On October 26th, we hosted a webinar with Helping Nature Heal where we discussed coastal erosion and how we can adapt to climate change while promoting healthy shoreline ecosystems.
Fiona was a destructive post-tropical storm that surprised many of us with its devastating force. Shoreline erosion sounds like such a scary concept, but it is something to which we must adjust. Climate change is upon us; shoreline erosion is a new normal. Did you know that the challenges of shoreline erosion can help create opportunity? Many animals depend on shoreline erosion for habitat and raising their young. Shoreline maintenance is a part of living near the diverse ecosystems of the coast. Creating a healthy ecosystem along the shoreline takes work but will pay off by buying you time on your always-changing coastal property. Living Shorelines slow the processes of erosion while creating/maintaining habitat for coastal critters.
Helping Nature Heal creates award-winning Living Shorelines, Upland Ecosystems, and implements methods to tie it all back together, to work as one functional unit. Watch the recording to learn more!
We launched theNSEN Volunteer Hubin 2021. Our goal is to see this new tool become a powerful one-stop-shop that benefits environmental initiatives in every corner of the province. Your participation can help make that happen!
All NSEN member organizations can post their volunteer positions on the Volunteer Hub, where our network of volunteers can view and apply for opportunities that fit their interests.
Post-tropical storm Fiona most costly weather event to ever hit Atlantic Canada, new estimate says
Post-tropical storm Fiona caused $660 million in insured damage, according to an initial estimate by Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada said Wednesday the storm was the most costly extreme weather event ever recorded in Atlantic Canada in terms of insured damages based on the estimate provided by CatIQ.
Fiona caused wall failure at Touquoy Gold Mine's open pit
Part of the wall surrounding the open pit at Nova Scotia's only operating gold mine collapsed during post-tropical storm Fiona last month.
St Barbara, the Australian company that owns the Touquoy gold mine in Moose River, N.S., noted the wall failure in its most recent quarterly report released Tuesday.
Material from the wall located above a production area slid into the pit due to "sustained and unprecedented rain and accompanying weather conditions," the company said in a statement Wednesday morning.
Regulations almost complete for Nova Scotia's Coastal Protection Act
Nova Scotia's environment minister says the long-awaited Coastal Protection Act is months away from coming into force, but opposition members say that isn't soon enough as people prepare to rebuild following the destruction of post-tropical storm Fiona.
Nova Scotia legislation to replace cap and trade system for greenhouse gas emitters
Nova Scotia tabled legislation this month for an emissions-reduction plan that would replace its cap-and-trade system for large industrial greenhouse gas emitters, but the new bill doesn’t lay out how the province will meet its ambitious climate goals.
The proposed changes to the Environment Act would create a pricing system based on greenhouse gas output, Environment Minister Tim Halman told reporters, adding that the new plan would also include targets and performance standards to be set out in regulations.
'Swamp as sacred space': Save wetlands to save ourselves, say experts
"Marshes are what connects the land to the sea," said Tony Bowron, a coastal wetland ecologist and co-founder of the Transcoastal Adaptations group.
"The plants that we find in the salt marshes, we don't find anywhere else in the system. There's birds that nest only in salt marshes, there's fish that only breed in salt marshes."
But like wetlands the world over, this ecosystem is under threat. In this case, the threat was posed by the expansion of the highway, which is why Bowron and his team were cutting into the marsh with sharp spades, in order to rescue some of the plants that would otherwise be paved over.
Community members ask for details about Sipekne'katik First Nation wind farm developments
Some members of Sipekne'katik First Nation want to pause two wind farm developments, claiming members have not been adequately consulted on future revenues or potential impact on Nova Scotia's mainland moose habitat.
"I think we need to bring it back to the community," said First Nation member Dorene Bernard.
Bernard questions transparency around project financing.Sipekne'katik First Nation was one of the big winners in Nova Scotia's largest-ever wind procurement announced in August.
