Vol. 1, No. 4
Headline Back Issues Fall 1997
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Nova Scotia Minister of the Environment Nova Scotians' relationship with the sea is changing. Nowhere is that more evident than in the field of coastal zone management. What we once plundered, we are now learning to protect. It was the seas that gave life to the land. Today, Nova Scotians realize that for economic life to prosper there must be environmental stewardship of the land and sea. Members of the Nova Scotia Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy spent last summer touring five coastal communities around the province. They were hoping to learn from the experience of communities, and identify effective ways for government and communities to work together to manage the coastal zone. Three of the consultations took place within the Gulf of Maine watershed. The challenges facing these communities are intimidating. However it is clear that there is no shortage of people determined to make both economic and environmental improvements. The need for integration of effort is well recognized. Communities must control their destiny. However, the support and cooperation of government, industry, the academic community, and others all contribute to their drive to a sustainable future. Coastal zone management in the Gulf of Maine watershed offers many examples of locally based leadership. Bear River, Annapolis County has turned an environmental mess into an economic instrument, becoming a beacon of sustainable development worthy of emulation across the continent. The community's Solar Aquatics wastewater treatment plant has improved the health of the local river, and is a revenue generating tourist attraction. Television networks including CNN and BBC have featured the river's recovery and the pride of Bear River's residents resulting from this successful project. The community has also received a Visionary Award from the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, and a Pollution Prevention Award from the Canadian Council of the Ministers of the Environment. The Clean Annapolis River Project (CARP) is a model of citizen stewardship, helping to raise environmental standards and public understanding of environmental issues. CARP is working to end the summer closures of the river due to fecal coliform contamination. I am convinced they will reach their goal. Nova Scotia's new Environment Act allows the courts to donate fines paid by environmental offenders to groups such as CARP, and at our persuasion, the courts recently turned over fines resulting from a large fuel spill in Annapolis County to this stewardship group. Eco-tourism has become a major economic engine in the Gulf of Maine watershed, drawing many visitors to the Bay of Fundy for whale watching trips. Tour boat operators have adopted a code of conduct developed to prevent harm to whales, and the Canadian Navy has moved military operations away from whale habitat Coastal zone management in Nova Scotia reaches well beyond the high water mark as well, inspiring inland efforts such as recycling. The province was the first in Canada to legally commit to reducing its landfilled solid waste by half by the end of the decade. This will cut the number of landfills in Nova Scotia from more than 40 two years ago to just seven by 2005. That measure, and the 1998 ban on landfilling of compostable organic materials, will enhance groundwater protection. Recycling creates jobs as well. The Annapolis Valley is the site of Nova Scotia's first tire recycling facility. The economic, social, and environmental challenges facing coastal communities are daunting. But, as the Roundtable learned on its tour, the people who live in coastal communities love the sea and value its health. Governments must continue to help citizens find solutions that will ensure environmental and economic balance in the coastal zone. Wayne Adams is a member of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. |
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Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine