Coastal Projects oversees two major projects. These include the Making Room for Wetlands and Marine and Coastal Stewardship project.

Making Room for Wetlands at a glance

Making Room for Wetlands is a salt marsh (tidal wetland) restoration project that entails the restoration of fallow fields not in use for agriculture to a salt marsh state, by reconnecting tracts to the tidal plain by means of dyke realignment, dyke removal, drainage improvement, etc. The work helps critically important salt marsh habitat for local species, which helps store carbon and protect against flooding, integrating Mi’kmaw ecological knowledge (MEK) and traditional knowledge (TK), to restore more than 100 hectares of salt marsh in the estuaries that include the Selma area, River Hebert and Maccan River. The project also includes the ecological monitoring of fish, birds, and plants before and after restoration.

Marine and Coastal Stewardship at a glance

The Marine and Coastal Stewardship Team’s focus is on marine and coastal conservation strategies and initiatives, such as addressing coastal erosion, working with species at risk, conservation planning, and climate change effect mitigation. The Marine and Coastal Stewardship Team’s work is guided by the principle of Etuaptmumk, engaging the community, providing opportunity for community members to join staff in their field work, attending local events, and regular community updates.

The Marine and Coastal Stewardship team also keeps The CMM’s Member Communities apprised of its activity through regular education and outreach. The team monitors the outcomes of projects like the Living Shoreline, which builds resilience against coastal erosion and helps adapt to rising sea levels, and builds internal capacity relating to Indigenous Protected and Conservation Areas (ICPAs), with attention to how communities can participate in that process.

The Marine and Coastal Stewardship Team also contributes to habitat surveys of Inner Bay of Fundy species like the bank swallow. This work is an effort to understand population changes in at-risk species, educate the public about the threats those species face from human interactions and climate change.

The team is also exploring the potential of kelp as a nature-based solution to mitigate climate change, in addition to its economic benefits. It regularly follows up on previous years’ work, such as the monitoring of juvenile striped bass and their overwintering habitats in the Bay of Fundy.