Author: Sarah Norman
Date: August 21, 2024
Image from Nova Scotia Tourism
Area of Impact:
Newfoundland’s west coast
Article Information and Location:
Nature Conservancy Canada, August 17th, 2024
INTRODUCTION
Beaches, though often small, are extremely important in nature: seabirds rest there, lots of creatures live there, and they protect the land from the brunt of a storm’s waves. As such, it makes sense that we should protect them and keep them clean.
Fortunately, this is exactly what volunteers for Nature Conservancy Canada have done on August the 17th, hosting an annual cleanup of the square kilometer of beach that lies around the Island for the various animals who live there. Notably, the Piping Plover.
INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANCE
The Piping Plover is endangered; there aren’t a lot of them left. They only nest in a few select parts of the world, migrating between them as the seasons change. Some of them live in Atlantic Canada during the summer, and as they nest here, it is important to make sure that their habitats are undisturbed. This includes keeping it clear of litter, making the cleanup very necessary to the bird’s health. Keeping areas clear of litter is also important in mitigating climate change as it contributes to physical pollution on our lands and in our oceans.
Nature Conservancy Canada bought a small part of Sandy Point and has been hosting a cleanup at the beach after the Plover’s nesting season for 11 years, and volunteers from across the province go and spend their day clearing up the shores and dunes of various plastics, papers, and other garbage.
This cleanup is significant in many ways. It’s a chance to play a part in the survival of a species, while doing something that positively impacts the environment.
CONCLUSION
In summary, the Sandy Point beach cleanup helps the Piping Plover as well as various other animals who live in the area, and represents a wider theme of how helpful volunteering a small amount of time to keep our environment garbage-free can be.
If you are interested in getting involved or joining a future beach cleanup, visit Surfrider Atlantic (Nova Scotia), Nature Trust NB (New Brunswick), or Clean Foundation (NS / PEI). You can also visit World Ocean Day Coastal Cleanup Guide for resources about organizing your own community coastal cleanup.