Headline: The Living shoreline project is giving students opportunities to take positive action in the face of climate change.

At the University Of New England under the guidance of Dr. Pam Morgan (professor of environmental studies) Students in the Gulf of Maine field studies class are delving into innovative strategies to safeguard the coastlines surrounding the university’s picturesque campus. Their mission: combat erosion and protect the delicate marine ecosystems that thrive along the shores. Students are actively investigating the feasibility of implementing living shorelines on campus.Living shorelines are characterized by their “green” approach harnessing the power of nature through strategic use of plants and other natural elements to fortify vulnerable coastal areas. 

Coastal erosion on the Biddeford campus is an issue for several reasons 

1.)Geographic location 

2.) Soft Sedimentary Shoreline 

3.)Sea level rise 

4.) Storm events 

5.) Human activities  

“The gulf of Maine is important for two main reasons. One it supports and incredibly large fishery, but what’s more important to me as a scientist is the fact that the gulf of maine is warming faster than 99% of the rest of the ocean.This is a testbed for what’s going to happen over the 40-50 years all throughout the world’s ocean.” Charles Tilberg director of Marine programs  

“Ultimately I think we will need some changes in the Law because its not built to regulate really dynamic and changing ecosystems” Susan Faraday Professor of Marine Affairs  

“When looking at the future predictions by 2100 in the best case scenario for sea level rise we will lose 60% of our coastal marshes and if we do nothing to take greenhouse gasses out of the Air we will lose 90%.” Pam Morgan 

Students have played a pivotal role in laying the foundation For the living shoreline project. They have conducted comprehensive assessments of bank stability, evaluating the structure and functionality of salt marshes analyzing their susceptibility to erosion  

UNE has been awarded a two-year, $138,432 grant from the Builders Initiative and the Broad Reach Fund, through the Maine Community Foundation, for the development of a living shoreline on its campus using green methods. 

The main technique that the students have been using to reduce erosion is to plant a lot of plants around the Shorelines. This is one of the best techniques because the Plants, particularly those with deep and extensive root systems such as grasses, shrubs, and trees, help bind soil together. plants are good because the vegetation can absorb the energy of the incoming waves. Plants will also protect the shorelines against the coastal wind.