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]]>Shoreline Adaptation – A Living Shoreline at Lake Banook’s Birch Cove Beach
Lake Banook has long been used for transportation by the Mi’kmaq. The original name ‘panuk’ means opening or beginning, referencing the lake’s position at the start of the Shubenacadie (or Sipekne’katik) canal waterway.
Today, the lake is an important recreation site for paddlers, swimmers and others in the local community and beyond.
Lake Banook has also been heavily impacted by development, now bordered on two sides by major roads and surrounded by residential development, and Birch Cove Beach is impacted by increasing erosion. A large goose population has caused water quality issues, as has waste from dogs.
The Living Shorelines Project
Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is implementing a living shoreline approach to reduce erosion, provide habitat and improve water quality along a small portion of Lake Banook’s Birch Cove Beach. “[This] was one of the first naturalization projects of this scale to happen under the naturalization program,” said Shauna Doll, Environmental Specialist with Halifax Regional Municipality’s Environment and Climate Change Division.
Birch Cove Beach, Lake Banook
Naturalization is an approach to landscape management that fosters a healthy ecosystem.
At Lake Banook, this approach helps manage erosion and stormwater while improving biodiversity and reducing maintenance costs for the municipality, making it an important tool for communities bracing for greater impacts from climate change.
“Naturalized landscapes are inherently low maintenance and self-renewing,” said Doll.
In Lake Banook, the living shorelines project is part of a broader park naturalization strategy that began in 2022, inspired by HalifACT, HRM’s climate change strategy.
Shauna Doll, Halifax Regional Municipalitiy
The HRM team worked with the landscaping company Helping Nature Heal in 2024 to erect a wattle fence on the slope around the restoration site. Wattle fences are barriers made in part from living materials. In this location, cuttings from alders were interwoven with live willow stakes.
“It’s a way of creating basically a living fence so that over time…, the living stakes continue to provide the structural integrity of the fencing. It also [helps] trap some sediment, so it can help to build up the soil over time.”
Inside the restoration area, the team planted vegetation to discourage geese from spending time in the area and to restore native biodiversity. “A majority of the plants used were native to the Wabanaki-Acadian forest region,” said Doll. These included speckled alder, low bush blueberry, and swamp milkweed. This vegetation will provide habitat for pollinators and fish and will filter stormwater before it flows into the lake.
Project Provides Connection with Community
Over time, organizers hope the site will require less and less maintenance, as it becomes more established. Throughout that process, it’s important to keep residents informed about the project and other naturalization efforts, Doll said, as this encourages a greater sense of ownership. “That [residents] can learn from [these projects] and help to steward them over time and we can create a bit of a culture of conservation around sites like this.”
Alex Cadel, Climate Services Specialist with Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change and working in partnership with CLIMAtlantic, said it’s important to work with nature when trying to manage flooding and erosion.
Working with nature also brings co-benefits, such as providing additional habitat and recreational opportunities. “It just creates such a valuable environment for people to enjoy all of the benefits,” Cadel said.
HRM has 32 other sites that need naturalization. For that work, Doll said one of the greatest lessons from the Lake Banook project has been the value of collaboration.
We can’t do it alone. More and more as I dive into this work, there’s just so many sites that need to be restored. There’s so much work that needs to be done and this work is such a true pleasure to connect with the land and to connect with one another.
Additional Resources:
- Nova Scotia Government Climate Change Resources: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/
- CLIMAtlantic: https://climatlantic.ca/
- Green Shores Program: https://stewardshipcentrebc.ca/green-shores-home/
Funding support provided by:
The post Climate Adaptation Stories: Shoreline Adaptation at Lake Banook appeared first on Climatlantic.
]]>This blog post is based on the content from this video as part of our Adaptation Essentials Webinar series.
What is Climate Change and how does it impact our lives in Atlantic Canada?
Climate change is already shaping daily life in Atlantic Canada and around the world. To understand how to adapt, we must understand what climate change is and how it is developing. It helps to begin with the earth’s climate system.
Energy from the sun drives heating and cooling patterns in both the air and the oceans. Since the earth wobbles on its axis, it receives uneven heat from the sun. Differences in heat cause pockets of air to circulate inside our atmosphere. Circulating air interacts with the heat that cycles through our oceans. This interaction can create effects that make our climate erratic year-to-year.
These natural heating and cooling cycles are being upset by greenhouse gases (GHGs) released by humans.
GHGs form a barrier in the atmosphere that trap heat near Earth’s surface. Scientists call these “greenhouse gases” because like a greenhouse, they hold in heat. The extra heat changes Earth’s normal temperature patterns. This causes the global climate to change.
Weather vs. climate
Weather is the day-to-day change in the atmosphere. This is what causes you to wear a rain jacket one day and a t-shirt the next.
Climate is the long-term pattern and average of weather. Think of climate in the context of your entire wardrobe. What might you own if you lived in a country with a warm, dry climate versus a cooler, wetter one? Since our climate is changing across the globe, we must prepare for the impacts.
What does climate change look like in Atlantic Canada?
On average, Atlantic Canada is getting warmer. This leads to a range of direct and indirect impacts.
Direct impacts are measurable changes caused by rising temperatures from increased greenhouse gases. These are likely the impacts you think of first. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, sea ice loss, and shifting precipitation patterns. It also includes things like more frequent and intense storms. Hurricanes, blizzards, lightning storms and high winds are examples of this. Heatwaves and droughts are also direct impacts.
Climate change also causes less obvious changes to everyday systems we rely on. These are indirect impacts. They are the result of climate change interacting with our human systems. Examples of indirect impacts include our food, housing, and security systems.
When does climate change become a climate impact?
Climate change in Atlantic Canada is not only about adjusting to the weather.
It is important to know that the adjustments we make can cause a chain of effects. These effects can exacerbate climate change.
One example is extreme hot days during the summer. They will become more frequent, which will cause people to use more air conditioning. This will make electricity bills and air conditioning units more expensive. The energy used to power air conditioners involves releasing greenhouse gases. These gases will worsen the greenhouse effect, and the cycle continues.
Other climate change impacts include raising food costs or limited availability of products. Climate change causes more crop pests, limited water supply, and more severe storms. This impacts what foods we have access to.
Of course, not everyone has the luxury of access to air conditioning. This could be because of cost barriers or infrastructure limitations. Many also have a preexisting lack of regular access to healthy and affordable foods. Considering equity is important for avoiding unintended negative impacts when planning for adaptation.
Climate change also causes species loss and ecosystem changes. Shifts in the earth’s climate are happening so fast that this has become a big threat. Species often do not have time to adapt. Or, are so specialized that a slight change is detrimental to their species. Even the slightest change can allow invasive species to thrive in a new environment. Native species, such as ticks in Atlantic Canada, can also take over.
Climate change impacts do not always equal destruction
Warmer temperatures can lead to some opportunities. One example is a longer growing season. This can result in more crop yields. But, this also means we need more resources to keep up with production. More funds for worker wages, energy consumption, and nutritive stress on soil.
Climate change impacts are intertwined. This requires more thoughtful and intentional solutions.
Vulnerability
Not all impacts affect all people equally. It is critical to understand who is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This is how we develop equity-centred adaptation strategies. One can assess vulnerability using the following equation:
Sensitivity can include one’s ability to regulate temperature. Their sensitivity to heatwaves make them more vulnerable to harm. This includes those more likely to experience decreased mental health. They might rely on support networks that climate events can disrupt.
Exposure may mean that one is living in a flood plain or they spend more time on the land for cultural reasons.
Adaptive capacity means the ability to adjust to possible harm. It means we must take advantage of new opportunities, or respond to changes and effects. These are the skills and strategies to respond to environmental and socioeconomic changes.
Adaptation’s role
Climate adaptation reduces harm to people and the planet. It helps us seize new opportunities. It is not about coping with change. It is about building sustainable communities that can thrive in a changing climate.
Effective adaptation considers the past, present, and future. It supports flexible decision-making that evolves over time. This allows strategies to adjust as conditions change. This approach helps us move toward solutions that are both effective and equitable.
