After
an illness or an accident we have to rehabilitate or
rebuild our bodies. The process you are now reading
about is the rehabilitation of fish habitat which might
include cleaning a waterway or building special structures.
Other options will be outlined as you read further.
Many human activities change streams
and other waterways. These include:
• over-fishing
• chemical pollution of waters from households,
farms, industry, road salt, acid rain
• careless land-use practices (improper farming,
forestry, road construction and improper stream-crossing
techniques).
You are probably aware of problems facing Nova Scotia's
waterways, and may feel helpless about doing anything.
The Adopt-A-Stream provides good news for those of you
who are worried about our environment and want to help
in a practical way. Adopting a stream, lake, or river
is much more than a one-time spring clean-up of a waterway
in your community. Adopting a waterway means taking
a long-term interest in its welfare by nurturing and
caring for it. |
Don't worry about
making mistakes, or that the work will be too technical
and difficult. This manual will give you the confidence
to get started , and along the way there are trained
professionals ready and willing to help.
The rewards of participating in
the Adopt-A-Stream program can be many:
• Above all, you will develop
a sense of stewardship towards nature.
• Your group will develop
a sense of community pride and accomplishment.
• Working together outdoors
is a healthful and pleasant activity.
• You will learn more about
the history of your community and come to appreciate
it in a new way.
• You will learn about our
natural environment and its ecosystems. Working in or
near a waterway often means you can study birds, fish,
and other animals, and learn how to identify plants.
Learning in the Adopt-A-Stream program is practical,
hands-on learning, enjoyed by children and adults alike.
• You will enhance the Ecotourism
potential of your area. Ecotourism (hiking, birdwatching,
canoeing etc.) has great economic potential for our
province. |
STEWARDSHIP
A steward is a caretaker or a guardian.
Stewardship is an important concept
if we are to make our environment a healthier place
to live.
Stewardship means looking after something
so that it stays healthy and productive for future generations
to enjoy and use.
Sometimes stewardship will mean restoring
or cleaning up something to make it look and function
more like it did long ago.
Environmental stewardship means looking
after our planet, our country, our province, your own
backyard.
People involved in stewardship
programs are better environmental citizens.
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