Reflections on the study’s main concepts

Chapter 1 provided definitions of the main concepts used in this thesis, i.e., ecosystem-based adaptation, ecosystem services, entrepreneurs, opportunities, opportunity creation and exploitation. The subsequent chapters however, include partly varying definitions which reflect

133

6

permissible ’ concerning environmental licencing. In the Inlandshore Wieringermeer case the entrepreneurs pushed for continuation of the project despite restrictive EU regulations, suggesting that the necessary regulations would follow execution of the activities. Chapter 2 has shown that strategies such as lobbying and establishing and maintaining relationships with regulators were also used in this respect.

By investing in legal and political activities with uncertain outcomes, entrepreneurs might not only overcome regulatory constraints, but might also contribute to increased knowledge about regulatory possibilities. The experiences of entrepreneurs with EbA might help to overcome knowledge deficits and technological constraints more generally. Several entrepreneurs explained that showing and sharing EbA in practice was very important to convince local stakeholders and decision makers and raise awareness about soft engineering approaches.

Providing this ‘evidence’ has the potential to speed up innovative EbA because the existence of reference cases might convince governments, investors and other actors of their economic and technical feasibility (Geels et al., 2008).

Knowledge gaps and a lack of data pertain especially to the effectiveness and benefits of EbA, which makes it more difficult to obtain on-going funding for EbA initiatives, which poses a financial constraint (Cowan et al., 2010; Naumann et al., 2011). Lack of knowledge and data is particularly addressed by experimenting, which took place in several EbA cases studied in this thesis. The long-term monitoring activities that accompanied several experiments within the Building with Nature programme enhance the knowledge about the effects of such projects on coastal defence, cost-effectiveness and benefits such as recreation (Rijkswaterstaat, 2016). Such a long-term monitoring endeavour is also very important to counterbalance the barrier of short-term policy cycles that are difficult to reconcile with the long-short-term time scales of adaptation effects. For example, the active involvement of two major international dredging contractors in the sand motor experiment sent a clear signal to the industry about the business potential of soft engineering approaches, thereby addressing the social and cultural constraints of unwillingness to change established behaviours and favouring business-as-usual approaches (Cowan et al., 2010).

Another social and cultural constraint is the perceived role of, for example, nature managers, farmers and businesses, leading to a lack of trust and entrenched positions (Cowan et al., 2010).

The Inlandshore Wieringermeer case in Chapter 4 illustrates this challenge. However, Chapter

2 shows that the roles and responsibilities among these actors shift. In Pastures New, a nature conservation NGO actively sought and found ways to finance their nature conservation and restoration activities on the longer-term by providing consultancy services, thus increasing their profit motivation, thereby addressing financial constraints. Moreover, legislative constraints were addressed by successfully introducing a novel group-wise application for European agro-environmental schemes. The Water holding shows that an increased understanding of the natural system (i.e., knowledge building) combined with establishing a social network can lead to openness for the stakes of other water users such as nature protection agencies or recreationists.

The lack of available funding for EbA initiatives (Brink et al., 2016; Chong, 2014; Cowan et al., 2010) is addressed by entrepreneurship through the creation of innovative (financial) arrangements. In the CAFCA case, the entrepreneur supported the use of climate bonds and pension funds to contribute to adaptation measures. In the Wallasea Island case, an innovative partnership was formed that allowed to exchange excavated material and enabled one party to establish a novel managed realignment scheme and the other party to commit to its sustainability goals. Thus, next to a more direct form of providing financial capital, entrepreneurs in the cases found innovative means to establish EbA through a combination of, amongst others, social network building, profit orientation and career experience. One specific knowledge constraint noted by Lukasiewicz (2016), namely a lack of training in business management skills which would support setting up and running a small business, could also be addressed by involving entrepreneurs in an EbA project through their career experience and profit motivation features. In conclusion, entrepreneurs can potentially contribute to overcome multiple barriers in EbA, most notably restricting policies and regulations and lack of financial capital. Their experience, social network and focus on profit making could contribute to the establishment and longer-term economic sustainability of EbA initiatives.

6.3 Reflections on the study’s main concepts

Chapter 1 provided definitions of the main concepts used in this thesis, i.e., ecosystem-based adaptation, ecosystem services, entrepreneurs, opportunities, opportunity creation and exploitation. The subsequent chapters however, include partly varying definitions which reflect

132

permissible ’ concerning environmental licencing. In the Inlandshore Wieringermeer case the entrepreneurs pushed for continuation of the project despite restrictive EU regulations, suggesting that the necessary regulations would follow execution of the activities. Chapter 2 has shown that strategies such as lobbying and establishing and maintaining relationships with regulators were also used in this respect.