The post Climate Change Impacts in Atlantic Canada appeared first on Climatlantic.
]]>Atlantic Canada is encountering some of the highest rates of sea level rise in the country.
In Nova Scotia, sea levels will rise by up to one metre by the end of the century. Some communities are exploring new strategies to protect the coast from sea level rise and the increased impacts from erosion and storm surge.
Historically, many communities and property owners have used armour stone — a kind of durable quarry rock — to reduce the impacts of waves. However, this kind of hard infrastructure has some drawbacks.
(Armour stone) can actually, while protecting our section, damage neighbouring sections (of the coast) and lead to more increased negative impacts.
When waves hit a section of the coastline with armour stone, the wave energy is redirected to unprotected areas on either side. This can increase erosion in neighbouring areas and around the stones themselves, causing the rock walls to collapse. Armouring also reduces natural habitat for the plants, animals, and birds that would otherwise live there.
In some cases, communities are looking to work with nature to address coastal erosion, such as a project on Shore Road in HRM.
Re-creating the Natural Shoreline Along Shore Road
Shore Road is an essential transportation route for residents and businesses in Eastern Passage. As the name implies, the road runs closely along the shore. It is increasingly exposed to waves during storms, which increases coastal erosion. As a result, road closures are becoming more frequent.
The Shore Road: Building With Nature project is a $5 million project with Infrastructure Canada providing 60 per cent of the total project costs. HRM anticipates construction will begin during the 2025/26 construction season.
To limit erosion, the project is recreating the cobble beach shoreline that’s typical of the area along a 480m stretch of the Shore Road. The project started with the intention of restoring nearby salt marshes because they can help minimize erosion by buffering the impacts of waves. But the Shore Road site was too exposed to waves from the Atlantic Ocean to support marsh restoration. “Everyone agreed it needed to be a more hybrid approach because of that wave energy,” said Emma Poirier, with the HRM’s environment and climate change team. “That’s just the process — it’s going to be different for every site.”
The project will now use a blend of traditional hard infrastructure and nature-based solutions to limit erosion along Shore Road. Larger pieces of stone will sit below the water and hold the new cobble stone beach in place. Planting the shoreline with native vegetation will help stabilize the slope, filter stormwater, and provide greenspace. Over time, wave action will reshape the beach to a more natural slope that can better withstand strong waves and prevent shoreline erosion. Once complete, a new boardwalk will allow the community to view and get closer to the water.
Overcoming Challenges
This project is one of the first to use nature-based solutions in HRM, and the team has been learning as they go, according to Fernandes. For example, the team learned the importance of site-specific design to restore the natural ecosystem in the area. They conducted a number of modelling studies to determine the best option that can handle the kind of wave action that’s projected with climate change.
“Some other lessons that we learned were about how to really engage with our community and bring community into this project,” Fernandes said. “Through this process, we are building that capacity and that expertise in order to help implement more of these projects in the future and in other areas of HRM.”
Shore Road Serves as a Model for the Future
As part of the project, staff will be applying for a Green Shores certification, a program developed by the Stewardship Centre for British Columbia, which encourages natural shorelines and nature-based approaches.
The best approach for managing coastal erosion will always depend on the site. When deciding on a strategy, it’s important to understand which options work best for the specific conditions. This is where resources like CLIMAltantic’s Coastal Adaptation Toolkit can help.
Alex Cadel, Climate Services Specialist with the Department of Environment and Climate Change and working in partnership with CLIMAtlantic, said that nature-based approaches need to be a bigger part of the conversation than they’ve been historically.
Whether that’s living shoreline approaches, whether that’s restoring salt marsh…that idea of trying to work with nature is a really important one for us when we’re thinking of climate adaptation.
Alex Cadel, Climate Services Specialist with the Department of Environment and Climate Change and working in partnership with CLIMAtlantic, said that nature-based approaches need to be a bigger part of the conversation than they’ve been historically. “Whether that’s living shoreline approaches, whether that’s restoring salt marsh…that idea of trying to work with nature is a really important one for us when we’re thinking of climate adaptation.”
Fernandes agreed: “Nature-based solutions have co-benefits far beyond infrastructure resilience.” The Shore Road project is a great example. It aims not only to slow coastal erosion, but improve stormwater runoff, restore the natural ecosystem and create new public greenspace.
Ultimately, since there are communities at risk beyond Eastern Passage, municipal staff hope the lessons from the Shore Road project will support further projects that harness nature for climate adaptation, both in the municipality and in other communities.
“We are very fortunate to have staff capacity and to have resources because we can share those lessons learned with smaller municipalities who may not have the resources or the risk tolerance to take on something new for the first time without it being proven, tried and true in the Nova Scotia and Eastern Canada context,” Fernandes said.
Additional Resources:
- Nova Scotia Government Coastal Adaptation Resources: http://novascotia.ca/coastal-climate-change
- CLIMAtlantic: https://climatlantic.ca/
- Coastal Adaptation Toolkit: https://climatlantic.ca/coastal-adaptation/
Funding support provided by:
The post Climate Adaptation Stories: Using Nature to Adapt to Coastal Erosion in Halifax appeared first on Climatlantic.
]]>Climate adaptation can take many forms. Along the shoreline of Nova Scotia, you can find it in the delicate green blades of eelgrass, rippling under the surface of the water.
Eelgrass is an essential part of Nova Scotia’s coastal ecosystem; eelgrass meadows provide habitat, protect the shoreline, and absorb carbon.
Eelgrass is under threat, from invasive species, climate change, and coastal development. Some scientists estimate that across North America, a football field of eelgrass meadows are lost every hour.
The Community Eelgrass Restoration Initiative is bringing together researchers, citizen scientists and local communities to document what’s left — and restore what’s disappeared.
“We’re trying to better understand the role of eelgrass in Nova Scotia but also raise its profile and share these many benefits it has with the public — eelgrass is a wonderful plant and not very many people know that we have extensive grass meadows around Nova Scotia,” said Kristina Boerder, lead scientist with the Community Eelgrass Restoration Initiative and researcher at Dalhousie University’s Future of Marine Ecosystems Research Lab.
The idea for the Community Eelgrass Restoration Initiative, or CERI, was sparked in 2020, when Boerder and other scientists discovered healthy eelgrass beds in some parts of the province. “That spiked our interest in how the eelgrass looks around the province…and then finding out that we don’t know much about it.”
(Kristina Boerder with CERI)
Project aims to survey eelgrass meadows
In 2023, CERI launched with funding through Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Fund.
Boerder said eelgrass is an important species as it provides crucial habitat for a range of species, from lobster to herring. “A lot of species that we cherish in the Maritimes [call] it their home at some stages throughout their lives.”
Eelgrass meadows buffer wave action, protecting the shoreline against storms. Boerder said meadows can reduce wave energy by up to 40 percent.
Eelgrass can also mitigate climate change. “It’s one of these unsung heroes to help us mitigate climate change.” said Boerder. As it grows, it deposits carbon in the sediment beneath the meadow, where it can stay locked away for centuries to millennia. “And it does that about 30 times more efficiently than forest on land,” said Boerder. “That really is something that we call a true carbon sink.”
To support this vital ecosystem, CERI has been searching for meadows around the province and surveying their health and extent over time. To expand their reach, the Initiative draws on a team of citizen scientist volunteers using iNaturalist to track eelgrass.
Eelgrass affected by climate change, development
What those surveys show isn’t always pretty. As climate change increases water temperatures, eelgrass is suffering. “This is a cold water species, so it doesn’t do too well with waters that are too warm over too long a time,” said Boerder.
Variations to the seasonal patterns of temperature and salinity that eelgrass needs to complete their life cycle, as well as more severe storms and invasive species such as green crab, are undermining the health of eelgrass meadows.
Some approaches to protecting coastlines, like using hard armour stones or seawalls, can change habitats and make it hard for eelgrass to thrive. “That really impacts eelgrass at many sites that we’re seeing where…we’ve seen the eelgrass recede from the coast by up to 20, 30 meters. That was quite eye opening,” said Boerder.
