1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Mobile (FUA) Region Northern America Short description of the intervention The Lightning Point Restoration Project focuses on protecting Bayou La Batre, one of the Gulf Coast’s few remaining working waterfronts. The community relies on fishing and seafood industries but faces increasing hazards from shoreline erosion, storm surge, hurricanes, and tropical storms. Past events such as Hurricane Katrina (2005) and oil spill (2010) caused major damage to infrastructure and livelihoods, highlighting the need for greater coastal resilience Led by The Nature Conservancy and partners, the project combines engineered and natural approaches to safeguard the shoreline while supporting local livelihoods. Core activities include constructing approximately 1–1.5 miles of segmented breakwaters and jetties at the mouth of the Bayou La Batre River, and creating about 28–40 acres of coastal marsh, tidal creeks, and upland habitats using beneficially reused dredged material. Native planting and long-term monitoring support habitat performance and adaptive management. These solutions aim to reduce wave energy, limit erosion, buffer storm surge, and maintain navigation, while restored marshes provide habitat for fish, shellfish, and birds. Designed to withstand nearly one foot of projected sea-level rise over the next 25 years, the project enhances shoreline protection, restores critical coastal habitats, and helps secure a resilient waterfront for Bayou La Batre’s economy and community (Ref. 1 - 4). Website of the intervention https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/alabama/stori… Principal problems Climate-Related Hazards Coastal hazards (e.g. erosion, flooding) Sea level rise Extreme weather events (e.g. storms, hurricanes) Environmental Degradation Biodiversity loss Poor water quality Implementation area characterization Climate Temperate ( Humid subtropical, Hot-summer Mediterranean, Warm-summer Mediterranean, Warm-temperate with dry winter) Ecosystem Sandy coastal ecosystems (including beaches and dunes) Coastal wetlands Address Alabama, 36523 United States Location Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place Area boundary (map-based) Area description Seascape Type of area before implementation of the NBS Sea coast (e.g. dunes, beach) Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) 2016 Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2016 End date of the intervention 2024 Present stage of the intervention Completed 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention - Protect the shoreline of Bayou La Batre from erosion, wave action, and storm surge through nature-based and hybrid coastal defences - Increase coastal resilience to hurricanes, tropical storms, and projected sea-level rise - Restore and create coastal habitats, including marshes, tidal creeks, and upland areas, to support biodiversity - Enhance nursery habitat for fish and shellfish critical to commercial and recreational fisheries - Safeguard the working waterfront and sustain local seafood-based livelihoods - Protect conserved coastal lands and improve long-term ecological function - Maintain safe navigation for commercial and recreational vessels - Provide an enhanced experience for locals and visitors for boating, fishing, and sightseeing. - Demonstrate effective nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and coastal restoration Key Priorities Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation) Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration) Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13) Climate change adaptation Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14) Coastal protection / hazard mitigation Marine and coastal biodiversity protection Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Habitat and biodiversity restoration Habitat and biodiversity conservation Health and well-being (SDG 3) Creation of opportunities for recreation Economic development and employment (SDG 8) Economic development: industry Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets? Restore mangroves, marshes, reefs and wetlands to dissipate the effects of storms and floodwaters Protect and restore coastal ecosystems, to address loss of land and livelihoods, due to rising sea levels Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention? Species-focused Ecosystem-focused Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets? Protect and enhance urban habitats Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems Protect species Undertake specific measures to protect species Undertake specific measures to protect native species Undertake specific measures to protect valued species What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention? Species-focused Ecosystem-focused What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets? Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified) Restore native species Restore valued species Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities Stage 1: Installation of breakwaters Stage 2: placement of beneficial dredge material Stage 3: grading of habitats & tidal creeks, native species plantings Stage 4: Post-construction monitoring and adaptive management(Ref. 3) Type of NBS project Coastal landscape management or protection Coastal ecosystems restoration and maintenance (mangroves, dunes, saltplains, underwater meadows) Improving coastal resilience 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Blue infrastructure Coastlines Coastal wetland, mangroves and salt marshes Amenities offered by the NBS Viewing and outlook points Design elements for well-being None of the above Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Regulating services Coastal protection Habitat and supporting services Habitats for species Cultural services Recreation Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals Scale Spatial scale Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area NA Socio-economic profile of the area Unknown Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Yes Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities Coastal communities Non-government actors Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches Researchers, university Citizens or community groups Primary Beneficiaries Researchers/University Citizens or community groups Coastal-dependent communities (e.g. small-scale fishers, coastal farmers, and indigenous peoples) Specify primary beneficiaries Project documentation notes collaboration with research institutions, stating the site has served as “a living laboratory for researchers” and naming Dauphin Island Sea Lab and universities involved in monitoring and studies. The project aims to be “a place for the entire Bayou La Batre community” and prioritizes “providing improved community access for recreation and fishing opportunities” Community members participated directly, including local volunteers and students assisting with planting and restoration activities. Bayou La Batre is described as “Alabama’s seafood capital” and “one of few remaining working waterfronts in this region”, with livelihoods based on fishing, seafood processing, and shipbuilding . The project explicitly seeks to “support a profitable seafood industry” and protect docks, boats, and navigation channels used by commercial