May 14, 2024 | 7:00pm - 8:15pm
Location: Zoom event.
Register here: https://princememorial.libcal.com/calendar/16477/stabilizing-coastlines.
Learn about the role of nature-based coastal resilience solutions in combatting the effects of climate change in our communities. A representative of the Climate Ready Casco Bay project will talk about the process for developing a collaborative regional resilience plan to mitigate flood risks and manage erosion. This joint project facilitated by the Greater Portland Council of Governments and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute is focusing on 11 Casco Bay communities, including Chebeague Island and Cumberland. We'll also hear from an expert in ecological restoration and coastal stabilization projects about his extensive on-the-ground experience helping land trusts, conservation commissions, and private landowners through his business Wilkinson Ecological Design.
About the presenters:
Sara Mills-Knapp works to position the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) as a regional and statewide leader in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. She leads the statewide Maine Clean Communities program and supports members with technical assistance on key sustainability issues. She has extensive experience providing technical, financial, and organizational guidance on climate action programs for cities around the globe through her work with the World Bank, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the C40 Cities Network. She has partnered closely with cities and towns to advance best practices in climate action planning, including data collection and analysis and citizen engagement and governance. Sara has a Masters in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a Bachelors in International Relations from American University.
Seth Wilkinson is a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner and President of Wilkinson Ecological Design in Orleans, MA. An expert and frequent instructor in the field of bioengineering and ecological restoration, Seth has been a leader in hundreds of ecological restoration projects for private individuals, land trusts, and municipalities in the last two decades. As a pioneer in the integration of bioengineering systems with native plants, Seth and his team at Wilkinson Ecological Design constantly innovate and improve the practice and integrity of ecological restoration.
About the series: Weathering Climate Change: Understanding Shifts in Our Local Landscapes is an educational series of walks and talks aimed at informing, engaging, and uniting community members of Cumberland and Chebeague Island around local climate issues that impact us all. The series is offered in collaboration with Prince Memorial Library, the Cumberland Land and Conservation Committee’s Sustainability Subcommittee, and the Chebeague Climate Action Team.