Restoring Eelgrass in Nova Scotia
Working with communities, CERI is attempting to restore some meadows that have disappeared. The Initiative has a particular focus on working with Mi’kmaw communities and has collaborated with Pictou Landing First Nation to restore eelgrass meadows around an important island for the community. The Initiative is also in conversation with Paqtnkek, whose traditional eel fishing grounds have experienced declining eelgrass, to work on a restoration project this summer.
(Community Volunteer)
CERI is also studying genetic strains from different parts of the province to identify populations of eelgrass that are more likely to withstand the warmer conditions anticipated in the future. This is being combined with analysis to determine which areas of the province will be most suitable for eelgrass going forward. It doesn’t make much sense to restore an area that will become unsuitable over the next 10 years or 20 years,” said Boerder.
To grasp the effectiveness of eelgrass as a carbon sink in Nova Scotia, CERI is taking sediment cores from eelgrass meadows to assess how much carbon they’re sequestering, and how much would be released if they were destroyed.
Boerder said one unanticipated outcome of the project thus far has been the connections they’ve forged with community members. At a time when news about climate change can be dire, participants in the project report a sense of well-being from being involved in work to restore ecosystems. “That was something we didn’t really account for in the beginning of the project, but that has become a big part of what we’re doing.”
And to see areas that had been barren mud once again bursting with life after a replanting is rewarding, Boerder said. “This helps to make changes on a small scale, but regardless it means a lot because the species are coming back where the grass grows again, and that has been wonderful.”
Additional Resources:
- Nova Scotia Government Coastal Adaptation Resources: http://novascotia.ca/coastal-climate-change
- CLIMAtlantic: https://climatlantic.ca/
- Coastal Adaptation Toolkit: https://climatlantic.ca/coastal-adaptation/
- Community Eelgrass Restoration Initiative: https://eelgrass.ca/
- Eelgrass maps in Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/eelgrass-canada.html
Funding support provided by:
The post Climate Adaptation Stories: Eelgrass and Coastal Resilience appeared first on Climatlantic.
]]>Jessica Miller started the Veteran Farm Project (near Windsor, Nova Scotia) when she retired from the Canadian Armed Forces. “My husband and I purchased this farm … not knowing what we were going to do with it,” she said.
The goal of the farm soon became clear: to support female veterans and other women with volunteer opportunities on the farm and to improve food security for local communities struggling to access healthy food.
The farm started by offering produce to local legions to distribute to people in the community.
They now support 50 families experiencing food insecurity. “The demand has increased dramatically,” she said. “We’ve had to pivot in different directions to make sure we meet those obligations.”
Climate change is impacting the Veteran Farm Project
Climate change is one of the reasons the farm has had to pivot. While families depend on the farm to put healthy food on the table, changing growing conditions have started to make it difficult to meet demand. “There’s a lot we used to grow that we can’t, due to the climate impacts.” Warmer and drier conditions mean heat stress for some crops and more demand for water.
Meanwhile, extreme weather has affected farm infrastructure. In 2023, high winds from a hurricane and a set of unusual December storms destroyed much of the farm’s infrastructure, including the two greenhouses.
Miller said pests are also a problem. Warmer winters mean pests aren’t dying off in the winter the way they once did. Pests like Colorado potato beetle and squash bugs have made some crops difficult to grow.
How the Veteran Farm Project is adapting to climate change
To cope with climate change, Miller said the farm has had to adapt, rather than hanging on to its old practices.
“If you’re going to keep fighting nature, you’re going to keep banging your head against the wall.”
Changing growing practices
The Veteran Farm Project has shifted its focus to producing fewer crops that are easy to grow. “One of the big [changes] was eliminating anything that we can’t grow successfully without having to stay on top of it. 24/7, [or use] pesticides.”
This meant cutting out vegetables like cucumbers, which are attacked by pests that thrive in dry conditions. They also moved away from carrots, which have fared poorly in extremely wet conditions. “We’re down to maybe five vegetables that we grow only because we can’t keep up with the major issues that are plaguing us.”
Managing Water
The farm captures the water coming off the farm’s barn, directing water into rain barrels or the well for use in dry periods. “Without harvesting [rain] off the barn, we’d constantly be needing to bring in water.”
Meanwhile, with rain coming in greater volumes when it does fall — a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to heavier rains — the farm has had to adapt to manage excess water, too. Miller said they’ve installed berms on the slope above the growing field to redirect water. It’s not a common sight, but they’ve also installed a sump pump to help cope with rain that falls faster than the ground can absorb.
Climate impacts on local farmers and food security
Stephanie Arnold, CLIMAtlantic’s Strategy and Innovation Manager, said farmers in the region are now dealing with multiple climate impacts simultaneously. Like Jessica, some farmers are now dealing with drought and extreme precipitation in the same season on top of wind and pests. “It’s adding a lot more complexity and work and preparation onto farmers.”
They’re also impacted by the effects of climate change elsewhere. Climate disruptions worldwide affect supply chains that can make it harder for farmers to access the materials they need, such as fertilizer.
When farmers experience climate disruptions, this impacts food production and increases the costs for consumers. Even if local growers adapt, Arnold said, climate change still poses a threat to food security. “Because the food web and the supply chain is so wide … even if we did a really good job locally in adaptation, if other food producing areas have failed, that impacts food security here.”
Still, improving soil health and changing the kinds of crops farmers are growing can make food production more resilient.
Future considerations for the Veteran Farm Project
Additional adaptations the Veteran Farm Project is considering are a second greenhouse to increase vegetable production. Going forward, they’re also considering further measures like installing solar panels on the roof of the farm’s barn.
For growers trying to make their own contribution to reducing food insecurity in a changing climate, Miller recommends carefully considering the land you’re working with and planning ahead for shifting conditions. “Don’t take for granted that you can put anything in the ground anymore and just grow it,” she said. “You really have to know your space.”
Ultimately, farmers can’t do it alone. It will be important to support farmers to adapt. “Investing in infrastructure to support agriculture is also investing in infrastructure that supports rural communities,” said Arnold. “It’s really going to support rural success, community well-being, livelihoods being generated, and that’s where the excitement that I have in adaptation for agriculture [comes in].”
Additional Resources:
- Nova Scotia Government Climate Change Resources: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/
- CLIMAtlantic: https://climatlantic.ca/
- Nova Scotia Climate Smart Farming: https://climatesmart.perennia.ca/
Funding support provided by:
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]]>The post Mi’kmaw Moons appeared first on Climatlantic.
]]>Image Credit: Adege from Pixabay/Canva
Introduction
Traditional Indigenous knowledge is an important source of information for understanding the climate. The Mi’kmaq have thrived for well over 13,000 years in the region of Mi’kma’ki, which stretches across the colonial borders of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, eastern New Brunswick, the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec, and Newfoundland. The Mi’kmaw language is strongly connected to nature and demonstrates a deep understanding of ecological patterns in this region. One example of this knowledge is the Mi’kmaw calendar, based on lunar cycles, where each moon is named for an important biophysical indicator of the changing seasons.
This series of posts will explore the Mi’kmaw calendar from the perspective of the changing climate, including some analysis of climate data trends that relate to each moon. Learning from traditional knowledge helps us understand how the climate is already different from what was normal in this region for thousands of years. Analyzing climate data helps us understand the changes still to come.
Any climate data shown are from the latest downscaled projections for Canada (CMIP6), accessed via ClimateData.ca. Values are the median results for averaged 30-year periods, and are geographically specific to the community mentioned.
September
In the Mi’kmaw calendar, the September moon is known as Wikumkewiku’s (we-goom-gay-we-goos), the mate calling moon. This period covers the approximate date range of September 7 to October 8. This time marks the rutting season for moose, with their behaviour including more frequent vocalized calls. Historically, this was the time when the Mi’kmaq would migrate from summer camps by the seashore to winter camps located inland, closer to the moose.
