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Photo by: Christy Wilson Photo by: Maria Catanzaro

Chapter 8 – Stewardship of Shorelines

Defined as ‘the way in which we take care of something’, stewardship of our shorelines
provides opportunities and challenges to protect all the things that matter in and around
these important areas . Shorelines provide work, recreation, living space, and wonderful
views . They are also biologically rich, ecologically productive and culturally significant places .

As development pressures increase, many of the Stewarding our shorelines for the benefit of current
natural features that make shorelines so attractive and future generations in the context of changing
are often casualties . Native trees, shrubs and climate can be challenging . And how we approach
grasses are cleared to make way for houses, lawns, these challenges will determine if our coastlines can
and more expansive views . Synthetic herbicides, sustain themselves and help us be resilient to climate
pesticides and fertilizers required to maintain those change . The good news is that people are finding
lawns impact the shoreline through chemical new strategies, such as nature-based approaches,
contamination in runoff . Removal of large trees to protect their waterfront properties while also
takes away the important functions of overhanging protecting and restoring habitats . As alternatives
vegetation including shading for temperature to hard armouring structures, coastal community
control, and provision of food such as leaf litter members are adding sediment to beaches, planting
and insects to the shoreline . native vegetation and regrading slopes to improve
All of these factors lead to the loss of habitat shoreline habitat and help slow down incoming
for wildlife and disruption of the food web that waves . This will protect the characteristics of a natural
connects the land, freshwater systems and shoreline and the properties adjacent to them .
the oceans, ultimately affecting iconic aquatic Nature-based solutions such as those noted above
species such as salmon and whales . Additionally, are an important tool for successful stewardship of
challenges to the shoreline are becoming more shorelines . Whether you live on the shore or not, here
prevalent due to the impacts of climate change . we discuss some of the many possible ways that we
can be stewards and make a difference!

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