Projects across Maine that respond to the effects of climate change on nearshore and marine ecosystems have been awarded nearly $1.5 million in grants through Maine Community Foundation.
The grants will fund nature-based solutions and ecosystem-related activities in response to the Maine Climate Council’s four-year plan to confront climate change. The funds are designed to fill gaps and leverage state and federal funding directed to Maine.
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An advisory committee comprised of scientists, Maine Department of Marine Resources staff and other stakeholders reviewed the proposals and made funding recommendations. Grants were awarded to:
- Bates College, to expand salt marsh restoration and carbon sequestration: $172,371
- Downeast Institute, to increase research to mitigate ocean acidification and warming impacts on commercially important Gulf of Maine shellfish and their habitat: $149,823
- Ducks Unlimited, to conserve and protect a salt marsh with sediment placement: $195,216
- Friends of Casco Bay, to address barriers to ocean acidification data collection: $200,000
- Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, for an infrastructure and ecosystem plan for the Deer Isle Causeway: $199,788
- Maine Coast Heritage Trust, to build regional capacity to advance salt marsh restoration projects and carbon research: $110,300
- Manomet, to understand sea level rise and coastal flooding impacts on mudflat habitat, shellfish resources and harvester livelihoods: $142,000
- Schoodic Institute, to build a spectral library for drone survey tools and characterize, map and track Maine’s coastal vegetated habitats: $178,000
- Town of Kennebunkport, for dune restoration by replanting native dune grass and providing education, outreach and engagement activities related to the restoration efforts: $28,611
- Wells National Estuarine Reserve, to create a web-based support tool that shows locations along the southern Maine coastline where nature-based solutions can address coastal hazards: $199,494.
The foundation also supports the Maine Climate Council through the Maine Climate Leadership Fund, established in partnership with Alexander “Sandy” Buck, philanthropic representative to the council. The fund, established in 2019, provides funding for the council’s work and climate policy leadership and activities.