Some research indicates a warmer fall can delay moose breeding, as moose are less active on warm days to avoid overheating. In Wagmatcook First Nation, the average maximum temperature during the month of September was 18.1°C during the period 1951-1980. With climate change, maximum temperatures are already slightly warmer, averaging 18.7°C during the period 1981-2010. The following table shows how the average maximum temperature in September is projected to change over time under both low and high emission scenarios for this area.
Image credit: pixabay/PublicDomainImages/Canva
Average maximum temperature in September
|
||
Time period |
Low emissions(SSP2-4.5) |
High emissions(SSP5-8.5) |
| 1951-1980 | 18.1°C | |
| 1981-2010 | 18.7°C | |
| 2011-2040 | 19.9°C | 20.0°C |
| 2041-2070 | 21.0°C | 21.8°C |
| 2071-2100 | 21.9°C | 24.7°C |
The average daily high temperature in September may be nearly 4 degrees warmer by the end of the century under a low emissions scenario, and over 6 degrees warmer under a high emissions scenario. These warmer conditions could impact animal behaviour, particularly for species like moose that have a low tolerance to temperature stress.
August
In the Mi’kmaw calendar, the August moon is known as Kisikewiku’s (gis-ig-ay-we-goos), the berry ripening moon. This period covers the approximate date range of August 7 to September 7. This is the time when fruits, such as blueberries and raspberries, have ripened and are ready to be gathered.
The frost-free season, measured in days, is the approximate length of the growing season during which there are no sub-zero temperatures to damage frost-sensitive plants. In Fort Folly First Nation, the frost-free season lasted for an average of 145 days during the period 1951-1980. The length of the frost-free season increased during the period 1981-2010, lasting an average of 151 days. The following table shows how the length of the frost-free season is projected to change over time under both low and high emission scenarios for this area.
Image credit: klikk/Getty Images/Canva
Length of frost-free season (days)
|
||
Time period |
Low emissions(SSP2-4.5) |
High emissions(SSP5-8.5) |
| 1951-1980 | 145 | |
| 1981-2010 | 151 | |
| 2011-2040 | 169 | 169 |
| 2041-2070 | 182 | 189 |
| 2071-2100 | 195 | 219 |
Warmer average temperatures result in a longer frost-free season. By the end of the century, the frost-free season in Fort Folly First Nation could extend by 50 days under a low emissions scenario, or by 74 days under a high emissions scenario. A longer growing season may present an opportunity to produce more food or grow different types of crops, but it also tends to increase the risk of damage from a variety of pests, diseases, or invasive species which may be better adapted to warmer growing conditions.
July
In the Mi’kmaw calendar, the July moon is known as Peskewiku’s (bes-gay-we-goos), the birds shedding feathers moon. This period covers the approximate date range of July 6 to August 7. This is the time when many birds shed and replace their feathers. Feathers naturally wear out from use and weather, meaning birds must molt to create fresh, healthy feathers. This molting often occurs during mid-late summer, a time of abundant food between the stressful periods of nesting and migration.
Heat warnings are commonly issued when temperatures reach a threshold near 30°C, indicating that temperatures may cause stress to living beings. In Glooscap First Nation, there were an average of 2 days per year that exceeded 30°C during the period 1951-1980. This increased slightly during the period 1981-2010, with an average of 3 days. The following table shows the projected changes to the number of days with maximum temperatures over 30°C over time under both low and high emission scenarios for this area.
Image credit: nstanev/Getty Images/Canva
Number of days with maximum temperature >30°C
|
||
Time period |
Low emissions(SSP2-4.5) |
High emissions(SSP5-8.5) |
| 1951-1980 | 2 | |
| 1981-2010 | 3 | |
| 2011-2040 | 8 | 8 |
| 2041-2070 | 14 | 21 |
| 2071-2100 | 21 | 50 |
As average temperatures continue to rise with climate change, there will be a substantial increase in the number of hot days. By the end of the century, there may be three weeks of days over 30°C in Glooscap First Nation under a low emissions scenario, or over seven weeks under a high emissions scenario. High temperatures determine whether plants and animals can thrive, with hot temperatures also impacting human health and infrastructure. Heat stress in summer will likely become a more common issue for humans, animals, and plants.
June
In the Mi’kmaw calendar, the June moon is known as Nipniku’s (nib-nee-goos), the trees fully leafed moon. This period covers the approximate date range of June 5 to July 6. With longer days and warming temperatures, this is the time when buds on trees unfurl into full new canopies of leaves.
Growing degree days are a measure of whether climate conditions are warm enough to support plant growth. In Pabineau First Nation, there were an average of 1568 growing degree days (base of 5ºC) per year during the period of 1951-1980. The number of growing degree days then increased during the period of 1981-2010, averaging 1676 growing degree days. The following table shows projected changes for the number of growing degree days over time under both low and high emission scenarios for this area.
Image credit: famingjia inventor/Pexels/Canva
Number of Growing Degree Days (base 5ºC)(Pabineau First Nation) |
||
Time period |
Low emissions(SSP2-4.5) |
High emissions(SSP5-8.5) |
| 1951-1980 | 1568 | |
| 1981-2010 | 1676 | |
| 2011-2040 | 1913 | 1931 |
| 2041-2070 | 2144 | 2313 |
| 2071-2100 | 2320 | 2965 |
By the end of the century, growing degree days in Pabineau may increase by around 50% under a low emissions scenario, or around 90% under a high emissions scenario. This represents a substantial increase in the energy available for plant growth, meaning that certain plants may start to flower, develop leaves, and produce seeds or fruit earlier in the year.
May
In the Mi’kmaw calendar, the May moon is known as Sqoljuiku’s (skoalch-ooh-we-goos), the frog croaking moon. This period covers the approximate date range of May 5 to June 5. Sqolj is the Mi’kmaw word for frog, after the sound of their croaks. This is the time when frogs and toads sing their springtime song to attract a mate. Their behaviour is driven by warming temperatures and increased rainfall, which creates new ponds and puddles to safely lay eggs in.
In Eskasoni First Nation, an average of 324 mm of precipitation fell in the spring during the period 1951-1980. This amount was nearly the same during the period 1981-2010, averaging 325 mm. The following table shows how the amount of spring precipitation is projected to change over time under both low and high emission scenarios for this area.
Image credit: AttaBoyLuther/Getty Images Signature/Canva
Spring Precipitation (mm)(Eskasoni First Nation) |
||
Time period |
Low emissions(SSP2-4.5) |
High emissions(SSP5-8.5) |
| 1951-1980 | 324 | |
| 1981-2010 | 325 | |
| 2011-2040 | 339 | 343 |
| 2041-2070 | 356 | 365 |
| 2071-2100 | 355 | 371 |
Warmer air holds more moisture, resulting in higher typical precipitation amounts across the region. By the end of the century, spring precipitation amounts in Eskasoni may increase by around 10% under a low emissions scenario, or around 15% under a high emissions scenario. More rain falling could create wetter conditions for creatures like frogs, but higher temperatures also increase evaporation rates, meaning that ponds and soils could dry out more quickly.
April
In the Mi’kmaw calendar, the April moon is known as Penatmuiku’s (ben-a-dim-ooh-we-goos), the birds laying eggs moon. This period covers the approximate date range of April 4 to May 5. This is the time when birds collect twigs, grass, and other materials to build and repair their nests in preparation for egg laying. The timing of egg laying is often matched to the increasing availability of food sources, such as insects that start to emerge in greater numbers as the harsh conditions of winter recede.
Another indicator of the coming spring during this time may be the final frost event, signalling a return to consistently warmer temperatures. In Lennox Island First Nation, the last spring frost occurred on May 9, on average, during the period of 1951-1980. With climate change this last frost has been occurring earlier, with May 4 being the more typical date during the period of 1981-2010. The following table shows how the date of the last spring frost is projected to change over time under both low and high emission scenarios for this area.
