Educators

The Sea Level Rise Case Study

How do salt marsh restorations help us adapt to sea level rise in Atlantic Canada?

Grade level: Grade 10 and up

Arriving on the lands of members of the Wabanaki Confederacy in the 1600s, European colonists today know as Acadians, built dikes (man-made walls) to use the fertile soil of salt marshes for agriculture. These structures helped keep saltwater out and facilitated agriculture throughout the region. However, over the next 400 years, this agricultural practice helped contribute to the loss of 85 per cent of salt marshes found in the Bay of Fundy. This had repercussions on the cultures of the Wabanaki Peoples and the natural ecosystems they had relied upon for generations. As climate change raises sea levels, the aging dikes are under increasing pressure.

In this case study, students will explore how we can best prepare for seas level rise in Atlantic Canada. Through their research, students will learn about the history of Atlantic Canada, salt marshes, climate change, and changing land use.

Sea Level Rise Case Study – Teaching Guide

Sea Level Rise Case Study – Student Workbook