Coastal Resiliency
Greenbelt is working to address coastal resilience on a number of fronts. We are evaluating the best strategies for addressing the long-term impacts of climate change, including sea level rise and heavier storms, and prioritizing “nature-based solutions.”
Salt marshes play an important role in absorbing floodwater and protecting the coast from the huge power of waves. These natural features make protecting salt marshes an important climate strategy. Land conservation has emerged as an effective and cost efficient tool to help communities respond to climate change.
As such, we are working to protect resilient parcels throughout Essex County. Additionally, we are working to raise awareness on climate related issues and partnering with other organizations to support their climate work.
Resilient Open Space Planning
During the conservation prioritization project we worked with municipal partners in Gloucester and Essex to conduct outreach on land conservation for flood storage, drinking water, and natural resilience by developing maps and using interactive online media platforms. The feedback we received from our municipal partners played an integral role in the development of our data.
Climate Partnerships
To maximize our efforts, Greenbelt partners with municipal agencies and environmental organizations who are also actively working on climate change issues.
Resilience at the Cox Reservation
The Cox Reservation faces many threats; the worst being flooding. Erosion of transitional areas between wetlands and uplands, and damages to the salt marsh from storm surges are examples of threats that the reservation now faces. Due to these recent climate impacts, it became clear that developing a climate based management plan for the property was crucial.