Image credit: AttaBoyLuther/Getty Images Signature/Canva
Date of last frost in spring(Lennox Island First Nation) |
||
Time period |
Low emissions(SSP2-4.5) |
High emissions(SSP5-8.5) |
| 1951-1980 | May 9 | |
| 1981-2010 | May 4 | |
| 2011-2040 | April 29 | April 27 |
| 2041-2070 | April 19 | April 15 |
| 2071-2100 | April 14 | April 3 |
Rising temperatures will continue to push the average date of the last spring frost earlier in the year. By the end of the century, the last spring frost may occur over three weeks earlier under a low emissions scenario, or around five weeks earlier under a high emissions scenario. Species may adapt their behaviour to align with these changes, with some studies showing that many bird species have already started laying eggs earlier than they did historically.
March
In the Mi’kmaw calendar, the March moon is known as Siwkewiku’s (see-uke-ay-we-goos), the spring time moon, also known as the maple sugar moon. This period covers the approximate date range of March 5 to April 4, which is typically the time when maple sap was distilled from sugar maple trees, practiced by the Mi’kmaq long before settlers arrived. Sap flow in maple trees is dependent on temperature, typically requiring temperatures to drop below freezing (0°C) at night and rise above freezing during the day. When air temperatures fluctuate between freezing and non-freezing temperatures on the same day, it is known as a freeze-thaw cycle.
In Elsipogtog First Nation, there were an average of 86 days per year with a freeze-thaw cycle during the period of 1951-1980. The average number of annual freeze-thaw cycles is already slightly lower, with an average of 83 freeze-thaw cycles during the period of 1981-2010. The following table shows how the number of freeze-thaw cycles is projected to change over time under both low and high emission scenarios for this area.
Image of sugar maple trees with taps and buckets to collect sap for the production of maple syrup.
Number of freeze-thaw cycles(Elsipogtog First Nation) |
||
Time period |
Low emissions(SSP2-4.5) |
High emissions(SSP5-8.5) |
| 1951-1980 | 86 | |
| 1981-2010 | 83 | |
| 2011-2040 | 80 | 81 |
| 2041-2070 | 77 | 78 |
| 2071-2100 | 77 | 70 |
The number of freeze-thaw cycles per year is projected to decrease slightly across Mi’kma’ki. By the end of the century, it may be more typical to see a total of 77 freeze-thaw cycles per year in this community under a low emissions scenario, or 70 freeze-thaw cycles per year under a high emissions scenario. As temperatures continue to rise, the timing of these freeze-thaw events may also change, with more freeze-thaw cycles taking place during the winter season and fewer taking place during spring and fall. The changing climate could impact the timing and viability of maple syrup production in the region.
February
In the Mi’kmaw calendar, the February moon is known as Apuknajit (ah-boo-gah-na-jit), the snow blinding moon. This period covers the approximate date range of February 3 to March 5. Apuknajit is a legendary Mi’kmaw spirit or wizard that can shapeshift, taking on the appearance of any animal. It is customary during this full moon to leave food out as an offering to Apuknajit to ensure the survival of the entire ecosystem. Traditionally, this is the hardest time of year for the Mi’kmaq, as heavy snow falls made hunting more difficult. It is the brightest time of the winter due to the sun reflecting off the snow, which can cause snow blindness – a painful sunburn to the eye’s cornea.
In Miawpukek (Conne River) First Nation, there were an average of 50 days per year with snowfall during the period of 1951-1980. Warmer temperatures have already slightly reduced the number of snowy days, with an average of 47 days with snowfall during the period of 1981-2010. The following table shows how the number of days with snow is projected to change over time under both low and high emission scenarios for this area.
Birch Brook, Labrador.
Number of Days with Snow(Miawpukek First Nation) |
||
Time period |
Low emissions(SSP2-4.5) |
High emissions(SSP5-8.5) |
| 1951-1980 | 50 | |
| 1981-2010 | 47 | |
| 2011-2040 | 41 | 39 |
| 2041-2070 | 34 | 31 |
| 2071-2100 | 31 | 21 |
Warming winters will significantly reduce the frequency of snowfall across Mi’kma’ki, as precipitation would instead fall as rain if temperatures are above freezing. By the end of the century, there may be an average of 31 days per year with snowfall in this community under a low emissions scenario, or only 21 days per year with snowfall under a high emissions scenario. Winters across the region will look and feel quite different with fewer snowy days.
January
In the Mi’kmaw calendar, the January moon is known as Punamujuiku’s (boo-na-moo-jooey-goos), the tomcod (frost fish) moon. This period covers the approximate date range of January 5 to February 3. This is the time when the punamu (tomcod) run from river estuaries upstream to spawn. Fishing for tomcod was an important food source for the Mi’kmaq during this time.
This period is typically when the coldest day of the year might occur. In Sipekne’katik First Nation, the average coldest temperature of the year was -25.3°C during the period 1951-1980. The coldest temperature has already been slightly higher during the period 1981-2010, at -24.2°C. The following table shows how the coldest temperature of the year is projected to change over time under both low and high emission scenarios for this area.
Tomcod illustration from “Fish from American Waters series (N8)” issued by Allen & Ginter. Credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art/RawPixel.
Coldest temperature of the year
|
||
Time period |
Low emissions(SSP2-4.5) |
High emissions(SSP5-8.5) |
| 1951-1980 | -25.3°C | |
| 1981-2010 | -24.2°C | |
| 2011-2040 | -21.6°C | -21.5°C |
| 2041-2070 | -19.4°C | -18.0°C |
| 2071-2100 | -17.6°C | -13.3°C |
This reduction in extreme cold is one of the most notable impacts of the changing climate across Mi’kma’ki. Even under a relatively optimistic low emissions scenario, the coldest day of the year in this region may be nearly eight degrees warmer by the end of the century. Under a high emissions scenario, the typical coldest day may be 12 degrees warmer. While extreme cold can pose human health risks for those who are not adequately prepared, cold winter temperatures are important for many native species and environmental processes.
December
In the Mi’kmaw calendar, the December moon is known as Kesikewiku’s (ges-ig-gay-we-goos), the winter moon. This period covers the approximate date range of December 6 to January 5, which includes the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and the full moon that rises highest in the sky. Typical winter conditions across Mi’kma’ki include colder air temperatures, freezing waters and snowfall.
As the climate warms, these typical winter conditions become less common. In Abegweit First Nation, the average temperature during winter (Kesik) was -5.8°C during the period of 1951-1980. The average winter temperature has already been slightly warmer during the following period of 1981-2010, averaging -5.2°C. The following table shows how the average winter temperature is projected to change over time under both low and high emission scenarios for this area.
Drone photo of Eastern Passage, NS, February 2023. Photo courtesy of David Jones.
Average winter temperature (Abegweit First Nation) |
||
Time period |
Low emissions(SSP2-4.5) |
High emissions(SSP5-8.5) |
| 1951-1980 | -5.8°C | |
| 1981-2010 | -5.2°C | |
| 2011-2040 | -3.6°C | -3.3°C |
| 2041-2070 | -2.2°C | -1.2°C |
| 2071-2100 | -1.1°C | 0.9°C |
The season of Kesik (winter) is the time of year that is warming the most rapidly. Compared to what was normal historically, winters by the end of the century may be around 4.7°C warmer under a low emissions scenario, and 6.7°C warmer under a high emissions scenario. Milder winters mean that, on average, communities across Mi’kma’ki will experience more frequent temperatures above freezing (0°C), less extreme cold, and less snow and ice.
November
In the Mi’kmaw calendar, the November moon is known as Keptekewiku’s (geb-deg-gay-we-goos), the rivers freezing over moon. This period covers the approximate date range of November 7 to December 6. This was the time when temperatures started to regularly drop below 0°C and surface waters across Mi’kma’ki would first start to show signs of freezing over.
In Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) First Nation on the Miramichi River, there were an average of 80 ice days each year during the period 1951-1980. Ice days occur when temperatures remain below freezing for the entire day, meaning thicker, stable ice can form and persist. As the climate has warmed the number of ice days has already started to decrease, with 75 ice days being more typical during the period 1981-2010. The following table shows how the number of ice days is projected to change over time under both low and high emissions scenarios for this area.
