Salmon Steward is the official publication of the Pacific Salmon Foundation in British Columbia, Canada
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1408862
P rotecting coastal communities from ocean waves and erosion has traditionally involved hardening shorelines with structures like dykes, seawalls and jetties. However, these artificial structures often cause more problems than they solve. The Green Shores for Salmon project will educate shoreline owners and local governments about the value of natural approaches, and provide free training to land-use professionals on how to apply "green concepts." The area of focus is from Victoria up to Port McNeill, where urgent action is needed. These communities are becoming more exposed to risk and habitat loss as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation and storms. "Climate change is one of the biggest direct threats facing wild Pacific salmon," says Michael Meneer, CEO of the Pacific Salmon Foundation. "In the ocean, we're seeing rising sea levels and increased flooding along shorelines. Coupled with human activity, there are many cumulative impacts that threaten salmon – some out of our control. But there are also many factors we can control that will make a big difference – naturalizing hardened shorelines is one of them. By making the training free, we hope to significantly boost adoption of green techniques." Thanks to a $1.9-million grant from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Canada's "Climate Action and Awareness Fund," the program launched this summer. "While nature is certainly at risk from climate change, it is also a critical ally in the fight against it," says the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of environment and climate change. "I am pleased to see the Pacific Salmon Foundation embracing the power of nature to adapt to a changing climate and protect vital wild Pacific salmon habitat. This project will help support the recovery of the wild Pacific salmon, which holds important cultural significance for Indigenous peoples, for generations to come." Man-made structures exacerbate erosion by deflecting energy from pounding waves to other parts of the shoreline, removing beach habitat in the process. Forage fish use beaches to spawn and provide crucial nutrition for the marine food chain, including Pacific salmon. In contrast, nature-based approaches using absorbent materials like dirt, sand and plants can beautify shorelines, reduce erosion, and are often cheaper to build and maintain. They also create habitat for fish and wildlife, filter out pollutants from stormwater and help store carbon that would otherwise contribute to global warming. "We will be engaging citizens to map where armoured shorelines are to better understand the extent of the issue," explains Dr. Isobel Pearsall, director of Pacific Salmon Foundation's Marine Science Program. "Part of the grant will be used to build demonstration sites that showcase the beauty and function of green techniques, and ultimately inspire people to transition their properties." Adds Pearsall: "Our program will build on the good work that the Stewardship Centre for BC has already been doing so we can hit the ground running." The Stewardship Centre for BC has been delivering the Green Shores program in various forms since 2005. They train coastal engineers, landscape architects, biologists and planners, and help governments with Green Shores implementation. n HABITAT PROTECTION Goin' GREEN Shores A nature-based alternative for safeguarding B.C.'s shorelines and the salmon that rely on them For more information, visit: marinescience.ca/green-shores-for-salmon. BEFORE AFTER 6 FALL 2021 PSF.CA STEWARDSHIP CENTRE FOR BC