By investing in legal and political activities with uncertain outcomes, entrepreneurs might not only overcome regulatory constraints, but might also contribute to increased knowledge about regulatory possibilities. The experiences of entrepreneurs with EbA might help to overcome knowledge deficits and technological constraints more generally. Several entrepreneurs explained that showing and sharing EbA in practice was very important to convince local stakeholders and decision makers and raise awareness about soft engineering approaches.

Providing this ‘evidence’ has the potential to speed up innovative EbA because the existence of reference cases might convince governments, investors and other actors of their economic and technical feasibility (Geels et al., 2008).

Knowledge gaps and a lack of data pertain especially to the effectiveness and benefits of EbA, which makes it more difficult to obtain on-going funding for EbA initiatives, which poses a financial constraint (Cowan et al., 2010; Naumann et al., 2011). Lack of knowledge and data is particularly addressed by experimenting, which took place in several EbA cases studied in this thesis. The long-term monitoring activities that accompanied several experiments within the Building with Nature programme enhance the knowledge about the effects of such projects on coastal defence, cost-effectiveness and benefits such as recreation (Rijkswaterstaat, 2016). Such a long-term monitoring endeavour is also very important to counterbalance the barrier of short-term policy cycles that are difficult to reconcile with the long-short-term time scales of adaptation effects. For example, the active involvement of two major international dredging contractors in the sand motor experiment sent a clear signal to the industry about the business potential of soft engineering approaches, thereby addressing the social and cultural constraints of unwillingness to change established behaviours and favouring business-as-usual approaches (Cowan et al., 2010).

Another social and cultural constraint is the perceived role of, for example, nature managers, farmers and businesses, leading to a lack of trust and entrenched positions (Cowan et al., 2010).

The Inlandshore Wieringermeer case in Chapter 4 illustrates this challenge. However, Chapter

2 shows that the roles and responsibilities among these actors shift. In Pastures New, a nature conservation NGO actively sought and found ways to finance their nature conservation and restoration activities on the longer-term by providing consultancy services, thus increasing their profit motivation, thereby addressing financial constraints. Moreover, legislative constraints were addressed by successfully introducing a novel group-wise application for European agro-environmental schemes. The Water holding shows that an increased understanding of the natural system (i.e., knowledge building) combined with establishing a social network can lead to openness for the stakes of other water users such as nature protection agencies or recreationists.

The lack of available funding for EbA initiatives (Brink et al., 2016; Chong, 2014; Cowan et al., 2010) is addressed by entrepreneurship through the creation of innovative (financial) arrangements. In the CAFCA case, the entrepreneur supported the use of climate bonds and pension funds to contribute to adaptation measures. In the Wallasea Island case, an innovative partnership was formed that allowed to exchange excavated material and enabled one party to establish a novel managed realignment scheme and the other party to commit to its sustainability goals. Thus, next to a more direct form of providing financial capital, entrepreneurs in the cases found innovative means to establish EbA through a combination of, amongst others, social network building, profit orientation and career experience. One specific knowledge constraint noted by Lukasiewicz (2016), namely a lack of training in business management skills which would support setting up and running a small business, could also be addressed by involving entrepreneurs in an EbA project through their career experience and profit motivation features. In conclusion, entrepreneurs can potentially contribute to overcome multiple barriers in EbA, most notably restricting policies and regulations and lack of financial capital. Their experience, social network and focus on profit making could contribute to the establishment and longer-term economic sustainability of EbA initiatives.

6.3 Reflections on the study’s main concepts

Chapter 1 provided definitions of the main concepts used in this thesis, i.e., ecosystem-based adaptation, ecosystem services, entrepreneurs, opportunities, opportunity creation and exploitation. The subsequent chapters however, include partly varying definitions which reflect

133

6

permissible ’ concerning environmental licencing. In the Inlandshore Wieringermeer case the entrepreneurs pushed for continuation of the project despite restrictive EU regulations, suggesting that the necessary regulations would follow execution of the activities. Chapter 2 has shown that strategies such as lobbying and establishing and maintaining relationships with regulators were also used in this respect.

