Resources
The Atlantic Coastal Zone Informations Steering Committee posts a resources page for students and
teachers where you'll find a link to “By the Sea: A Guide to the Coastal Zone of Atlantic Canada,”
which illustrates how 11 ecosystems were formed. It details their inhabitants and their
relationships with one another and includes suggested field trips. Others links include
environmental education programs and projects throughout Canada, interactive ocean mapping
and remote sensing sites for elementary and secondary students and curriculum guides and
resource materials from the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Environment Canada and Fisheries and
Oceans Canada. Explore them at www.dal.ca/aczisc/schools.
The Gulf of Maine Area Census of Marine Life has released the “Dynamic Atlas of the Gulf of
Maine,” part of the larger Gulf of Maine Biogeographic Information System. The on-line system
allows decades of selected scientific data to be accessed, combined and visualized in ways that
were essentially unavailable before now. The Web site also offers a guided tour to new visitors
who would like to explore the site's capabilities. The atlas can be found
at: http://gmbis.iris.usm.maine.edu.
The New England Interstate Water Pollution Commission's Web site provides a good overview of
mercury pollution and what is being done in the Northeast to protect public health and the
environment. “Mercury Pollution in the Northeast: A Guide for Policymakers” looks at progress
and obstacles at the state and federal levels and includes legislation, initiatives and
suggestions to control mercury pollution. You can find these and other publications and upcoming
conferences addressing water issues at www.neiwpcc.org/.
The Outermost House by Henry Beston chronicles a solitary year spent on a Cape Cod beach. The
nature classic was written in 1928 and tells of the ceaseless rhythms of life along the seashore.
A Web site honoring the legacy of Beston and his wife, the poet Elizabeth Coatsworth, has recently
been launched. It features writings, interviews, quotes and biographies. An introduction describing
the site reads: “…we see it also as an undying beacon and safe haven for those of the modern
technocratic age, who seek a closer communion with the eternal verities of nature that Henry
Beston wrote of so poetically.” You can visit the site at www.henrybeston.com.
Take an interactive journey through “The Renewal Energy Poster,” the latest in a series of
educational materials called “Pathways to a Sustainable Future” created by the Chewonki Foundation
in Wiscasset, Maine. Designed for all ages, Pathways, according to the site, “illuminates
examples of management and behavior that will lead to long-term sustainable use of energy and
natural resources as well as the protection of habitats and ecosystems that support all life on
Earth.” The site provides excellent descriptions and explanations of renewable energy concepts
like biomass, geothermal, solar and wind power. You can view the poster and other Chewonki
educational projects at www.chewonki.org.
The U.S. National Marine Protected Areas Center has established Web-based MPA Regional
Information Centers including one on New England. The online centers provide “one-stop-shopping”
for comprehensive information on federal, state and tribal marine protected areas planning
processes. Stakeholders can search the Information Centers for MPA planning processes by region
or state. To access the site go to www.MPA.gov.
© 2005 The Gulf of Maine Times