and recreational fishers Marginalized groups Vulnerable populations in disaster-prone areas Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups NA Other beneficiaries Unknown 4. Governance and financing Governance Governance arrangements Co-governance with government and non-government actors Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative - The Nature Conservancy - Lead implementing organization and primary project coordinator - Other non-governmental actors involved include: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Research institutions / Universities. - City of Bayou La Batre: Local government partner representing community and working waterfront interests. - Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - State-level partner supporting coastal conservation and habitat restoration. - Mobile County - County-level partner contributing land, coordination, and support for implementation. - Community actors - Provide local knowledge and participate in engagement activities (Local residents, fishers, and seafood workers) Key actors - initiating organization Local government/municipality Non-government organisation/civil society Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Non-government organisation/civil society Citizens or community group Researchers/university Stages of citizen and community engagement Planning and design (e.g. site selection, identification of key priorities) On-the-ground implementation Level of citizen and community engagement Moderate Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives Unknwon Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) Dissemination of information and education Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls) Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting) Citizen science Citizen monitoring and review Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Unknown Land owners Public space owned by the city Policy drivers NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan Yes Relevant strategy or plan General municipal plan Mandatory or voluntary intervention Voluntary (spontaneous) Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships) Support from transitional governance actors City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city Governace and decison-making instruments Unknown Arrangements for governance cooperation Unknown Barriers Unknown Financing Total cost More than €4,000,000 Please specify total cost (EUR) USD 16.6 million (Ref. 4) What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? USD 16.6 million (Ref. 4) Source(s) of funding Public local authority budget Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO) Private Foundation/Trust Type of fund(s) used Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities) Non-financial contribution Unknown Co-finance for NBS Yes Co-governance arrangement Unknown Entrepreneurship opportunities Unknown Business models Business models Risk reduction model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Climate change Increased protection against sea level rise Expected increased protection against sea level rise Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters Achieved strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters Enhanced protection against extreme weather events (e.g. storms, cyclones, tidal surges, coastal erosion) Achieved enhanced protection against extreme weather events (e.g. storms, cyclones, tidal surges, coastal erosion) Water management and blue areas Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems Achieved enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems Green space and habitat Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems Reduced biodiversity loss Achieved reduced biodiversity loss Increased number of species present Achieved increased number of species present Description of environmental benefits - "90K Native plants provided by a local nursery to restore 40 acres of coastal and upland habitat for native wildlife." - "50+ Bird species observed since implementing the Lightning Point Restoration Project." - "5 Named storms survived within two years of project completion." - "New intertidal marshes and upland scrub-shrub habitats created as a result of the Lightning Point Restoration Project have quickly welcomed a variety of resident and migratory shore and wading birds, as well as fish and shellfish." (Ref. 1) Economic impacts Unknown Social and cultural impacts Social justice and cohesion Improved access to urban green space Achieved improved access to urban green space Health and wellbeing Gain in activities for recreation and exercise Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise Safety Improved community safety to climate-related hazards Achieved improved community safety to climate-related hazards Description of social and cultural benefits - "Bayou La Batre’s vibrant, water-dependent community utilizes Lightning Point area for fishing, boating and recreation. This project enhances the City of Bayou La Batre’s existing boat ramp and parking lot with a groomed walking path, a pavilion, benches and fishing access platform for community use and enjoyment by those living, working and visiting the Bayou La Batre region." (Ref. 1) Evidence for use of assessment Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process Yes Actors involved in the assessment, monitoring or evaluation of NBS impacts National government Non-government organisation/civil society Citizens or community group Researchers/university Presence of indicators used in reporting Yes Type of indicators Output indicators Outcome indicators Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports No evidence in public records Availability of a web-based monitoring tool No evidence in public records Use of GIS in mapping impacts No evidence in public records Cost-benefit analysis Unknown Transparency Unknown Justice Community satisfaction Unknown Trade-offs & Negative impacts Unknown Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement No initiatives or policies were implemented High-quality & Transformative NBS Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community) Yes Goal setting and impacts delivery Yes, from the planning phase the project aimed to address issues in these three key priority areas and it also delivered benefits across these three areas. Reaching original project goals Most of the project goals were achieved Long-term perspective Yes Cost-effective solutions Unknown Equitable impacts C. Unknown Transformative capacity Systemic change (the NBS caused changes across the social, ecological and technological dimensions) Magnitude of change Reformist: by focusing on addressing underlying drivers of change but failing to address the problem structurally or systemically Application of lessons learned Unknown Perception of Environmental Change Unknown 6. Sources References 1. TNC (2023). Lightning Point Restoration. Accessed on December 12, 2025, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. TNC (n.d.). LIGHTNING POINT RESTORATION PROJECT (presentation). [Source link] [Archive]; 3. TNC (n.d.). ALABAMA’S LIGHTNING POINT. [Source link] [Archive]; 4. NFWF (n.d.). Lightning Point Restoration Project – Phase II . [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Public Images Image Lightning Point Restoration Ref. 1