By investing in legal and political activities with uncertain outcomes, entrepreneurs might not only overcome regulatory constraints, but might also contribute to increased knowledge about regulatory possibilities. The experiences of entrepreneurs with EbA might help to overcome knowledge deficits and technological constraints more generally. Several entrepreneurs explained that showing and sharing EbA in practice was very important to convince local stakeholders and decision makers and raise awareness about soft engineering approaches.

Providing this ‘evidence’ has the potential to speed up innovative EbA because the existence of reference cases might convince governments, investors and other actors of their economic and technical feasibility (Geels et al., 2008).

Knowledge gaps and a lack of data pertain especially to the effectiveness and benefits of EbA, which makes it more difficult to obtain on-going funding for EbA initiatives, which poses a financial constraint (Cowan et al., 2010; Naumann et al., 2011). Lack of knowledge and data is particularly addressed by experimenting, which took place in several EbA cases studied in this thesis. The long-term monitoring activities that accompanied several experiments within the Building with Nature programme enhance the knowledge about the effects of such projects on coastal defence, cost-effectiveness and benefits such as recreation (Rijkswaterstaat, 2016). Such a long-term monitoring endeavour is also very important to counterbalance the barrier of short-term policy cycles that are difficult to reconcile with the long-short-term time scales of adaptation effects. For example, the active involvement of two major international dredging contractors in the sand motor experiment sent a clear signal to the industry about the business potential of soft engineering approaches, thereby addressing the social and cultural constraints of unwillingness to change established behaviours and favouring business-as-usual approaches (Cowan et al., 2010).

Another social and cultural constraint is the perceived role of, for example, nature managers, farmers and businesses, leading to a lack of trust and entrenched positions (Cowan et al., 2010).

The Inlandshore Wieringermeer case in Chapter 4 illustrates this challenge. However, Chapter

2 shows that the roles and responsibilities among these actors shift. In Pastures New, a nature conservation NGO actively sought and found ways to finance their nature conservation and restoration activities on the longer-term by providing consultancy services, thus increasing their profit motivation, thereby addressing financial constraints. Moreover, legislative constraints were addressed by successfully introducing a novel group-wise application for European agro-environmental schemes. The Water holding shows that an increased understanding of the natural system (i.e., knowledge building) combined with establishing a social network can lead to openness for the stakes of other water users such as nature protection agencies or recreationists.

The lack of available funding for EbA initiatives (Brink et al., 2016; Chong, 2014; Cowan et al., 2010) is addressed by entrepreneurship through the creation of innovative (financial) arrangements. In the CAFCA case, the entrepreneur supported the use of climate bonds and pension funds to contribute to adaptation measures. In the Wallasea Island case, an innovative partnership was formed that allowed to exchange excavated material and enabled one party to establish a novel managed realignment scheme and the other party to commit to its sustainability goals. Thus, next to a more direct form of providing financial capital, entrepreneurs in the cases found innovative means to establish EbA through a combination of, amongst others, social network building, profit orientation and career experience. One specific knowledge constraint noted by Lukasiewicz (2016), namely a lack of training in business management skills which would support setting up and running a small business, could also be addressed by involving entrepreneurs in an EbA project through their career experience and profit motivation features. In conclusion, entrepreneurs can potentially contribute to overcome multiple barriers in EbA, most notably restricting policies and regulations and lack of financial capital. Their experience, social network and focus on profit making could contribute to the establishment and longer-term economic sustainability of EbA initiatives.

6.3 Reflections on the study’s main concepts

Chapter 1 provided definitions of the main concepts used in this thesis, i.e., ecosystem-based adaptation, ecosystem services, entrepreneurs, opportunities, opportunity creation and exploitation. The subsequent chapters however, include partly varying definitions which reflect

132

permissible ’ concerning environmental licencing. In the Inlandshore Wieringermeer case the entrepreneurs pushed for continuation of the project despite restrictive EU regulations, suggesting that the necessary regulations would follow execution of the activities. Chapter 2 has shown that strategies such as lobbying and establishing and maintaining relationships with regulators were also used in this respect.

By investing in legal and political activities with uncertain outcomes, entrepreneurs might not only overcome regulatory constraints, but might also contribute to increased knowledge about regulatory possibilities. The experiences of entrepreneurs with EbA might help to overcome knowledge deficits and technological constraints more generally. Several entrepreneurs explained that showing and sharing EbA in practice was very important to convince local stakeholders and decision makers and raise awareness about soft engineering approaches.

Providing this ‘evidence’ has the potential to speed up innovative EbA because the existence of reference cases might convince governments, investors and other actors of their economic and technical feasibility (Geels et al., 2008).

