green boston harbor project (gbh) overview report

Green Boston Harbor Project (GBH) Overview Report March, 2011

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Content:

I) Green Boston Harbor Project – Vision and goals

II) GBH research activities with maps, by academic year, addressing the interconnections

among students‟ project activities and GBH

III) Students' projects

I. GBH Project Vision and Goals

The initial hypothesis for GBH, and the core of this multidisciplinary research, is that the environment

sets the limits for sustainable development. Urban harbors can become green harbors if they are managed

within environmental limitations, while recognizing strength in ecological and human diversities, and

supporting local and place-specific economic production within a regional and global context.

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.

(Note: Dr. Frankic learned and applied this approach

while working on the national aquaculture bill, in the

office of the US Senator D. Akaka in 1997/98.) http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/oceanography-book/Images/ahupuaa.jpg

Standing in the middle of the Mather elementary school parking lot at the top of the Meetinghouse Hill in

Dorchester in the fall of 2005, Dr. Frankic envisioned a similar interconnection between the City and

Boston Harbor. The next year she initiated a schoolyard outdoor classroom project. In 2009 the project

received 300K, in large measure due to her two years‟ efforts and work with the community. The

classroom is now built and teaches K-5 students about the connections between their garden and the

Boston Harbor.

Due to this extensive community work in Dorchester, including with the City of Boston‟s Environmental

Department and the Mayor‟s Office, Dr. Frankic was asked to help envision and plan the management

and activities of the P/O Boat for five years starting in October 30 2008. This marks the date when the

GBH project was founded. GBH seeks to learn how we can create interconnections from the City of

Boston‟s green roofs, connecting to its watersheds, across the Harbor and the Islands, and towards the

Stellwagen Bank. (Note: At one of many hearings at the Boston‟s City Hall about the green roofs, Dr.

Frankic presented this vision, and with her students helped to build a green roof on the City Hall).

Based on the Ahupua‟a approach, GBH initially envisioned five potential layers or units for a

multidisciplinary project. This was narrowed to the three layers for the initial years of the project:

http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/oceanography-book/Images/ahupuaa.jpg


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1. The City‟s and Harbor‟s main watersheds – Neponset, Charles, and Mystic; the project focus

here is on establishing green roofs and other pervious surfaces to restore the watersheds‟ self-

sustainability;

2. Urban coastal intertidal areas, including: a) the Harbor walk (potential sites for native species of

shellfish, e.g. oysters, mussels); b) salt marshes; and c) tidal mud flats with soft shell clam

seeding sites;

3. Eelgrass beds and their restoration in Boston Harbor;

Two more potential layers, the Boston Harbor Islands themselves and Stellwagen Bank, although part of

the larger vision, are beyond the current scope of the project.

As in the Ahupua‟a approach, the interconnectivity between the main self sustaining layers is through the

water. Water quality (and quantity) is the major impediment for successful restoration of the coastal

habitats under consideration. The “self-sustaining” units of the Ahupua‟a approach are analogous to the

more Western understanding of “self-organizing systems.” Therefore we might ask: what needs to be

restored for the system to function well – in this case, to enhance water quality? The GBH methodology

suggests that restoration of the key coastal habitats (salt marsh, eelgrass and shellfish) that co-exist in

nature should be done simultaneously and in close proximity.

Please see the table 1 below for an overview of GBH‟s vision, goals, research questions, methodologies,

and results. Selected publications are indicated in the project specific tables in the next section. Please

note that in order to meet our goal of integrating natural and socioeconomic indicators, we developed IRB

approved surveys, questionnaires, and other social science methods to begin to understand the feedback

loops between human activities and the conditions of coastal ecosystems.

In the long run, the broader goal for GBH is to establish critical interdisciplinary research areas involving

the complex interactions among the city and citizens of Boston, Boston Harbor (an urban harbor that

continues to undergo the most expensive and extensive estuarine recovery in history), and the three

impacted coastal watersheds (Charles, Neponset, and Mystic rivers). To accomplish this, GBH is

developing the team of students, natural scientists, social scientists, and community members committed


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to the research, education, outreach and other activities that are needed to support a healthy harbor

(www.gbh.umb.edu).

Table 1. Green Boston Harbor Project (GBH)

Overall Hypothesis

The environment sets the limits for sustainable development. Urban harbors can become green harbors if managed within environmental limitations, recognizing strength in ecological and human diversities, and supporting local and place-specific economic production within a regional and global context.

