Coastal Restoration: Working at the boundaries of systems

Coastal regions are some of the most populated on Earth and have experienced profound changes through human history. Degradation in recent decades is widespread, and restoration through new and traditional techniques is on the rise. The purpose of this workshop will be to share knowledge, methods, and challenges across the primary coastal restoration types: terrestrial, intertidal, freshwater, and marine. These four systems are interconnected, with constant feedbacks among them: cultural uses, resource flows, disturbance effects, and wildlife movement. In particular the deep human connections with coastal ecosystems has created intertwined needs amongst ecological, cultural, economic, and social systems, and restoration projects in these regions reflect that complex cross-boundary dynamic. Restoration actions are often constrained to closed geographic boundaries and focused on single ecosystem types, with limited information and knowledge sharing among key groups. Effective coordinated restoration will be essential to the health of our coastal communities, and this can only be achieved through active conversation and collaboration across many disciplines and practices. We are bringing many voices to the table, including government agencies, local practitioners, First Nations knowledge holders, and scientists.