Preparing the scientific and strategic foundation for stronger coastal resilience, wetland protection, and environmental decision-making in Nova Scotia.

Blue Maritimes is developing a readiness assessment to identify where baseline data, mapping, monitoring, and applied environmental science can best support coastal resilience work in Nova Scotia. This project helps determine what data already exists, what gaps remain, which sites may be most relevant, and what methods are needed before field-based work or larger mitigation and restoration projects move forward.

What this project does?

This assessment brings together scientific literature, spatial data, policy context, and site-screening criteria to support better environmental decisions. It is designed to reduce uncertainty before fieldwork begins and to make future investments in baseline studies, monitoring, restoration planning, and compensation support more targeted and defensible.

Core activities

• Scientific review
  Review relevant research on coastal wetlands, blue carbon, hydrology, restoration, monitoring, and comparable coastal systems.

• Spatial screening
  Use maps and environmental data to identify coastal and wetland areas with strong relevance for resilience, restoration, mitigation, or monitoring.

• Site prioritization
  Develop criteria to compare candidate sites based on ecological value, feasibility, risk, data gaps, and potential public benefit.

• Implementation readiness
  Prepare the technical foundation needed for future baseline studies, fieldwork, monitoring plans, and partner-facing project proposals.

Why it matters

Coastal and wetland ecosystems provide public value through flood protection, carbon storage, biodiversity, water quality, and climate resilience. But strong environmental decisions require strong baseline information. This readiness assessment helps Blue Maritimes and its partners move from broad concern to practical, evidence-based action.

Expected outputs

• Readiness assessment report

• GIS and spatial screening package

• Candidate site prioritization matrix

• Methodological recommendations

• Policy and funding context summary

• Implementation-ready pathway for future field-based work

Who this supports

This project is designed to support conservation organizations, municipalities, public agencies, researchers, funders, and community partners interested in responsible coastal resilience, mitigation, restoration, monitoring, and environmental compensation planning.