Green ShoresTM is LEED for the shoreline. Its rating system and guidelines promote practices that restore and protect the natural shoreline in developed areas.
Communities with shorelines protected by seawalls, gabions, groynes and diking systems and waterfront owners with properties exposed to high energy wave and current regimes are at a decision-making crossroad. To date, much of public discourse in BC has largely focused on building bigger, better walls. While sea walls and dikes provide protection in the short term, they’re very expensive and can contribute to increased shoreline erosion.
They also result in loss of habitat and community shoreline amenities, can increase wave height by up to 10 times and can negatively affect nearby properties. All of these costs and impacts will be greatly magnified with one metre of sea level rise. As an alternative to hard amouring solutions, decision-makers can consider Green Shores™. This program provides practical strategies for marine and lakefront shoreline design, management and the promotion of healthy shoreline environments — yet many people are unfamiliar the program.
To address this gap, the Stewardship Centre for BC (SCBC) and the University of Victoria have collaborated by providing training aimed to increase the uptake and use of Green Shores in British Columbia. The training is taken either as a one- or two-day workshop and brings needed information, tools and other resources through the use of a regional training delivery model.
The one-day Level 1 workshop introduces participants to the Green Shores program, including its rationale, benefits and application. The content is of interest to elected officials, landowners, municipal staff, conservation organizations, real estate agents and others who are seeking an introduction to Green Shores. The Level 2
workshop is a two-day workshop that provides participants with in-depth knowledge about how the Green Shores credit and rating systems can be used in shoreline management projects. The content is of interest to professionals (biologists, engineers, planners, landscape architects) and contractors, local and regional government
staff and others seeking to implement the Green Shores program for shoreline improvement, new design or development or other related shoreline projects.
Since January 2016, a total of 178 people have taken the Green Shores training in six Level 1 and three Level 2 workshops. Workshop attendees include biologists, planners, engineers, local government staff, landscape architects, students, homeowners, real estate agents and First Nations staff.
Training of professionals and those that work with shoreline property owners or managers is a key strategy to increase uptake of Green Shores. Successes with Green Shores training include the unique partnership between the University of Victoria and the Stewardship Centre to offer Green Shores training. This approach lends academic rigour and credibility to the course and enables professionals to receive professional development credits.
Future steps include adapting the course blueprints for other target audiences such as homeowners, elected officials and real estate agents, development of an on-line course and “lunch and learn” presentations. The new workshops and presentations will be less time intensive (one hour to one-half day) and provide an overview of Green Shores rationale and application. Plans are also underway to work with project partners to promote training opportunities with additional partners, such as those outside of British Columbia, so that training can be offered across Canada and beyond.—
Landscape architects have an important role in Green Shores. They are often both champions and practitioners of Green Shores’ sustainable approaches that protect waterfront properties while also protecting and restoring shoreline habitats.
Interested in learning more? The Green Shores Glossary is helpful. Or, take the courses – Level 1 and Level 2 are available around the province.
Images from Green Shores™ websites throughout the southeast.