Image credit: Winter on the Kennebecasis River, Hampton, New Brunswick, Canada — Greenseas, Getty Images/Canva
Number of annual ice days (Natoaganeg First Nation) |
||
Time period |
Low emissions(SSP2-4.5) |
High emissions(SSP5-8.5) |
| 1950-1980 | 80 | |
| 1980-2010 | 75 | |
| 2011-2040 | 62 | 60 |
| 2041-2070 | 50 | 41 |
| 2071-2100 | 42 | 22 |
Compared to what was normal historically, the number of ice days is projected to be nearly halved by the end of the century under a low emissions scenario, and only a quarter of what used to occur under a high emissions scenario. Fewer ice days may result in freeze-up occurring later in the winter, and could mean rivers may not freeze over consistently or for as long. This may cause impacts on freshwater ecosystems and cultural practices such as ice fishing.
October
In the Mi’kmaw calendar, the October moon is known as Wikewiku’s (wig-gay-we-goos), the animal fattening moon. This period covers the approximate date range of October 8 to November 7. This is the time when animals across Mi’kma’ki are foraging and feeding to fatten up for the long, cold winter ahead.
One of the main indicators of the coming winter during this period is the first frost event in fall. In Bear River First Nation, the first fall frost occurred on October 12, on average, during the period of 1951-1980. With climate change this first frost has been occurring later, with October 17 being a more typical date in the period 1981-2010. The following table shows how the date of the first fall frost is projected to change over time under both low and high emission scenarios for this area.
Image credit: Daizuoxin from Getty Images/Canva
Date of first frost in fall (Bear River First Nation) |
||
Time period |
Low emissions(SSP2-4.5) |
High emissions(SSP5-8.5) |
| 1950-1980 | October 12 | |
| 1980-2010 | October 17 | |
| 2011-2040 | October 28 | October 28 |
| 2041-2070 | November 2 | November 10 |
| 2071-2100 | November 8 | November 24 |
The first frost event in fall occurring several weeks later in the year may impact when and how animals prepare for the winter. More food may be available later into the year, and winters may not be as long or as harsh. Some animals may be able to adjust their behaviors for these changing conditions, but others will struggle with this rapid rate of climatic change.
The post Mi’kmaw Moons appeared first on Climatlantic.
]]>Feature image: Mniku is located in the Bras d’Or Lake in Unama’ki. (Map created with Google Earth, Version 10.52.0.0, 2023).
Across Atlantic Canada, communities are feeling the impacts of climate change. Coastal communities face increased flooding and erosion due to sea level rise, storm surge and waves from severe storms such as hurricanes. However, communities are also adapting to these impacts. Climate change adaptation provides an opportunity to build resilience and find creative ways to solve new and unfamiliar problems. One example of this is the shoreline protection work on Mniku, or Chapel Island, located near the Potlotek and Eskasoni First Nations in Unama’ki (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia).
Faced with rapid erosion, local leaders and community members are turning to nature-based approaches for protecting the island, which has long been a traditional sacred gathering place for Mi’kmaw communities. Thanks to funding from the Government of Nova Scotia, CLIMAtlantic spoke with Wasuek Googoo, Infrastructure Co-Manager at the Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq (UNSM), to learn more about this adaptation work.
Climate change impacts faced by the community
The communities of Eskasoni and Potlotek face major climate change impacts from coastal flooding and erosion.
“They had been losing a lot of shoreline in the last few years, so their priority has been shoreline restoration. They are running out of room for development, for housing, for infrastructure,” explains Googoo.
“They are running out of room for development, for housing, for infrastructure,” says Wasuek Googoo, Infrastructure Co-Manager at the UNSM.
Mniku has lost around 7m of shoreline in the last 10 years, which is challenging due to the small size of the island, as well as its cultural and spiritual significance to Mi’kmaq communities.
“Pre-contact, we had always met on Mniku. Our leaders had always gone there for governance to issue out hunting and fishing grounds for clans. They had resolved any issues or disputes between clans. They had gone there to pray and it has always been used as a burial ground. And so in the last little while, those grave sites have been exposed.”
With this sacred site and surrounding communities facing rapid erosion, protection of the shoreline is key.
“Right now with Mniku and the mainland part we’re hoping to also restore and reinforce the shoreline for their campground so that people can continue gathering at Mniku for another 100 years,” says Googoo.
Protecting the shoreline
To help safeguard the shore of Mniku from these impacts, the UNSM and others in the community are turning to nature-based approaches. Plans for a series of living dykes (grass-covered earthen walls) are in the works, with hopes for construction in the fall of 2024. Not only would these have fewer impacts on the coastal ecosystem than gray infrastructure (hard materials like concrete or rocks), but they are also highly effective at absorbing wave energy.
“What happens with the living dykes is that the energy that comes from, say, the waves, the storms… when it hits the gray infrastructure, like the rocks, the concrete, it’s static energy. So that energy has to go out, whereas with the living dykes, the water and the energy gets absorbed and the living dykes grow with the waves,” says Googoo on the benefits of the living dykes.
The living dyke project was also inspired by the living shoreline in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, which was constructed in 2022 and has since withstood multiple severe storms.
With a living shoreline, typically using a combination of hard infrastructure and plants, wave energy is absorbed instead of deflected.
A collaborative approach
Climate change adaptation is not a task to be completed by any one organization alone, and the shoreline adaptation work on Mniku is no exception. The project is a continuation of ongoing shoreline adaptation work and involves teamwork by many people.
“Potlotek and Eskasoni have people already in place, with public works, with infrastructure and housing, who have been working on these erosion protection efforts for some time now. They will be project managers as well,” Googoo shared. “We have leadership from our communities, because Potlotek’s Mniku is a sacred place for all our Mi’kmaq. We have [also] been leaning on a lot of the expertise and the experience of the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources. We’re very fortunate and we are very grateful for everyone’s help.”
Mniku (Chapel Island), Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, courtesy of the Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq & Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn.
Moving toward community resilience
The importance of this adaptation work goes beyond physically protecting the shoreline, explains Googoo.
“I think the excitement in the communities, knowing that something that they have been wanting for a long time, to restore the shoreline and to look at ways that aren’t as destructive, that are more sustainable, more natural. I think it’s really exciting, knowing that we’re going to be giving back to the Earth the way that we had intended. Knowing that we’re also going to be bringing in jobs to our communities has been very exciting. I think that in itself is a big success.”
The need for shoreline adaptation does not end with Mniku, and the UNSM hopes to see similar projects throughout Unama’ki and beyond.
“We’d like to see a lot of these concepts adopted, and to implement the same design into our communities, not just in Unama’ki, but also assist the mainland communities of CMM, the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq. Hoping that this will be able to move forward not just within the Union as a pilot project, but sustainable, and to build the capacity in our communities to maintain it.”
Googoo hopes people will be inspired to tackle their own adaptation projects. She says, “We need to focus on the resiliency of our people, and the resiliency of being able to overcome challenges and obstacles, and just push ahead and to collaborate with people that maybe we hadn’t thought about before and to just look at funding in other avenues. Natural infrastructure is new to all of us, it’s a new project. It’s a new pot of money, and so I just encourage anyone to just go for it to just apply and hope for the best. And if they need any help or support, they can always contact us at the Union.”
Googoo can be reached at [email protected]. To learn more about the UNSM, visit their website.
Other stories in this Series:
To come.
The post Climate Adaptation Stories: Protecting the Sacred Shores of Mniku appeared first on Climatlantic.
]]>
Originally published in Water News (vol. 43, no. 2) Spring 2024, Canadian Water Resources Association
Organizations, industry, and communities are recognizing that planning for the future needs to be done differently. Whether it is motivated by experiencing impacts from extreme weather events firsthand or recognizing there are sig nificant climate, environmental, regulatory, business, and operational changes (and surprises!) lying ahead, there is a growing need for information and support to help them navigate these changes. From designing infrastructure to creating budgets to serving residents, climate change adaptation has a role to play. While the production of scientific knowledge, frameworks, and data continues to increase to respond to adapta tion needs, many practitioners expected to make use of this new information have not been supported with the training, mentoring, and extra capacity required to take on this new layer of work.
