Stewarding Our Wetlands: Legal Tools, Conservation Solutions, and Citizen Science in Nova Scotia
Webinar Recording
In celebration of Wetlands Appreciation Week, we hosted a special lunch-and-learn webinar exploring how private landowners in Nova Scotia can play a vital role in protecting wetlands and wildlife.
In this webinar, we brought together the Nova Scotia Biodiversity Caucus, East Coast Environmental Law, and Birds Canada to highlight the legal tools, conservation options, and citizen science initiatives available to support wetland stewardship on private lands.
Participants learned about key legal and policy mechanisms that safeguard wetlands in Nova Scotia, with a focus on how these can be practically applied by landowners. The session also featured an introduction to MarshWatch, an interactive identification training tool developed by Birds Canada, and the Marsh Monitoring Program, a volunteer-based initiative tracking the health of marshes across Canada.
Whether you're a landowner, naturalist, or simply passionate about wetland conservation, this session offered valuable insights into how individuals can contribute to the protection of critical habitats and species in Nova Scotia.
Guest Speakers
Richelle Martin - Staff Lawyer, East Coast Environmental Law
Richelle is a staff lawyer at East Coast Environmental Law, where she leads the organization’s nature and biodiversity initiatives. Her connection to ECEL began as a volunteer, contributing to the organization’s first report on New Brunswick’s Species at Risk Act. After receiving her law degree from the University of Ottawa in 2021, she returned to the non-profit sector with ECEL in 2025, bringing her legal expertise and passion for environmental protection full circle. Richelle also serves on the Board of Directors for Lawyers for Climate Justice and is a member of the Law Society of New Brunswick’s Climate Change Task Force.
Gwendolyn Clark - Marsh Monitoring Field Coordinator, Birds Canada
Gwendolyn has always had a fascination and love for birds, though she didn’t initially envision a career in ornithology. She studied ecology and evolutionary biology at university, completing a master’s thesis on the evolution of female mate choice in tropical fish. During that time, she began volunteering as a nest searcher at Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto and rediscovered her passion for birds. This experience led her to shift her focus toward bird research and conservation after graduation. In her current role at Birds Canada, Gwendolyn manages the Chimney Swift Chimney Restoration Fund—an initiative that supports habitat restoration projects for this unique species across the country. She values being part of a program that contributes directly to the recovery of a species at risk while also increasing public understanding and appreciation of these remarkable birds.
Webinar Resources & References
All links, materials, and contact information shared during the webinar are compiled below for easy access.
