Coastal Coalition of Coastal Coalition of Nova ScotiaNova Scotia

Presentation to Presentation to

Provincial Deputy Provincial Deputy MinistersMinisters

March 27, 2007March 27, 2007

PRESENTATION OUTLINEPRESENTATION OUTLINE

A. About UsA. About Us

B. The Need for a Coastal B. The Need for a Coastal

Management StrategyManagement Strategy

C. Moving ForwardC. Moving Forward

THE COASTAL COALITION THE COASTAL COALITION OF NOVA SCOTIAOF NOVA SCOTIA

GrassrootsGrassroots

Multi-stakeholder Multi-stakeholder

MultidisciplinaryMultidisciplinary

Community, economic development, Community, economic development, tourism, resource and tourism, resource and environmental environmental groups, individuals groups, individuals and and research research organizationsorganizations

WHY ARE WE HERE?WHY ARE WE HERE?

To inform you about the CCNS and its workTo inform you about the CCNS and its work

To outline why we think a Coastal To outline why we think a Coastal Management Strategy is needed for Nova Management Strategy is needed for Nova ScotiaScotia

To explore ways the Coastal Coalition and To explore ways the Coastal Coalition and coastal communities can work with you coastal communities can work with you constructively, towards the sustainable use constructively, towards the sustainable use and stewardship of our coastal areasand stewardship of our coastal areas

OUR MISSIONMISSION

To work towards the preservation, To work towards the preservation, restoration and sustainable use of the restoration and sustainable use of the physical, biological, and cultural physical, biological, and cultural heritage of Nova Scotia’s coastal heritage of Nova Scotia’s coastal ecosystemsecosystems

OUR GOALSOUR GOALS

Promote the development of Promote the development of coastal coastal planning and planning and managementmanagement

Monitor activities that impact Monitor activities that impact on on coastal ecosystemscoastal ecosystems

Challenge activities that Challenge activities that threaten threaten coastal access, coastal access, coastal habitat coastal habitat and wildlife, and wildlife, and responsible and responsible resource useresource use

ACCOMPLISHMEACCOMPLISHMENTSNTS Information and Information and

AwarenessAwareness

Research and Research and AnalysisAnalysis

Networking, Support Networking, Support for communities and for communities and Capacity-buildingCapacity-building

KEY FINDINGSKEY FINDINGS

Nova Scotians value the coast Nova Scotians value the coast economically, socially, intrinsically and economically, socially, intrinsically and environmentallyenvironmentally

Rules (laws, regulations, by-laws) lack Rules (laws, regulations, by-laws) lack direction, coverage and coherencedirection, coverage and coherence

Lack of coordination, implementation Lack of coordination, implementation and enforcementand enforcement

There is a pressing need for a more There is a pressing need for a more coordinated approach, which includes coordinated approach, which includes roles for municipalities and communitiesroles for municipalities and communities

The Need for a Coastal The Need for a Coastal Management StrategyManagement Strategy

A COMPLEX LEGAL AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

MunicipMunicipalal

RegulatioRegulation of land n of land use, use, Municipal Municipal planning planning strategiestrategies, bylawss, bylaws

FederalFederal

DFO: DFO: Fisheries ActFisheries Act, , Oceans ActOceans Act

Parks Parks CanadaCanada

Transport: Transport: navigable navigable waterswaters

Environment Environment Canada: Canada: clean clean water, pollution water, pollution preventionprevention

CEAA CEAA

ProvincialProvincial

DNR: DNR: Crown land management, Crown land management, protected beaches, species at riskprotected beaches, species at risk DEL: DEL: watershed management, water watershed management, water quality, wetlands, environmental quality, wetlands, environmental assessment, wilderness protection, assessment, wilderness protection, nature reservesnature reserves DA&F: DA&F: inland fisheries, inland inland fisheries, inland waters, aquaculturewaters, aquaculture TC&H: TC&H: Nova Scotia’s coastal Nova Scotia’s coastal landscape and history, a marketing landscape and history, a marketing “brand”“brand” DTPW: DTPW: infrastructureinfrastructure DOE: DOE: wind, tidalwind, tidal SNSMA: SNSMA: Municipal Government ActMunicipal Government Act ED: ED: coastal enterprises, aquaculture, coastal enterprises, aquaculture, fish processingfish processing Finance: Finance: ROI, taxationROI, taxation

MULTIPLE BENEFITS AND MULTIPLE BENEFITS AND USESUSES

Piecemeal approach and lack of focus on Piecemeal approach and lack of focus on sustainable development and environmental sustainable development and environmental protection in coastal areasprotection in coastal areas

Conflicts arise due to lack of planning, Conflicts arise due to lack of planning, appropriate framework/ strategy and are dealt appropriate framework/ strategy and are dealt with in an ad hoc basis with in an ad hoc basis

The need to balance provincial and local concerns The need to balance provincial and local concerns

Gaps in research and sharing information and Gaps in research and sharing information and resourcesresources

NAVIGATING THE MAZENAVIGATING THE MAZE

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

NATURALNATURALClimate Climate changechangeSea-level riseSea-level riseStorm eventsStorm events

