecosystems, with NbS adoption motivated by adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and socioecological co-benefits. However, implementation faces persistent barriers: low social acceptance, complex regulatory frameworks, and fragmented funding mechanisms. Monitoring practices are uneven, with biodiversity and physical parameters frequently assessed, but socio-economic impacts rarely evaluated. Funding is predominantly public and multi-sourced, yet often inadequate for long-term maintenance and evaluation. Drawing on these findings, we propose six strategic recommendations to enhance NbS uptake: (1) strengthen knowledge sharing and visibility, (2) moving toward operational and shared definitions of NbS, (3) broaden public engagement, (4) diversify and adapt funding, (5) reinforce political and regulatory support, and (6) support pilot and hybrid approaches. By identifying systemic barriers and actionable levers, this study provides practical insights to accelerate the integration of NbS into coastal planning in France and inform international efforts.
Sédrati et al. (Fri,) studied this question.