The Nova Scotia government is beginning public consultations to look into how protection of the coastline can be legislated.
That may include protection of natural coastal features like salt marshes and dunes that help lessen the blow of climate change.
“Nova Scotia is leading the way in fighting climate change. We’ve increased our sources of renewable energy, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and we’re developing a cap and trade program that will keep that momentum going. Now, we are moving to protect our coast,” said provincial Environment Minister Iain Rankin in a press release.
The province is also proposing coastal protection legislation with clear rules on what can and cannot be done in areas next to the coast to ensure new construction happens in places that are less likely to be threatened by coastal erosion, rising sea levels and storm surges.
Samantha Battaglia is the Stormwater Management Project Coordinator with Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation (BCAF).
She says the consultations are a good first step step.
“We think with the province taking on a leadership role that it is promising that action will be taken to protect our coastal communities and ecosystems.”
However, she says action needs to be taken to restore coastal ecosystems which have already been negatively impacted by extreme weather events.
“Look at areas that are already damaged and areas that are already at risk, and figuring out ways with soft infrastructure approaches, combined with hard infrastructure approaches where it’s appropriate,” says Battaglia.
That could mean planting and designing buffers that include specific vegetation that helps with drainage.
BCAF is currently assessing areas in Lunenburg and Shelburne to install living shorelines to help create natural buffers for those communities.
Story by Brittany Wentzell
Twitter: @BrittWentzell
Email: wentzell.brittany@radioabl.ca