Climate services organizations, such as CLIMAtlantic, have emerged as a tool to help facilitate access to regionally relevant climate information and support its effective use in planning and decision making. It is part of a Canadian network of climate hubs in part nership with Canadian Centre for Climate Services, which includes Ouranos, the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, ClimateWest, and the Ontario Resource Centre for Climate Adaptation. CLIMAtlantic is a non-profit organization that provides free adaptation services and resources, including support with climate data and information, to organizations, communities, and residents in the Atlantic region. Examples of past work are provided below.
Engaging with communities and stakeholders
Climate change impacts are felt differently by each individual resident, community, group, or sector, and their ability to respond also varies. This makes discus sion and conversations on what the challenges are and how they are affecting them, adaptation goals they have, and approaches that may work best for them, a very important component in this work. By using facili tation and engagement as a tool, CLIMAtlantic has supported collaborative initiatives such as connecting partners to each other for funding proposals; attend ing public meetings with residents, municipal staff, and councillors to hold conversations on rebuilding after extreme storm events; and co-developing new approaches and solutions that address climate impacts and immediate pressures such as economic, social, and environmental risks.
Developing and using regional resources
Public and private property owners (individuals, businesses, or communities) concerned about climate impacts such as flooding may not have the capacity or resources to assess the risks and response options themselves nor commission a site-specific study. In these cases, regionally developed resources can provide valuable information, data and insights. CLIMAtlantic has supported decision-makers in identifying and navigating climate projections and flood and erosion hazard maps to support adaptation planning. It also worked with experts in coastal engineering, land use planning, and geomorphology to update and make publicly available the user-friendly Coastal Adaptation Toolkit. CLIMAtlantic helps coastal communities and property owners identify and assess suitable adaptation options for their flooding and erosion issues. This tool runs users through a series of simple questions about their coastal property, providing a list of adaptation options and their suitability ranking based on their answers. The toolkit also includes guidance documents that discuss considerations of how to choose among potential options, with details about estimated cost, regulatory constraints, and other relevant considerations to keep in mind.
CLIMAtlantic hired East Coast Environmental Law to prepare a document helping municipalities explore legal considerations around considering, managing, and disclosing flood risks. This is a dynamic area of law and most municipalities in the region do not have the resources to invest in this work on their own. The document is publicly available, and a webinar was hosted to give municipal staff and elected officials an opportunity to ask questions.
Making sense of data and information
Since more and more climate projections become publicly available through free data portals, it has become challenging for decision makers to know which to use for what purpose. Not only are there different sources for similar data, the similarities and differences among them are not easily understood nor presented. CLIMAtlantic works with individuals, organizations, and communities to identify information and resources most relevant for their questions and concerns around climate impacts. Taking into account factors such as the nature of the climate change hazards, vulnerability of human and ecological systems, timescale of the issue, and how the climate change hazards interact with economic, social, and environmental conditions, CLIMAtlantic supports the appropriate choice of up-to-date and relevant climate data and adaptation approaches to make decisions and reduce risk.
Moving forward together
To help increase the overall capacity in the Atlantic region, CLIMAtlantic is providing training and skill development opportunities so more individuals, municipal staff, and other professionals can embed climate change considerations and adaptation in their ongoing work. Aside from courses and workshops, opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and support through communities of practice will be made available.
CLIMAtlantic connects interested individuals, organizations and agencies with other practitioners, collaborators, and clients in the region through its Networking Map. The resources within its Adaptation Library and funding opportunities page may also be helpful. If you have any questions about CLIMAtlantic’s services, tools, or training opportunities, please send a note to its Help Desk!
The post Supporting Adaptation to Climate Change in Atlantic Canada appeared first on Climatlantic.
]]>The post Wetlands and Climate Change in Southwest Nova Scotia appeared first on Climatlantic.
]]>Image credit: Nick Hill, SW Nova Biosphere Region
Originally published in SW Biosphere Region Spring/Summer Newsletter 2023.
Wetlands are incredible ecosystems for many reasons, and increasingly they have been acknowledged for their climate change mitigation and adaptation benefits, such as storing carbon and increasing community resilience. Yet, we also know wetland health and function are threatened by changes in temperature, precipitation, and extreme events. To make sense of the connections between wetlands and climate change, this article discusses how the climate is changing in Southwest Nova Scotia, what impacts climate change might have on wetlands in the region, and why wetlands are important for adapting to climate change.
Nova Scotia’s Changing Climate
While climate change is complex and multifaceted, the main expected changes for Nova Scotia can be summarized in five high-level trends:
- Rising temperatures
- Changing precipitation patterns
- More frequent and intense storms
- Rising sea levels
- Changing oceans
Each of these trends has some relevance to wetlands, and so will be discussed in turn in the following paragraphs. The values referenced are the latest climate projections (CMIP6) for the geographic region of the Mersey River watershed, intended to be representative of the typical climate in Southwest Nova Scotia. Projections are for the period 2021-2050, relative to the historical average between 1971-2000.
Over the next several decades temperatures may be 2.2°C higher, on average. This means hotter summers with a greater risk of heat waves, as well as conditions more likely to cause droughts or wildfires. Milder winter temperatures are becoming more common, impacting snow and ice cover; in Southwest Nova Scotia, the average winter temperature is anticipated to increase from -3.1°C historically to -0.6°C by mid-century. Warmer temperatures will extend the growing season by up to 30 days, which could be an opportunity for many plants, but also introduces new risks from pests, diseases, or invasive species that might be better adapted to these conditions than native plants.
More precipitation is expected – about 7% more per year, on average, with most falling in winter and spring. However higher temperatures cause higher evapotranspiration rates, meaning more rain falling doesn’t necessarily result in more available moisture. Warmer temperatures also cause more precipitation will fall as rain rather than snow, and a trend towards more intense rainfall events.
Intense tropical storms and hurricanes are anticipated to be more frequent, driven by warming oceans which enable these systems to maintain strength for much longer on their track north. These stronger storms will likely bring more powerful wind gusts and more extreme storm surges to Nova Scotia’s coasts.
Concerns of coastal flooding are exacerbated by rising sea levels – approximately 75-80 cm of sea level rise is the median projection for Southwest Nova Scotia by 2100, under a high emissions scenario. These rising seas may also drive saltwater intrusion into coastal freshwater systems, and cause issues for sensitive coastal ecosystems such as salt marshes and dunes which may not be able to migrate quickly enough to keep pace.
Ocean changes include increased temperatures, both at the surface and in deeper water, with marine heatwaves becoming longer and more frequent. Marine waters are becoming more acidic, causing challenges for aquatic life and increasing the likelihood of algal blooms. There is also a decreasing trend in marine oxygen levels, which can limit the growth and distribution of aquatic species.
Climate change risks to wetlands
A few climate trends are specifically concerning for wetland health and function. Changing temperature and precipitation patterns could alter the hydrology of wetlands, with greater risks of both flooding and drought. The distribution of many species is also constrained by climate patterns, which are shifting; species towards the southern edge of their range are likely to face challenges in hotter summers, milder winters, and competition from species better adapted to more temperate climates.
Rising seas may pose a threat to coastal wetlands, which may experience coastal squeeze and shrink over time if they don’t have space to move inland, limiting their benefits. More intense storms may cause erosion and damage to vegetation, which could be more difficult to recover from if large storms also occur more frequently.
In the recent provincial climate change risk assessment, Weathering What’s Ahead: Climate Change Risk and Nova Scotia’s Well-being, wetland ecosystems were identified as a special area of concern. Wetlands are vital to our well-being now and in the future, but are at risk from multiple climate threats such as heat stress, shifting ecoregions, and invasive species. The provincial assessment identified that work is needed to better understand the specific vulnerabilities and opportunities of wetland ecosystems in Nova Scotia so as to ensure they are resilient to climate change.
