Nature-based coastal solutions (NBCS) – such as saltmarsh and mangrove restoration, living shorelines, beach and dune rehabilitation, and reef structures (artificial and natural) – are increasingly promoted as sustainable responses to the complex challenges of coastal zone management. These approaches aim to harness natural processes to stabilise coastlines, reduce flood and erosion risk, enhance biodiversity, and provide co-benefits, including carbon storage and improved water quality. While the physical and ecological advantages of NBCS are supported by growing evidence, significant uncertainties remain about their long-term effectiveness, particularly under changing climate and socioeconomic conditions. These knowledge gaps are especially critical for informing policy and investment decisions in coastal infrastructure and adaptation strategies. We invite contributions that integrate coastal geoscience, engineering, and broader system-level thinking to evaluate the long-term performance, risks, and trade-offs of NBCS across diverse environmental and governance contexts. We encourage submissions that include, but are not limited to:

(a) Case studies on NBCS implementation across varied coastal geomorphologies and hydroclimatic regimes, with evidence of long-term outcomes or monitoring data;
(b) Modelling studies that assess NBCS performance under future climate and sea-level rise scenarios;
(c) Innovations in field methods, remote sensing, and data integration for evaluating NBCS impacts on geomorphic and ecological processes;
(d) Systems-based approaches (e.g., coupled human–natural models, scenario planning) that address feedbacks between NBCS, coastal dynamics, and socioeconomic systems;
(e) Studies that focus on advancing the engineering design of NBCS and may include recommendations for types and values of design parameters and criteria;
(f) Perspectives on the institutional, regulatory, and financial frameworks shaping the deployment and long-term maintenance of NBCS.

We particularly (a) welcome interdisciplinary studies that combine geoscientific analysis with insights from ecology, engineering, planning, and policy, and (b) encourage dialogue on how transdisciplinary approaches can help guide the design, implementation, and long-term governance of effective NBCS.