Overall Research Questions

What would be a pilot area in Boston Harbor that best represents this complex type of a „nature-human transect‟? Can Malibu Bay at Savin Hill and UMass Boston pilot sites reflect and represent the GBH vision and an application of Ahupua‟a approach in Boston Harbor? What methods of doing holistic science and research would best support the GBH goals/vision? Can we develop and apply holistic science spectra to measure interconnections among city, land and water? What type of environmental knowledge do local communities currently have? How do local communities‟ envision their relationship with the Boston Harbor? Would simultaneous restoration of key coastal habitats (salt marshes, eelgrass and shellfish beds) increase the likelihood of restoration success and therefore improve water quality?

Students

Graduate: Lisa Greber; Seth Sheldon; Chris McIntyre; Erin Rempala; Taylor Brown, Nicoletta Vianello; Undergraduate: Anna Hines, Alex Etkind, Meredith Eustis, Patty Slattery, Ally Pitts,

Methods Overview

Community-based participatory research (surveys, interviews, participant observer); salt marsh transects and eel grass bed assessments; marine invasive species monitoring; water quality monitoring (YSI probe); GIS analysis; other holistic methods as appropriate to each project.

Results Overview

Marine Invasive species assessment in BH; Malibu Beach salt marsh assessment; Malibu beach day user and p/o boat user survey results; developed holistic science spectra and strategies for using them effectively in coastal stewardship;

http://www.gbh.umb.edu/


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II. GBH research activities with maps, by academic year, addressing interconnection among

students‟ project activities and GBH

Academic Years 2006-2008: Preparing the ground; developing the tools

How do and could human coastal communities act responsibly with regard to the natural environments

that surround and sustain them? The fundamental premise that “the environment sets the limits”

structured the research projects of my first three MS students (see below table). As shown on the map,

these projects were conducted on Cape Cod and the Islands, at sites that were „home‟ to these students.

Lisa Greber, Ph.D. student, began her research on the Cape through a NOAA/NERRs social science

fellowship. Her research involved outreach, research and education with religious communities on

climate change and related environmental issues. Her work helped develop our „lab‟s‟ competency in

social science research methods, particularly community-based participatory research methods as applied

to both religious and secular communities. In addition, she developed a rubric for holistic science

methods more generally that was later applied in the Malibu Restoration project.

All four research activities underlined the importance of working in place, and making commitments to

communities for the long term, for effective coastal stewardship. This understanding concurred with the

GBH vision, described above, and provided more impetus for the start of the GBH project.


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MS student projects, academic years 2006-2008

Student

Name

Graduation

Date Thesis Title Project Goals

Contribution to GBH

methodologies

Anny Cataldo

Spring 2007

Site Suitability

Analysis for

Shellfish Spawning

Sanctuaries in

Wellfleet Harbor,

Massachusetts

Identify suitable

sanctuary sites for

oysters and

quahogs based on

the existing data;

and identify

knowledge gaps to

be addressed by

future research;

Application of the premise

of "environment sets the

limits." The idea of "site

suitability" - the conditions

under which an organism

flourishes - extends

naturally to begin to define

the self-sustaining

ecological units of the

Ahupua'a approach.

Shelley

Edmundson

Spring 2008

Site Suitability

Analysis for

Offshore

Aquaculture of Sea

Scallop

(Plactopecten

magellanicus),

Martha‟s Vineyard,

Massachusetts, USA

Identify suitable

sites for offshore

Sea Scallop

Aquaculture

Application of the premise

of "environment sets the

limits." In addition, the

idea of "site suitability" -

the conditions under which

an organism flourishes -

extends naturally to begin

to define the self-sustaining

ecological units of the

Ahupua'a approach.

Kimberly

Starbuck

Fall 2008

Is there a ‟Recipe‟

for a sustainable

wild bay scallop

(Argopecten

irradians irradians)

fishery on Nantucket

Island, MA, USA

Assess

environmental and

management

issues and develop

potential solutions

for sustainable

Wild Bay Scallop

Fishery

This project includes the

forerunner of the holistic

approach: the "triple bottom

line" that incorporates

ecological, social, and

economic elements of

sustainability but it is based

on the premise that

"environment sets the

limits."


