Perceptions and Awareness on the Perceived Effectiveness of Nature-Based Solutions in Selected Coastal Communities of Rivers State, Nigeria

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have emerged as transformative approaches to address societal challenges, support biodiversity, and enhance human well-being. Globally, NbS are recognized for their potential to mitigate climate change impacts such as coastal flooding. Despite growing policy interest, limited empirical evidence exists on their real-world effectiveness, particularly in Africa. The core objective of this study was to evaluate how community perceptions, awareness, and demographic factors influence the acceptance and effectiveness of NbS for flood risk reduction in selected coastal communities of Rivers State, Nigeria. Specifically, it aimed to assess community perceptions and awareness of NbS, identify demographic, geographic, and psychosocial factors influencing these perceptions, and analyze how risk perception and local knowledge affect acceptance. The study addressed three key questions: (1) How do community perceptions affect NbS acceptance and implementation? (2) What factors shape awareness and understanding of NbS in Kula, Oyorokoto, and Bonny? (3) How do perceptions vary across demographic groups? To answer these, a structured survey of 1224 respondents was conducted: 61% were male and 39% female, with most aged 31–50 years (80%). Education emerged as a key factor—about 49% of respondents had at least secondary or post-secondary education, which showed a significant link with positive perceptions of NbS (χ2 = 460.98, p < 0.001, Cramer’s V = 0.434). Occupation also shaped views: traders (36.8%) and fishers (24.5%) formed the majority, with occupational patterns showing moderate influence (χ2 = 112.68, p < 0.001, Cramer’s V = 0.215). Overall, awareness was the strongest predictor, with communities reporting higher NbS awareness demonstrating significantly greater acceptance (OR = 0.06, p < 0.001). These findings highlight that targeted awareness-raising, education, and community engagement are critical to promoting mangrove conservation, afforestation, and ecosystem restoration, ultimately strengthening resilience to climate-induced risks in coastal communities.