Lead institution:
The Nature Trust of British Columbia – Canada
Estuaries and coastal wetlands comprise less than 3% of BC’s coastline, yet they support over 80% of BC’s coastal fish and wildlife. Climate change impacts are expected to significantly impact estuary ecosystems through a number of mechanisms, including rising sea-levels, ocean acidification, temperature and salinity changes, and changes to freshwater and sediment inputs.
In partnership with 15 First Nations, Federal and Provincial governments, eNGO’s, and academic institutions, we have established an estuary resilience-monitoring program across coastal BC focused on ensuring these critically important ecosystems are resilient to the impacts of sea-level rise and climate change. The data being collected informs restoration, enhancement and adaptive management of these sites. This project also builds meaningful and lasting partnerships with coastal First Nations and demonstrates how to effectively braid western and indigenous ways of knowing in project design and implementation.
This project is hosted by the Ocean Decade Programme Cultural Heritage Framework Programme.
Start Date: 01/04/2019
End Date: 31/03/2026
Lead Contact: Tom Reid (treid@naturetrust.bc.ca)