ASBURY PARK – Environmentalists, town planners, politicians, engineers, and academics will be working together under one roof as part of a forum on coastal resiliency, hosted by the Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF), from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at McLoone’s Supper Club.
The goal of the forum is to create an dialogue among presenters and attendees on utilizing post-Sandy resources effectively and efficiently.
After Super Storm Sandy, coastal resiliency – a community’s ability to bounce back after a natural disaster – is an imperative for all parties, governmental and non-governmental alike. By combining New Jersey’s long tradition of land preservation with a green infrastructure approach to storm resiliency, the societal benefits can be multiplied while the diverse interests of a broad group of stakeholders are addressed.
Some green infrastructure practices include rain gardens, vegetated swales, green roofs, and preservation or restoration of natural areas. Integrating these practices with traditional civil engineering projects can help the community protect and buffer critical infrastructure. By looking at county-wide or larger scale regions, stakeholders can select areas for acquisitions and restoration using multiple factors, leveraging resources, and increasing sustainability across a broad area and, therefore, have a greater impact.
The forum is designed to display the interrelationships all share as shore communities and organizations following the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy.
Partnering with seemingly different groups and stakeholders is necessary to become stronger regional allies and partners in addressing a major threat.
According to Megan Callus, director of outreach and education of MCF, “the threat of climate change requires unusual and non-traditional partnerships. MCF believes that coastal resiliency can be markedly improved through land preservation particularly if done in conjunction with other groups and projects. MCF would like to facilitate these partnerships.”
The presenters for this forum will speak broadly to three areas: How communities can create plans for adaptation, successful model projects, and how cooperation can lead to leveraging resources on a local, regional, statewide and national scale.
Organizations that will present during this session will be: Rutgers University, Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute, Naval Weapons Station Earle, state Department of Environment, The Conservation Fund, The American Littoral Society, Middletown Planning and the Monmouth County Park System.
The Monmouth Conservation Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) accredited land trust, is dedicated to preserving open space and farmland in Monmouth County and has been steadfast in this mission since its founding in 1977. To date the Foundation has preserved more than 6,500 acres, saving invaluable farmland and open space, protecting waterways, preserving ecosystems, creating and/or extending parks and greenways.
McLoone’s Supper Club is located at 1200 Ocean Ave.
