Floating Salt Marsh Proposal already in the making

UMass Boston professor, Anamarija Frankic: researcher & founder of the Green Boston Harbor Project.

“The Green Boston Harbor Project (GBH) is the core of my multidisciplinary research. My premise is that the environment sets the limits for sustainable development.

The GBH methodology is derived from a 1500 year old Native Hawaiian Ahupua’a approach. This approach defines sustainable relationships among land, water and humans from the tops of islands to the coral reefs and open ocean. The main connection – as well as impediment – among the different self-sustaining units in this approach was both the quality and quantity of the water.  Land stewardship practices were established to ensure that water used for agricultural purposes higher on the mountains was either unharmed or enhanced for downstream uses.”

Green Boston Harbor Project includes proposed development of living labs – salt marshes to be restored (and grown) on UMB campus.  Includes plans laid out for floating salt marsh islands.  (Something to tap in to? Respond to?)

Explanatory publication:

Frankić, A., L. *Greber, and M. Farnsworth. 2011. Teaching and learning with nature by using biomimicry approach to restore three keystone habitats: salt marsh, eelgrass and shellfish beds. In Proceedings of the First Annual Biomimicry in Higher Education Webinar. Biomimicry Institute. (PDF).

**Includes a brief description of “biomimicry”: May want to use as guiding principles for project?

Biomimicry projects address how to:
1. Evolve and Survive;
2. Be resource efficient;
3. Adapt to changing conditions and be resilient;
4. Integrate development and growth;
5. Be locally attuned and responsive;
6. Use life-friendly materials, water-based chemistry, and self-assembly

Includes mention of adding “living skirts” to existing hard structures: floating salt marshes, etc.

To explore: floating marsh/tree that includes vertical layer/mussel breeding bed/underwater grasses?

Other publications that may be of interest:

Frankić, A. and L. *Greber .2011. A Holistic Science Approach to Living within Coastal Ecosystems in Boston Harbor and Beyond. The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic, and Social Sustainability (In press).

*Greber, L., A. Frankić, and J. Muller. 2011. NERRs (National Estuarine Research Reserves) as Common Grounds: Towards a holistic science approach to research, education, and outreach with religious communities to enhance climate and eco-literacy at Waquoit Bay, Cape Cod MA, USA. (Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, in press)