Watersheds Canada – Work, Live & Play in Healthy Lakes and Rivers

Climate Change Toolkit

Learn more about Climate Change

Shoreline properties are located on the frontline of climate change as many environmental functions and processes are pronounced at this critical area for biodiversity and the water cycle. Shoreline properties exist in the riparian area (within 30m of the shoreline), which is a vital region for ecosystem and environmental resilience and can be considered the “ribbon of life”. The immense diversity and connection between land and water in this area has a pronounced environmental effect as there is diverse and constant activity in the water cycle. A healthy riparian ecosystem can exist even on developed shoreline properties but requires careful design to minimize the impact on normal ecosystem function to optimize ecosystem function for climate change resilience.

Photo: Fariborz Alaghehband

Watersheds Canada is launching a number of free climate change education resources to inform Ontario shoreline property owners, municipalities, and grassroots groups. Access free resources to bring education and change in your community:

  1. Read “The Dynamic Coastlines of the Laurentian Great Lakes” three-part blog series: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
  2. Learn about the importance of “Shoreland resilience under a changing climate” in this blog post.
  3. See what “The Benefits of Aquatic Vegetation for Wildlife and Freshwater Health” are in this blog post.
  4. Learn more about “Riparian Zones and Climate Change” in this article.
  5. Download the “Guide to Building Resilient Shorelines“.
  6. Access this free resource download, titled “Increasing Resilience to Climate Change through Natural Shorelands“.
  7. Watch this webinar: “Can Ontario’s Brook Trout Cope with Climate Change?“
  8. Download the education handout resource from the “Can Ontario’s Brook Trout Cope with Climate Change” webinar.
  9. Learn how a natural shoreland is most resilient to impacts from climate change in the “Resilient Shorelands Infographic“.
  10. Sign-up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on climate change and other freshwater issues.
  11. Donate and ensure more communities have access to toolkits and the knowledge they need to protect their local freshwater.

 

This climate change education toolkit is generously funded by: