Climate change

How is climate change impacting Kouchibouguac National Park?

Climate change impacts to Parks Canada-administered places are complex, and the Agency is committed to integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation actions into its work.

The ecosystems found in Kouchibouguac National Park are shaped by the natural processes and climate that define this dynamic, ever-changing place. Accelerated climate change will affect all species and ecosystems within the park in numerous ways, including some we do not yet fully understand. Here are some examples:

For our coastal systems, a decline in nearshore ice during winter months will result in increased erosion as our shorelines become increasingly exposed to direct wave impact during winter storms. Dunes systems are expected to change and migrate at an accelerated rate, which will impact some of our rarest and most sensitive species.

For our forests, climate change will mean the loss of certain tree species and the arrival of new ones as average annual temperatures increase. It may also mean the arrival of new forest pests and diseases that would normally be wiped out by our coldest winter days. Extended droughts will increase the risk of wildfires, as will a greater abundance of woody debris caused by the increased occurrence of severe storms.

For our wetlands, higher temperatures could impact water tables and lead to a drying out of certain areas. These changes will likely lead to a net loss of wetlands, which will have wide-ranging impacts on ecosystems as ponds disappear and swamps gradually become dry forests.

For our freshwater, we can expect to see more flooding along our rivers, but also lower water levels in times of drought. Erratic water levels, increased occurrence of severe storms and warmer water temperatures will impact freshwater food chains in a multitude of ways, from aquatic insects to Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon.

Parks Canada continues to closely monitor climate change impacts in Kouchibouguac National Park and refine its monitoring programs to better understand how species and ecosystems are responding to our rapidly changing climate.

How will climate change impact cultural resources within the park?

Kouchibouguac National Park lies within Mi’gma’ki, the traditional hunting and gathering territory of the Mi’gmaq. The earliest archaeological evidence of Indigenous peoples inhabiting and harvesting the natural resources in Kouchibouguac dates back approximately 4,000 years. There are numerous known Indigenous archaeological sites in the park, spanning from the Maritime Archaic period to the park’s establishment in the late 1960s. Accelerated erosion, made worse by climate change-driven increases in storm frequency and intensity, is likely to unearth important artefacts and threaten old burial grounds. Similarly, historical landmarks and signs of the area’s more recent habitation by Acadian communities, such as the vestiges of ditches and dikes built in the park’s extensive salt marshes, may be lost to erosion and sea level rise.

The warming climate will also cause the decline and loss of animal and plant species that are important sources of food, medicine, tools and building materials. The loss of these species, many of which hold historical and spiritual importance, represents a significant and long-term social and cultural impact of climate change.

Parks Canada reminds visitors that it is illegal to collect plants, mushrooms, berries, animals, animal parts (including antlers), fossils, driftwood, rocks or any other historic or natural object. If you believe you have found something significant, leave the item in place and report your finding to the nearest Parks Canada office.

How will climate change impact cultural resources within the park?

The things we love doing will not be spared from the impacts of a changing climate. For example, climate change is likely to result in less snowfall and more mid-winter thaws and rain events, resulting in a shorter ski and snowshoe season. Warmer waters will lead to changes in fish populations at your favorite fishing hole. A shift in migration patterns and nesting seasons may leave birdwatchers disappointed (or perhaps delight them as new species arrive in our region), while rising sea levels and associated erosion will alter popular park beaches and may require moving certain trails and campsites. Warming annual temperatures are contributing to the expansion of the range of several tick species into higher latitudes, along with the diseases they carry. It will become increasingly important to be tick-smart and cover up when hiking in known tick habitat.

How significant of a problem is coastal erosion at Kouchibouguac National Park?

Erosion is a natural and essential process in all coastal areas. However, climate change is increasing the rate of coastal erosion through sea level rise, the reduction of winter nearshore ice and the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

In Kouchibouguac National Park, coastal erosion and changes in barrier dune systems are monitored across much of the park’s shoreline. Our coastal dunes and beaches are dynamic and always in motion due to wind and waves. A natural balance of sediment removal and supply results in a relatively stable shoreline. Where the sediment budget is not balanced, erosion can wear away the shoreline material, causing the coastline to retreat inland. Largely composed of sand and peat, the coast of Kouchibouguac National Park is especially susceptible to erosion. As the climate changes, we will closely monitor the impacts of rising sea level and extreme weather events on the park’s shorelines.

What is being done to combat coastal erosion at Parks Canada administered places?

Coastal erosion and movement of sediment are naturally occurring processes that play important roles in healthy coastal ecosystems. We recognize that these dynamic ecosystems constantly move and evolve and must be allowed to migrate and adapt in response to climate change. Many of our long-established ongoing monitoring efforts are focused on assessing changes in our coastal habitats (including dunes, estuaries, and coastal bogs) and coastal species at risk populations. Understanding the changes happening in these ecosystems will allow us to adapt our conservation approaches to a changing climate.

Where coastal erosion threatens built infrastructure such as trails, buildings and campsites, Parks Canada assesses and manages these situations on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes this involves retreating exposed coastal assets or testing new types of structures that can be easily relocated. This kind of planning is an essential part of our climate change adaptation strategy and regularly comes into play. The summer of 2022 was a case in point, when Hurricane Fiona caused damage to trails and the loss of two backcountry campsites.

What are some examples of the actions Parks Canada is undertaking to adapt to or mitigate the impacts of climate change?

Canada’s network of protected areas plays an important role in helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change by protecting and restoring healthy, resilient ecosystems and contributing to the conservation and recovery of species at risk. Examples of actions Parks Canada undertakes to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change include:

• Cultivation and translocation of plant species at risk, with the objective of making park populations climate-resilient;
• Use of sustainable, green sources of energy (e.g., solar photovoltaic panels on the entrance kiosk at South Kouchibouguac Campground);
• Planning, preparation and capacity-building for response to severe weather events (e.g., post-tropical storms);
• Participation in Parks Canada’s National Fire Program and capacity-building for forest fire response within the park, to improve visitor safety and protect forest ecosystems;
• Installation of electrical vehicle charging stations;
• Shifting from gas powered tools to electric ones where feasible;
• Planning and construction of climate resilient infrastructure;
• Increased monitoring of species and ecosystems particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts.

Are severe storms like post-tropical storm Dorian and post-tropical storm Fiona the result of climate change?

It is not uncommon for post-tropical storms to reach Atlantic Canada in late summer and fall, and it is impossible to say whether any single storm resulted from climate change. However, we do know that as the climate changes and ocean warm, we can expect the frequency and severity of extreme storms to intensify in Atlantic Canada. Known impacts of climate change on coastal locations such as Kouchibouguac include increases in the rate of coastal erosion and the extent of flooding during storm events.

Parks Canada will continue to monitor these and other climate change impacts over time, implement meaningful mitigations where feasible, and adapt its natural and cultural resource conservation approaches accordingly.

How can the various ecosystems present in Kouchibouguac National Park serve as inspiration for climate adaptation and mitigation elsewhere?

Parks and protected areas in Canada are part of a “nature-based solution” to climate change, as healthy ecosystems help nature and people adapt to climate change. These places conserve biodiversity, protect ecosystem services, connect landscapes, take up and store carbon, build knowledge and understanding, and inspire people. Below are a few examples of how nature can serve as inspiration for climate action:

Dune systems, characterized by American Beachgrass with its extensive root system, act as a first line of protection again wave impact and storm surge. They play an essential role in maintaining rich estuary lagoons and salt marshes. Where barrier dunes are present, protecting and restoring them is the best course of action to ensure the health and resiliency of coastal areas.

Salt marshes and other coastal wetlands act as a second line of defense. They reduce the energy of oncoming waves by lowering their amplitude and speed, effectively mitigating storm damage from flooding and erosion. Together with estuaries, these habitat shelter a diverse fauna and represent some of the most productive ecosystems in the world. Salt marshes are nature’s filtration system, intercepting pollution and providing clean water. Whenever possible, it’s important to leave these coastal wetlands undisturbed and to provide them with ample room to migrate inland in response to sea level rise.

Forests are the lungs of the earth. They can serve as significant carbon sinks (absorbing carbon from the atmosphere as plants grow and storing it in their cells) and/or significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting sources (during fires, insect infestations, or harvesting). Protecting and restoring forest corridors benefits a multitude of plant and animal species and will make it easier for these species to migrate in step with a gradually warming climate. Planting a diversity of climate-resilient trees, whether in urban or non-urban areas, is a good way to help mitigate climate change.

When pursuing development, the cost of replacing natural ecosystem services such as erosion control, flood mitigation, or water filtration (natural infrastructure) with man-made ones should be considered. Mimicking nature (nature-based solutions) or integrating it into the final site design should be prioritized.

What is coastal squeeze?

Coastal ecosystems adapt to rising sea levels by migrating landward to higher ground. Consequently, coastal squeeze happens when a piece of hard infrastructure or natural landscape feature such as a rock cliff prevents the natural inland migration of coastal habitats. When we attempt to slow erosion over the short-term using things like rock armouring or seawalls, coastal habitats like beaches, dunes and salt marshes get “stuck” between the rising sea levels pushing them landward and the hard structures stopping their migration. Over time, this can actually lead to worse coastal flooding and shoreline erosion than may have occurred otherwise.

What can I do to help slow climate change when visiting Kouchibouguac National Park?

Climate change can feel overwhelming, but the good news is that people and organizations are increasingly shifting to environmentally sustainable practices. Individual choices can have a bigger impact than you might think. You can do your part by reducing your ecological footprint when visiting the park:

• Avoid or minimize the use of gas-powered generators.
• Reconsider your choice of transport to and from the park, carpool with friends, go electric and make use of our electric vehicle charging stations, or even arrive by bike!
• Reduce your food miles by filling your picnic basket with local and seasonal foods.
• Pack light if you can. Leave the RV at home and bring a tent instead or try one of our ready-to-camp oTENTiks.
• Keep your campfires small.
• Leave no trace. Bring back what you carry in. Recycle and compost what you can and dispose of your trash appropriately.
• Stay on the trails and within designated use areas and avoid trampling fragile vegetation. This will help minimize the spread of exotic weeds and preserve our native plant species, some of which will play key roles in our adaptation to climate change.