The ecological restoration project, “living ribs”, always fights against Caraquet erosion. Almost four years after its beginnings, the time has come for the team to take stock.
The main objectives of the project were to strengthen the coast and slow down its erosion. The main causes of this scourge are water, wind and human presence. Valores, a coastal areas research institute located in Shippagan, has decided to “stabilize rocks” in order to counter these factors.
“The idea is to use native plants in the region to be able to strengthen the coast and minimize erosion. It is a small project at the moment which can have great consequences and which is very accessible for people who are not researchers, ”explains Shawna O’Flaherty, responsible for popular scientific at Valores.
Valores is not a horseman alone with the Côtes Vivantes project. The Institute completes a team made up of Helping Nature Heal, an organization of ecological landscape of Nova Scotia, and the Regional Acadian Peninsula Service Commission.
It is therefore fifteen scientists specializing in coastal areas, researchers and researchers who have been trying to slow down erosion since 2021. The team has concentrated its efforts on the reef located behind the Child Jesus Hospital. Ms. O’Flaherty explains this choice by the visibility of this place, especially with tourists. “It becomes a demonstrative beach; Instead of creating riprap, we show how to do vegetation on the rocky wall. ”
The initiative also sought to raise public awareness of its importance in the fight against erosion. “Ecological catering projects are less known, but it is also to encourage the world to get involved in what they are approaching every day. It is not a beach elsewhere that you visit once a year on vacation, it is in your community and it can have an immediate and long-term impact on it, ”explains Ms. O’Flaherty.
To further encourage the public to join the initiative, the project team invites the citizens of Caraquet to a day of planting, guidance and catering at the Théâtre du Théâtre du Théâtre du Acadie, Thursday. On site, the public will receive a guide to apply and adjust the home catering protocol. The results of the study will also be revealed.
