Green Shores – A Sustainable Approach to

The Green Shores project promotes sustainable use of coastal ecosystems
through planning and design that recognizes the ecological features and
functions of coastal systems.

Visit the web site: http://www.greenshores.ca/

he Green Shores
approach was developed in response to interest by local planners, civic
officials, land developers, and property owners who participated in public
workshops based on Coastal Shore Stewardship: A Guide for Planners, Builders
and Developers, published by the Stewardship Centre for British Columbia as
part of its Stewardship Series http://www.stewardshipcentre.bc.ca.  Participants recognized the need for coastal stewardship but pointed out the
lack of alternative design options and tools such as a checklist of development
considerations and accessible information on ways to minimize the impacts of
human settlements on shores and shore systems. 

The workshop team was inspired by the
success of the Green Buildings program in facilitating sustainable building
design. In particular, Green Building rating and certification programs such as
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) are now widely accepted as
a reference standard for new buildings and commercial developments.  The team asked, could the Green Buildings
experience be used as a model for a more sustainable approach to coastal
development and design?