Field-Based Establishment of a Regional Saltmarsh Carbon Baseline in Nova Scotia

Phase I represents the first field-based implementation stage of the Blue Carbon Baseline initiative and focuses on generating the first scientifically robust regional dataset on carbon stocks in saltmarsh ecosystems across Nova Scotia. Saltmarshes are among the most efficient natural carbon sinks, storing significant quantities of organic carbon in their soils over long time horizons while simultaneously providing essential ecosystem services such as coastal protection, biodiversity support, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation. Despite their ecological and climate importance, Nova Scotia currently lacks regionally standardized and scientifically defensible data on saltmarsh carbon storage and variability.

This phase is designed to address this critical evidence gap through systematic field sampling, laboratory analysis, and spatially informed data interpretation. The project will quantify soil organic carbon stocks and assess key environmental drivers influencing carbon storage, including geomorphology, vegetation composition, tidal dynamics, and disturbance history. By applying internationally recognized blue carbon methodologies adapted to Nova Scotia’s specific ecological conditions, Phase I will generate a regionally grounded methodological framework capable of supporting future climate mitigation planning, conservation prioritization, and long-term environmental monitoring.

Importantly, the objective of this phase is not the immediate generation of carbon credits, but rather the establishment of a credible scientific baseline that can underpin future policy and financing pathways. Robust baseline data are essential for evaluating avoided emissions, additional carbon sequestration potential, and ecosystem resilience under changing climatic conditions. Without such foundational evidence, climate claims related to coastal ecosystems risk lacking scientific defensibility and policy relevance.

Phase I also contributes to strengthening institutional and regional capacity for applied coastal climate science. By producing decision-relevant datasets and methodological guidance, the project will support governments, conservation organizations, coastal communities, and research partners in integrating blue carbon considerations into adaptation strategies, restoration investments, and nature-based climate solutions planning. Establishing this baseline therefore delivers immediate conservation and policy value independent of future carbon market developments.

Through this work, Blue Maritimes seeks to position Nova Scotia as an emerging reference point for rigorous blue carbon research in Atlantic Canada. The outcomes of Phase I will provide the scientific foundation required for subsequent project phases, including long-term monitoring, ecosystem restoration design, and the cautious exploration of climate finance mechanisms aligned with evolving regulatory frameworks.