We are researchers at the School of Planning, Dalhousie University. We are inviting you to participate in a survey called “Barriers and drivers in policy, planning, and governance for using nature-based adaptation strategies in Nova Scotia’s coastal zone.” Our study has been approved by the Dalhousie University Research Ethics Board.

The purpose of this survey is to build foundational knowledge about the views of decision-makers, coastal practitioners, and non-governmental organizations regarding barriers to and drivers for using nature-based approaches to coastal adaptation.

Completing the survey should not require more than 20 minutes of your time. The survey will be available from May 30 to June 19, 2019. If you complete and submit the survey, you are eligible to enter a draw for an iPad mini. The winner will receive the prize at the end of June.

To read more about our project and to participate in our survey, please select this secure link: https://surveys.dal.ca/opinio/s?s=MRM  

The first page describes the project and includes the participant consent form. After that, you can proceed to the survey questions.

You are eligible to participate in our survey if you

1. Work, or have worked, in a coastal region in Nova Scotia; AND

2. Have been, are, or would be involved in making decisions that impact the coast; AND

3. Identify with one of the following groups

• You are a decision-maker (such as an elected official/municipal councillor or a community-member appointed to a committee of council that would be involved in considering issues of relevance to the coast), OR
• You provide input on decisions about coastal planning and management (such as planners, sustainability officers, development officers, engineers, CAOs, or others as relevant) – in public service or consulting to public agencies, OR
• You are a member of an NGO or community group active in coastal work and providing input to coastal policy and planning.

This survey is part of a larger project called Making Room for Movement: A Framework for Implementing Nature-Based Adaptation Strategies in Nova Scotia’s Coastal Zone. It is funded by Natural Resources Canada. The project involves researchers from Dalhousie University and Saint Mary’s University, as well as industry and non-governmental agency partners. 

Making Room for Movement aims to support practitioners working with community residents, landowners, resource-users and governments on the implementation of innovative, nature-based alternatives to hard infrastructure.

Making Room for Movement is also part of a research collaborative called TransCoastal Adaptations Centre for Nature-Based Solutions, located on the Saint Mary’s University campus. TransCoastal facilitates research between Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, industry and ENGO partners, and provincial government departments working in coastal management.

Results of our survey will be available early in 2021. You can obtain a copy of the summary or full report by contacting us at the e-mail addresses below or by visiting the TransCoastal Adaptations website at www.transcoastaladaptations.ca