Knowledge gaps and a lack of data pertain especially to the effectiveness and benefits of EbA, which makes it more difficult to obtain on-going funding for EbA initiatives, which poses a financial constraint (Cowan et al., 2010; Naumann et al., 2011). Lack of knowledge and data is particularly addressed by experimenting, which took place in several EbA cases studied in this thesis. The long-term monitoring activities that accompanied several experiments within the Building with Nature programme enhance the knowledge about the effects of such projects on coastal defence, cost-effectiveness and benefits such as recreation (Rijkswaterstaat, 2016). Such a long-term monitoring endeavour is also very important to counterbalance the barrier of short-term policy cycles that are difficult to reconcile with the long-short-term time scales of adaptation effects. For example, the active involvement of two major international dredging contractors in the sand motor experiment sent a clear signal to the industry about the business potential of soft engineering approaches, thereby addressing the social and cultural constraints of unwillingness to change established behaviours and favouring business-as-usual approaches (Cowan et al., 2010).

Another social and cultural constraint is the perceived role of, for example, nature managers, farmers and businesses, leading to a lack of trust and entrenched positions (Cowan et al., 2010).

The Inlandshore Wieringermeer case in Chapter 4 illustrates this challenge. However, Chapter

2 shows that the roles and responsibilities among these actors shift. In Pastures New, a nature conservation NGO actively sought and found ways to finance their nature conservation and restoration activities on the longer-term by providing consultancy services, thus increasing their profit motivation, thereby addressing financial constraints. Moreover, legislative constraints were addressed by successfully introducing a novel group-wise application for European agro-environmental schemes. The Water holding shows that an increased understanding of the natural system (i.e., knowledge building) combined with establishing a social network can lead to openness for the stakes of other water users such as nature protection agencies or recreationists.

The lack of available funding for EbA initiatives (Brink et al., 2016; Chong, 2014; Cowan et al., 2010) is addressed by entrepreneurship through the creation of innovative (financial) arrangements. In the CAFCA case, the entrepreneur supported the use of climate bonds and pension funds to contribute to adaptation measures. In the Wallasea Island case, an innovative partnership was formed that allowed to exchange excavated material and enabled one party to establish a novel managed realignment scheme and the other party to commit to its sustainability goals. Thus, next to a more direct form of providing financial capital, entrepreneurs in the cases found innovative means to establish EbA through a combination of, amongst others, social network building, profit orientation and career experience. One specific knowledge constraint noted by Lukasiewicz (2016), namely a lack of training in business management skills which would support setting up and running a small business, could also be addressed by involving entrepreneurs in an EbA project through their career experience and profit motivation features. In conclusion, entrepreneurs can potentially contribute to overcome multiple barriers in EbA, most notably restricting policies and regulations and lack of financial capital. Their experience, social network and focus on profit making could contribute to the establishment and longer-term economic sustainability of EbA initiatives.

6.3 Reflections on the study’s main concepts

Chapter 1 provided definitions of the main concepts used in this thesis, i.e., ecosystem-based adaptation, ecosystem services, entrepreneurs, opportunities, opportunity creation and exploitation. The subsequent chapters however, include partly varying definitions which reflect

133

6

permissible ’ concerning environmental licencing. In the Inlandshore Wieringermeer case the entrepreneurs pushed for continuation of the project despite restrictive EU regulations, suggesting that the necessary regulations would follow execution of the activities. Chapter 2 has shown that strategies such as lobbying and establishing and maintaining relationships with regulators were also used in this respect.

By investing in legal and political activities with uncertain outcomes, entrepreneurs might not only overcome regulatory constraints, but might also contribute to increased knowledge about regulatory possibilities. The experiences of entrepreneurs with EbA might help to overcome knowledge deficits and technological constraints more generally. Several entrepreneurs explained that showing and sharing EbA in practice was very important to convince local stakeholders and decision makers and raise awareness about soft engineering approaches.

Providing this ‘evidence’ has the potential to speed up innovative EbA because the existence of reference cases might convince governments, investors and other actors of their economic and technical feasibility (Geels et al., 2008).

Knowledge gaps and a lack of data pertain especially to the effectiveness and benefits of EbA, which makes it more difficult to obtain on-going funding for EbA initiatives, which poses a

Knowledge gaps and a lack of data pertain especially to the effectiveness and benefits of EbA, which makes it more difficult to obtain on-going funding for EbA initiatives, which poses a