HUMANHUMANCoastal pollution Coastal pollution

OTV use OTV use Public accessPublic access NATURAL/HUMANNATURAL/HUMAN

Flooding and Flooding and Infrastructure Infrastructure Damage Damage Ad hoc and Ad hoc and inappropriate inappropriate developmentdevelopmentLoss coastal habitat Loss coastal habitat Natural resource Natural resource extraction/processinextraction/processingg

There is a window of opportunity for There is a window of opportunity for sustainable coastal developmentsustainable coastal development

There are issues that can only be dealt There are issues that can only be dealt with a coherent frameworkwith a coherent framework

• Accelerated coastal developmentAccelerated coastal development• New uses (wind and tidal power)New uses (wind and tidal power)• Rising costs and liability Rising costs and liability • Climate change impacts and sea level riseClimate change impacts and sea level rise• Growing number of local conflictsGrowing number of local conflicts

Nova Scotians want leadership on coastal Nova Scotians want leadership on coastal issuesissues

WHY A COASTAL WHY A COASTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK NOW?NOW?

Sea-level risk in the Atlantic Sea-level risk in the Atlantic ProvincesProvinces

Source: Modified from the GeologicalSurvey of Canada

Nova Scotia

NewBrunswick PEI

Newfoundland

Québec

N

Risk:

High

Medium

Low

Source Sensitivity of Coastline to Climate Change in Nova Scotia,: Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Options; Province of Nova Scotia & Environment Canada Atlantic , Sept.2005

Sea-levelSea-level change: Halifaxchange: Halifax

Year A.D.

Mean

yearl

y t

idal

heig

ht

(mm

ab

ove

zero

datu

m)

y/x = 3.29 mm/year

r2 = 0.93

Moving ForwardMoving Forward

Cheverie Creek, Site of Salt-Marsh Restoration Project – EAC and NSTPW

POSITIVEPOSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS DEVELOPMENTS

Internal provincial coordination - coastal and ocean Internal provincial coordination - coastal and ocean “lens” (PON)“lens” (PON)

Acquisition of coastal private land Acquisition of coastal private land

Municipal planning increasingMunicipal planning increasing

Environmental Goals & Sustainable Prosperity Bill Environmental Goals & Sustainable Prosperity Bill

Salt marsh restoration Salt marsh restoration

Heritage task force reportHeritage task force report

A PROVINCIAL COASTAL A PROVINCIAL COASTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY WHICH…WHICH…

Avoids unnecessary and costly conflicts for governmentAvoids unnecessary and costly conflicts for government

Reduces risk to public safety and property from sea level rise, Reduces risk to public safety and property from sea level rise, storm events and climate changestorm events and climate change

Reduces avoidable liability and costs to public purse Reduces avoidable liability and costs to public purse

Fosters the sustainability of coastal communities Fosters the sustainability of coastal communities

Provides for sustainable use of the physical, biological and Provides for sustainable use of the physical, biological and cultural heritage of Nova Scotia’s ecosystems including cultural heritage of Nova Scotia’s ecosystems including beaches, headlands and coastal wetlandsbeaches, headlands and coastal wetlands

Protects ecologically sensitive coastal ecosystems Protects ecologically sensitive coastal ecosystems

Provides for regulatory clarity for property owners and Provides for regulatory clarity for property owners and investorsinvestors

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CCNS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CCNS ENGAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT Assessing best practices and lessons learned from other Assessing best practices and lessons learned from other

jurisdictionsjurisdictions

Sharing issues of common concernSharing issues of common concern

Focusing/assembling NGO/community knowledge and Focusing/assembling NGO/community knowledge and resources and scientific expertiseresources and scientific expertise

Conducting research and analysisConducting research and analysis

Participating in advisory processes (e.g. Colin Stewart Participating in advisory processes (e.g. Colin Stewart Forest Forum)Forest Forum)

Engaging public dialogue (e.g. coastal futures forum)Engaging public dialogue (e.g. coastal futures forum)

KEY OBSERVATIONS AND KEY OBSERVATIONS AND QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Coastal management and development issues are Coastal management and development issues are mounting; the provincial government is being looked to mounting; the provincial government is being looked to for leadership.for leadership.

The PON is an important step towards providing an The PON is an important step towards providing an internal focal point for coastal policy development.internal focal point for coastal policy development.

However, engagement in coastal policy development must However, engagement in coastal policy development must extend beyond government.extend beyond government.

Multi-stakeholder approaches are being undertaken Multi-stakeholder approaches are being undertaken elsewhere to address conflicts and ensure long term elsewhere to address conflicts and ensure long term economic and environmental sustainability (offshore economic and environmental sustainability (offshore Eastern Scotian Shelf).Eastern Scotian Shelf).

The CCNS offers to play a more significant role in The CCNS offers to play a more significant role in advancing sustainable coastal management in Nova advancing sustainable coastal management in Nova Scotia.Scotia.

We welcome your views on how we can participate. We welcome your views on how we can participate.

Thank you!Thank you!

fromfromCOASTAL COALITION COASTAL COALITION

OF NOVA SCOTIAOF NOVA SCOTIA

www.ccns.chebucto.orgwww.ccns.chebucto.org