Emera puts Atlantic Loop project on pause after N.S. moves to limit profits
Emera, the parent company of Nova Scotia Power, says it’s putting a pause on the Atlantic Loop.
This comes after the province introduced legislation on Wednesday that limits the utility’s profits.
The legislation puts a limit to a proposed power rate increase at just 1.8 per cent over the next two years, significantly lower than the nearly 14 per cent general rate increase Nova Scotia Power was applying for.
It's the season of giving and gifting! Back to the Sea Society is hosting an auction to raise funds to support its work.
What better way to get into that festive spirit than doing your holiday shopping, while also supporting ocean education. Every year Back to the Sea Society offers a variety of educational programs, activities, and events that help people connect and learn about the local Atlantic Ocean and its inhabitants. Your auction purchase will help support our work and goals so that, together, we can continue to inspire people of all ages to care and protect our ocean!
Halifax North West Trails Association needs your help to spread wood chips on the surface of one of their trails before the snow comes. Join HNWTA on October 30 at 1 pm at the top parking lot at the top of Westridge Dr. They will have shovels and rakes but could use a wheelbarrow if you have one. Please reach out if you're interesting in joining!
Registration is open for Hike Nova Scotia’s fall slate of courses and webinars.
Try Hike Nova Scotia's Trail Stewardship Workshop on November 20 in Timberlea to learn about a successful program that engages trail users in becoming trail stewards to help reduce harmful impacts on trails.
Last month, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter hosted an illuminating conversation with Stanford University professor Mark Jacobson, co-author of numerous reports on how to get to 100 percent clean and renewable energy using wind, water, and sunlight. Jacobson explains that this is not some idealistic or futuristic undertaking—we have the technology already.
Organized by the Centre for Local Prosperity, DigIn: The Atlantic Canada Food Systems Summit is a one-of-kind gathering of stakeholders in Atlantic Canadian food systems. It is a two-day forum for stakeholders to discuss how the threats to the regional food supply will manifest themselves in Atlantic Canada, where food systems transformation is needed and how these transformations can be efficiently scaled. The themes of food security and food sovereignty will be explored from all perspectives, in order to build local, equitable and renewable food resilience.
This year, Scotian Shores has completed 600 registered cleanups and removed over 200,000lbs of debris! Just on one island over the past few months, they have removed over 70,000lbs of debris with the assistance of local lobster harvesters, irish mossers and trap builders. It's been their busiest year yet!
Scotian Shores thanks everyone who has supported them thus far. Together we can make a difference!
Calls to Action
Ecology Action Centre is asking for the public's help in protecting Sandy Lake and the Sackville River Regional Park.
Sandy Lake area property owners received a map and a letter from HRM Planning and Development. The map is of the Special Planning Area that was announced by the provincial-municipal Task Force on Housing in HRM. EAC was hoping to get Sandy Lake removed from the development list before getting to this stage, but it's not too late.
EAC is asking HRM residents to please speak to or email your Councillor (across HRM, not just local ones) about your concerns and wishes for this area, particularly in light of the planned development for this area.
For more information, contact the Sackville River Regional Park Coalition Steering Committee.
Hike NS invites groups across NS to partner with it on delivering winter guided hike, walk or snowshoe events in January, February and March of 2023. The purpose of the event series is to:
Get more people in NS hiking, walking and snowshoeing
Highlight local trails and increase their use
Promote Hike NS and local trail/hiking groups
Hike NS will help promote events and provide a how-to guide and trail prizes to giveaway. If your municipality, First Nation or organization can organize a walk or snowshoe event (or already plan to host one), please register your event by December 12, 2022 for events between January 13 and March 19, 2023.
Every Wednesday we share a Nova Scotia Nature Photo on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Have you taken photos of beautiful places around the province? Share them with us for a chance to be featured on our page!
This photo of a blue heron silhouette was captured by Makayla Cole in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.
