Maine
Maine
Aquatic Environments
Estuaries
An estuary is a water body that is partly closed off from the coastal area, where freshwater from rivers and streams combines with oceanic salt water. Estuaries support plant and animal species, provide habitats for migratory fish, and serve as nesting sites for bald eagles. They filter out sediments and pollutants, providing cleaner waters for humans and marine life. However, estuaries are particularly vulnerable to pollution and human disturbances, particularly toxic substances like chemicals and heavy metals. The health of estuaries is threatened by industrial facility discharge, untreated wastewater, construction site sediment, and leftover rainwater containing agricultural pesticides.
Kennebec Estuary, located in Bath, Maine, is a significant estuary with over 20% of Maine's tidal marshes, beaches, dunes, and pitch pine woodlands. Its unique tidal delta formed by major rivers is one of the few in the world. Despite its importance, the threat of development near Kennebec Estuary has become stronger in recent years. However, with funding from organizations like the Maine Coast Protection Initiative, the estuary's Land Trust has greater capacity to protect the land from development and conserve the estuary, ensuring it remains an important nature-based solution for Maine's valuable coastal organisms in the future.
Salt Marshes
Salt marshes are low-lying, open plains of grasses filled with tidal creeks and pools. Their function is to control coastal erosion, defend against storm surges, filter out pollutants, and reduce flooding after storms. Additionally, when properly maintained, salt marshes create a rich visual landscape, and offer recreational activities such as bird watching, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and photography.The Well Reserves at Laudholm in Wells, Maine is an organization that focuses on the restoration of the salt marshes in southern Maine. The reserve includes 2,250 acres of coastline, and Wells Reserves primarily works to protect and restore the marshes that have been fragmented by roads, causeways, and tide gates. Due to these fragments, tidal flow is restricted which leads to habitat degradation and reduces access for fish and other marine species. The Well Reserves enacts solutions that reconnect salt marshes to the natural movement of the tides. In addition, they have recommendations for the community to use more sustainable practices so that their tainted water does not end up in the salt marshes. Their restoration efforts are a key part to the health of southern Maine’s salt marshes, which will keep protecting the coastal communities from climate change effects in the future.
Documentation:
Sustainable Agriculture
Hurricane Valley Farm
Hurricane Valley Farm is an incubator farm in West Falmouth, Maine, offering opportunities for immigrants and refugees to grow and provide food for their families and local communities. The farm utilizes NASAP training to grant civilians such opportunities. Farmers from diverse backgrounds, including South Sudan, Rwanda, Somalia, Republic of Congo, and Afghanistan, grow crops like potatoes, African eggplant, and peas. They apply pesticide-free and sustainable techniques to maintain their produce and farms, which are sold at Saturday Deering Oaks Farmer's market or through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership.
The farm provides numerous benefits for the surrounding ecosystem, such as absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen, providing fresh air and reducing greenhouse gas concentrations. Sustainable farms also have a cooling effect, lowering atmospheric temperatures and addressing climate change.
Socially, Hurricane Valley Farm offers fresh produce that fosters good health due to the lack of chemicals and preservatives, and its short journey to the consumer. It also creates space for marginalized communities and addresses food inequality. Economically, the produce from the farm boosts the local economy and market, providing jobs in the region.However, using pesticides or fertilizers can be challenging, especially when removing unwanted pests or insects from the plants. However, it also benefits soil health and ecosystems, allowing biodiversity to persist and soil to maintain nutrients, cool the atmosphere, and prevent erosion.
Urban Spaces
Stormwater Management
The University of Maine has a stormwater management program that helps manage water runoff from numerous activities including construction projects, facility maintenance, and waste management activities. They utilize multiple practices such as stormwater runoff education, hazardous spill prevention, water clean-up, dredging, and cleaning detention ponds to improve water runoff (UMaine, 2022). This increases water quality in the surrounding area which improves and protects watersheds near the university. By reducing pollutants in the water, the stormwater management program also decreases the amount of harmful bacteria that is present in the water.
Not only does this program help the environment, but it also has many social benefits. Various opportunities are provided for civilians to be involved with community street and stream clean-up events (SEE, 2022). In addition, it could reduce aquatic environment maintenance costs if the water they are receiving is of a higher quality. However, the timeline and efficacy of this program is unclear, but if it is well managed, it can be an excellent nature-based solution to protect water in industrial areas.
Go Maine Transportation Program
The Go Maine Transportation Program is an initiative that was created to increase the transportation efficiency of Maine and to reduce Maine’s emissions. This free online program matches up carpoolers and helps form vanpools. There is also a rewards program for members that awards them coupons and tickets to local attractions for doing any sort of green commute, like walking, biking, taking the bus, or teleworking. The website can be found here https://gomaine.org/ and there is also a mobile app (GoMaine, 2022).
With the Go Maine program, there are less cars around, making the state safer and less toxic for animals and plants. Its goal of mitigating climate change is achieved by encouraging alternative forms of transportation like biking and walking, which don’t have a carbon footprint. This then reduces the amount of carbon dioxide and other pollutants released into the atmosphere. The incentivization aspect of Go Maine makes it more effective as people are more likely to use other forms of transportation if rewarded. People can also socialize more with others when carpooling/using public transportation, which strengthens the sense of community within the state. The only issue is that it is fully online, so if anything malfunctions, the program is no longer accessible. Furthermore, elderly people who are not comfortable using technology are not able to use the program. Otherwise, it is an easy and effective way to reduce transportation emissions in the state.
Sustainable Forestry
Maine Natural Areas Program
The Maine Natural Areas program was created by the DNR of Maine and looks to serve the citizens and the natural landscapes of Maine. The main function of this program is to conserve and protect endangered species, at-risk ecosystems, and rare plant species. This program functions by working with local governments and communities to raise money, replant forests, do research, etc.
There are numerous benefits to this program including flooding prevention, reducing carbon in the atmosphere, reducing air temperatures, providing habitats for wildlife, and protecting Maine’s natural landscapes for future generations to enjoy. This program also creates jobs and helps the community come together. However, like the other programs, there are some things that need to be taken into consideration, such as the large budget needed to carry out this program, the time it will take to run this program, and the amount of staff members needed to carry out this program. Overall though this is a really great program from the state of Maine that will help protect forests and benefit the local Maine communities.
Sappi Global
Sappi Global is a nationwide company which aims to help Maine forestry professionals reach their goals and objectives such as using less water, being more sustainable, and improving forest health. Sappi North America's (SNA) Maine Forestry Program is a team of trained forest professionals dedicated to working with woodlot owners in the state of Maine. The company is mainly funded by global stakeholders in the company.
There are countless benefits to this company’s work; some of these benefits include flooding prevention, reducing carbon in the atmosphere, reducing air temperatures, and providing habitats for wildlife. Some other benefits include helping private landowners manage their land, helping with flood prevention - which otherwise may be costly, and protecting Maine’s beautiful landscapes. However, this program can be costly, take a long time to implement, cost a lot of money, and can take a long time to reach all of the forestry professionals in Maine. Overall, this program can help Maine’s forest and local landowners if the right funding is provided.
