Bridging the nature-based solutions implementation gap in rural communities: a case study of Prince Rupert, B.C.

Rural communities across British Columbia face challenges associated with the combined impacts of climate change and a worsening infrastructure deficit. Nature-based solutions (NbS) present innovative and cost-effective opportunities to support infrastructure renewal and climate adaptation. Despite these potential benefits, there remains a NbS implementation gap in practice, and a complementary research gap in NbS literature that often centres urban communities. Using the City of Prince Rupert as a case study, we conducted interviews with key informants and a document analysis of municipal plans to investigate the barriers and enablers for NbS uptake within a rural setting. We find that Prince Rupert shares similar barrier and enabler themes to urban centres, though the severity and expression of these factors differ in a rural context. Additionally, certain aspects of rurality provide distinct advantages over urban centres and hold the potential to position these communities as leaders in the uptake of NbS.