Green Job Opportunities
Ecology Action Centre: Administrative Assistant
EAC is searching for an administrative assistant who can provide administrative support to their Finance and HR teams while maintaining accurate records and remaining compliant with accounting regulations and EAC’s policies. This position will be responsible for the collection of information and data, document management, tracking and managing various deadlines in order to keep the team and paperwork organized.
Ducks Unlimited Canada is seeking a Remote Sensing Analyst to support the boreal wetland mapping and monitoring projects and to provide GIS technical support (e.g., analytical, cartographic, and database management) specific to GIS/mapping projects.
The Remote Sensing Analyst will be responsible for undertaking the classification of various wetland/land cover mapping projects, working with a team of other Remote Sensing Analysts/Specialists/Scientists, to support DUC’s vision and strategies. As a member of the National Boreal Program team, you will provide remote sensing technical expertise and leadership to internal clients and collaborate with external partners to meet DUC’s mission and implement mapping project components.
Deadline: Position will be posted until hiring is complete
SMU Sobey School of Business: Educational Developer - Sustainability
SMU is seeking an educational consultant with knowledge of and interest in sustainability and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as they pertain to business and business education. While there are no teaching requirements attached to this position, the Educational Developer - Sustainability may have the opportunity to teach one course with an additional stipend as applicable. The opportunity is for a 1-year term with the possibility of renewal for a second year.
Are you passionate about growing your own food, wild game cooking, homesteading, self-sufficiency, animals, DIY projects, outdoor tools, sustainable hunting, public land recreation, or just love being outdoors?
The Outdoor Blog Network is looking for 1-2 part time content creators, to help us write well researched and helpful content for our network of outdoor blogs. Get paid per article, and work from the comfort of your home!
Deadline: Position will be posted until hiring is complete
2 Beans or not 2 Beans Farm: Farm/Homestead Collaborator
2 Beans or not 2 Beans Farm is currently seeking collaborators for their 2022 Fall growing season. They invite motivated, open, enthusiastic, diligent and playful individuals who have a passion for nature and community to learn and work together with them to bring to fruition their 2022/2023 Garden Plan.
Fill Yer Boots Farm is looking for a farm team worker to be involved in all aspects of production including: flower seedling production/management, field production/management of diverse cut flowers, management of season extension infrastructure (hoop house and greenhouse), layer flock and pasture management, harvest, wash and pack of all products we grow, and delivery into Halifax.
Deadline: Position will be posted until hiring is complete
2023-2024 Call for Proposals for Habitat Stewardship Program
The Habitat Stewardship program is administered by ECCC and provides funding for projects submitted by Canadians that contribute directly to the recovery objectives and population goals of species at risk listed on theSpecies at Risk Act and that prevent others from becoming a conservation concern.
Water Canada presents Downstream: A free speed networking event that brings current and future generations of water industry professionals together to cultivate an inclusive, diverse, and thriving water sector.
At this invite-only speed networking event that brings together current and future generations of water professionals, attendees can get in on the conversation with water sector experts as they discuss:
Water Governance
Indigenous Engagement
Arctic Exploration
Floodwater Mitigation
Source Water Protection
Wetland Conservation
Cleantech
Please reach out to Corinne from Water Canada for more information.
Moving Still Productions Inc. recently completed a series of short documentary videos called Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops, narrated by Richard Gere, featuring twelve renown climate scientists, and endorsed by the Dalai Lama and Greta Thunberg.
The five short films, ranging in length from 8-14 minutes, are ideal for classroom use. They are available for free, along with an accompanying science curriculum for grades 6 -12 as well as discussion guides suitable for university level and community groups.
SMU School of the Environment: The New Sustainability Imperative
Join SMU School of the Environment for a lecture with Bob Willard in which he reviews three powerful market forces driving the transition to more sustainable business models, and why he is hopeful that the business community will take on the challenge of moving to a wellbeing economy and society, in time.
The lecture will take place November1 at 3:45 p.m. in the Scotiabank Theatre, Sobey Building, Saint Mary’s University.
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