Of course, non-climate pressures such as development or pollution also pose risks to wetlands. Even in cases where climate change may not be the primary concern, climatic changes can often make it more challenging for these ecosystems to be resilient to the other pressures they face.
The importance of wetlands for adaptation
All these concerns about risks to wetlands are underscored by the fact that abundant, healthy wetlands provide substantial benefits for adapting to the changing climate. Wetlands are effective natural sponges that slow, filter, and absorb stormwater to alleviate flooding, and by storing that water also ease the impacts of drought.
Wetlands are very effective buffers against strong waves and storm surge, reducing erosion and protecting communities. A recent study in Nova Scotia found over 60% of incoming wave energy is dissipated within the first 10 metres of salt marsh for water depths less than one metre (Ngulube, 2021), which quantifies the shoreline protection healthy coastal wetlands provide.
Wetlands are biodiversity hotspots that provide shelter and resources for abundant flora and fauna; they are incredibly effective carbon sinks, and store more carbon than any other ecosystem on Earth. Wetlands are sources of livelihoods, providing essential resources and services to support human wellbeing, including food, medicines, recreation, and cultural connections.
Climate change is a growing threat to wetland ecosystems, and working to understand and address these potential impacts is a crucial step towards protecting and restoring these vital natural systems. The links between healthy wetlands and resilient communities are abundant, and deserving of greater recognition.
The post Wetlands and Climate Change in Southwest Nova Scotia appeared first on Climatlantic.
]]>Responding to hundreds of service requests for dozens of sectors, launching four new resources, hosting our second conference, expanding our team and so much more – we were busy supporting Atlantic Canadians in being better prepared for our changing climate in 2023. Here’s a look back at what we’ve done.
Service Requests
Our team of five provincial specialists – one for each Maritime province, one for Labrador and one for Newfoundland – provide direct, one-on-one guidance to help people understand information about climate change impacts and adaptation so that they are empowered to make good decisions for the future.
Over the course of the year, they completed a combined total of:
Service Requests
While our provincial specialists provide assistance to all looking for help with climate change adaptation,
they completed the most requests in the following fields:
107
Non-profit organization (NGO)
83
Provincial governments
65
Municipal governments
And most often delivered these requests as:
61
Presentations
36
Provision of resources, tools, reports and/or policies
31
Information booths at conferences and/or events
Events We Hosted
We hosted 10 events in 2023, from our second conference to online workshops to identifying collaboration and networking opportunities.
Jan. 23
Climate Risk, Responsibility, and Liability for Municipalities information session
87 attendees
Mar. 2
Evaluation 101 workshop, DIG
51 attendees
Mar. 21
Coastal Adaptation Toolkit Launch
199 attendees
Mar. 22
Moving from Planning to Implementation on Climate Change Adaptation, ICLEI & Evergreen
Mar. 30
Coastal Adaptation Toolkit Training
57 attendees
May 24
Advancing Adaptation Actions in Atlantic Canada
204 attendees
Aug. 10
Idea Exchange & Discussion: NRCan’s Climate Change Adaptation Program
55 attendees
Sept. 28
Smart Climate Resilience for Atlantic Canada, Evergreen
Oct. 19
Idea Exchange: NRCan Funding – Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities
77 attendees
Dec. 15
Newfoundland & Labrador Adaptation Workshop
48 attendees
Advancing Adaptation Actions in Atlantic Canada
On May 24, in Moncton NB, we hosted our second conference, Advancing Adaptation Actions in Atlantic Canada! A total of 92 in-person and 112 online attendees joined for a full-day of presentations and workshops which shared new adaptation work and approaches.
Idea Exchanges
Natural Resources Canada had funding programs in 2023, the Climate Change Adaptation Program and the Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities Program. In response to each funding call, we hosted an ideas exchange for interested potential proponents to pitch ideas and connect with potential collaborators. At the first idea exchange on Aug. 10, there were 13 pitches to 55 attendees; and at the second on Oct. 19, there were 17 pitches to 77 attendees.
Events We Attended
We attended numerous events whether online, hybrid or in-person. The Adaptation Futures conference, in Montreal and attended by three team members, was noteworthy. Adaptation Futures, an international climate change adaptation conference was attended by over 1,600 participants from around the world, and CLIMAtlantic team members attended a number of interesting sessions during the 4-day event. Learn more about 2023’s conference here.
Resources & Tools
We launched four new tools and resources in 2023: our Coastal Adaptation Toolkit, Adaptation Library, Adaptation Infographics, and blog! We also redid our Funding Opportunities webpage and saw dozens of pins added to our Networking Map.
Coastal Adaptation Toolkit
At the end of March we launched our Coastal Adaptation Toolkit (CAT), a resource for Atlantic Canadians to identify potential adaptation approaches for specific pieces of eroding or flooding coastline. Since the launch, there have been:
427
Times the tool was used
1,153
Resource downloads
Adaptation Library
In collaboration with ICLEI Canada, we transformed the former AdaptationLibrary.com into our Adaptation Library, an access point for hundreds of publicly accessible documents, tools, and products relevant to climate change adaptation in Atlantic Canada.
We officially launched the Library in early July 2023, and since then there has been:
737
Users
196
Resources downloaded
Adaptation Infographics
We published five adaptation infographics during the summer. They include: 1. Working with Indigenous Communities; 2. Forestry; 3. Buildings; 4. Water & Wastewater Infrastructure; and 5. Guiding Principles.
Blog
Launched in early September, our blog is a place for our team to share thoughts and explore various topics such as post-hurricane Fiona recovery efforts to data analyses, including articles from our Climate Data in Action collaboration with ClimateData.ca.
14
Published posts
417
Readers
Fire & Our Communities: Strategies for Adaptation
Most read post
Funding Opportunities
Our Funding Opportunities page had a makeover, with additional sections for funding for Indigenous communities and applicants, and non-traditional sources of funding for climate change adaptation. Funding from provincial and municipal governments, and larger organizations are also listed, and our page is updated monthly with the latest information available.
Networking Map
Our Networking Map is a tool for finding and connecting with individuals and organizations working on climate adaptation within Atlantic Canada. This year, 87 pins were added to our Networking Map for a grand total of:
Pins on the Networking Map
Our Social Media, Website & Newsletter
In 2023, we saw our social media audience grow across all platforms,website use increase by 95 per cent, and the amount of newsletter subscribers come close to 2,000.
Newsletter subscribers
Website users
*Social media data from previous years were not available. The above statements are based on available data.
Sabine Dietz, Executive Director
Janelle Frail, Engagement and Operations Manager
Stephanie Arnold, Strategy and Programs Manager
Eva Thorpe, Communications Lead
Amanda Marlin, Learning and Training Coordinator
Emily Kennedy, Climate Change Adaptation Coordinator
Emma Poirier, Science Adaptation Specialist
Alex Cadel, Nova Scotia
Jenna Miller, New Brunswick
Sepehr Khosravi, Newfoundland
Willa Neilsen, Labrador
Stephanie Arnold, PEI
Anna Jamieson
Heather Harris
Kate DesRoches
Nick Carter, former Communications Lead, June 2021-Mar. 2023
Cassandra Gautreau, Climate Project Coordinator, Nov. 2021- June 2023
Minaëlle Green, Communications Intern, Nov. 2022 – June 2023
Lian Vroege, Climate Change Adaptation Research Support Officer, summer 2023
Julia Szujo, Climate Adaptation Planning Officer, summer 2023
2024
2024 is just getting started and we’re excited to see where it leads. We encourage you to follow along and to keep in touch by subscribing to our newsletter, following us on social media, adding your pin to our Networking Map, or simply contacting us directly by email, phone or our Help Desk.
Note: All statistics reported above are as of Dec. 16, 2023, except those for service requests which are as of Nov. 30, 2023.
The post What We’ve Been Up To: A Look Back at CLIMAtlantic’s Work in 2023 appeared first on Climatlantic.
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