June 30, 2023 - Cocagne
The Pays de Cocagne Sustainable Development Group, the Shediac Bay Watershed Association and Vision H2O of Cap-Acadie have partnered to organize the Living shorelines hands-on workshop. The workshop, held on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at the Cocagne Marina, focused on natural beach restoration.
The hands-on workshop was presented by Rosmarie Lohnes of Helping Nature Heal. This Nova Scotian entrepreneur uses nature's materials, advanced scientific principles and ecosystem restoration expertise to restore vegetation and stabilize shorelines. "The Living Coasts approach is done manually, with as little mechanical intervention as possible, and helps protect coastal and riparian land from erosion exacerbated by climate change," confirms Rosmarie Lohnes.
With the help of over 30 volunteers and environmental group representatives, a 300 feet"wattle fence" was erected. Alder and willow stems are attached to protect the newly planted plants, which will help reduce the impact of the waves. Hundreds of spartina plants have been planted in addition to dogwoods, sweet ferns, roses, sumac trees and more. "A new ecosystem has been created with the help of many hands," says Wiebke Tinney, executive directore of the Pays de Cocagne Sustainable Development Group.
"By offering a solution that uses and imitates nature, we encourage the conservation of a natural environment, as well as the maintenance of the local ecosystem and its biodiversity," says Rosmarie Lohnes. "With this approach, we're enhancing the coastal and riparian landscapes of New Brunswick and elsewhere in the Atlantic region."
This initiative is made possible by the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund, the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund, Nature NB, the New Brunswick Environmental Network, and the Communauté rurale de Beausoleil.
