Coastal regions are important zones for wildlife and people.
Healthy Coasts NB is a multi-year, multi-partner project with the collective vision of “a path to healthy coasts and thriving communities in harmony with nature.” It is led by Nature NB, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Birds Canada, Anqotum and Nature Trust of New Brunswick.
Using a two-eyed seeing approach, the project is working with communities to identify and support activities along the coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in New Brunswick that will benefit species and coastal habitats of conservation concern and cultural importance.
The project also aims to support community livelihoods by encouraging a safe, resilient, and sustainable coastal way of life.
Our Story
Wele’k Pemjajika’q Siknikt – Côtes en santé N.-B. – Healthy Coasts NB is a partnership of organizations who are passionate about supporting win-win projects that protect species of conservation concern, promote community resilience to climate change, and support a coastal way of life.
Coastal regions support wildlife and people
Coastal regions include habitats such as beaches, dunes, salt marsh, estuaries and coastal forest. These dynamic habitats protect our communities from extreme weather, connect us with nature, support livelihoods, and provide important homes for countless plants and animals of conservation concern and cultural importance.
Helping communities build a safe, resilient and sustainable coastal lifestyle
The Healthy Coasts NB team supports communities along the Gulf of Saint Lawrence coast to identify what social, environmental or economic features coastal residents want to protect (i.e. Targets), as well as what activities are harming the health of these Targets. We work with the local community to develop and implement a plan that addresses these concerns in hopes of protecting habitats, species, and the coastal way of life.
Two-eyed seeing
Our project blends Indigenous knowledge and western science into our decision-making, planning, and action through ‘two-eyed seeing’. Two-eyed seeing allows our team to learn about the benefits of both knowledge systems and apply these benefits to our work.
We are working with communities to
- Identify and support activities that will benefit coastal habitats, species of conservation and cultural importance, and coastal livelihoods in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence area of NB.
- Support ongoing conservation efforts for Species-at-Risk including Piping Plover and other migratory birds.
- Support win-win approaches that can help coastal communities thrive, while preserving our shared natural heritage and coastal way of life.
Project partners
Project funding
This multi-year collaborative project is funded primarily through Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Community Nominated Priority Places, as part of the Canada Nature Fund. The project is funded until March 2026.
Photo credit : Piping Plover – Lewnanny Richardson ; Dune photo by drone – Nelson Cloud; Volunteers on the beach – Pascale Chiasson