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Project Name Climate as Common Ground (became "Stewardship as Common Ground")

Project Goal Holistic science praxis for bridging scientific and religious communities

Hypothesis

Religious communities are important environmental stakeholders. Climate change may serve as common ground among scientific and religious communities. If so, the most effective ways of communicating environmental information and building cross-community dialog on this issue may need to include broader concepts of community care and stewardship

Research Question

Initial question: What are the best ways for NOAA/NERRs to reach religious communities on environmental/climate change issues? What programs are best suited to this audience? Question found during project: What can scientific communities learn from religious communities about ways to do their own work differently when facing environmental/climate change issues?

Connection to the GBH

Developed holistic science spectra as a tool for designing research protocols, engaging researchers and local communities, and characterizing institutional cultures. Specifically, this tool was used to assist in the design of the Malibu Beach/Savin Hill Bay research project

Student Graduate: Lisa Greber (NOAA/NERRs social science fellow 2007-2009)

Methods Overview

Intensive interviews/extensive surveys; participant observer (services, events, panels, etc.); mapping w/existing reserve data

Results The holistic science spectra, particularly as used to characterize institutional cultures

Paper

"NERRs (National Estuarine Research Reserves) as Common Ground:" Towards a holistic science approach to research, education, and outreach with religious communities to enhance environmental literacy at Waquoit Bay, Cape Cod, MA, USA. (in press, Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences). Multiple presentations (talks and posters)


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Academic Years 2008-2009: GBH founding

As described above, GBH was founded out of the intersections of Dr. Frankic‟s work in Dorchester, the

establishment of Boston Harbor as a No-discharge area (NDA), and reflections of her students‟ as well as

her work in other communities.

Water quality and quantity provided the natural science framework for the year. Research activities

included surveying P/O boat users regarding knowledge of and attitudes to the NDA, marine invasive

species monitoring, the initiation of the water-energy nexus project, and an initial environmental and

social assessment at Malibu Beach/Bay as a prelude to potential restoration activities (see the activity

tables in the next section for details.)

GBH understands that local knowledge, held by current local residents as well as members of indigenous

communities that once lived in this area, is an essential element of a holistic science understanding of the

harbor. To this end, community building activities continued, particularly at the Malibu site with

connections to the local yacht club and neighborhood association.


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Academic Years 2009-2010: Expansion with undergraduate “team”

Students‟ interest in GBH, particularly among undergraduate students, has been both extensive and heart-

warming. During this academic year a number of undergraduate student researchers contributed their

efforts through independent studies. The broad range of topics and sites covered reflected their

enthusiasms and interests. This included the initial stages of the proposed Old Harbor Salt Marsh

restoration project at the UMass Boston property. As a result of the students‟ vision for the campus, the

Master Plan Committee recently included the salt marsh restoration site to be part of this plan.

Other research activities continued organically from the first year, including P/O, marine invasive species

monitoring, Water-energy nexus, and Malibu restoration. GBH also continued to learn from local and

indigenous communities, including assisting with the restoration of a Native fish weir on Thompson

Island, as well as more formal surveys of harbor boaters.


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Academic Years 2010-2011: Focus on representative sites

The GBH approach of interconnected self-sustaining layers is harborwide. However, we have come to

understand it will be critical to demonstrate the efficacy of the approach in more narrowly defined areas

with replicable techniques before it is likely to gain widespread support for broader harbor-wide

applications.

Although the influx of undergraduate student interest in 2009-2010 was heartening, it became clear the

scope of undergraduate projects was too diffuse. Instead GBH will focus more on specific example sites

where this Ahupua‟a approach of interconnected self-sustaining layers can be tested more directly.

Two sites have been selected: UMass Boston and Malibu Bay. Field sites at UMass Boston can become a

center of Boston Harbor wide educational efforts in sustainability, through teaching and learning by doing

and applying scientific solutions. While Malibu Bay, as a small semi-enclosed area, can provide a

microcosm of the issues and strengths of the larger harbor. In both sites three keystone habitats are

considered: salt marsh, eelgrass, and shellfish beds. Successful demonstrations of the interconnections

among these self-sustaining systems would provide a model that could be replicated at other locations

throughout BH and similar urban estuaries. As in prior years, community involvement in both research

and restoration activities is critical to the success of these and future projects.


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III. Graduate Student Projects - Summary overviews in the five tables below represent

major GBH activities that involve substantial graduate student contributions (tables include

hypotheses, goals, research questions, methodologies, and results)

Project Name Malibu Bay Restoration 1: Pilot Test of the Holistic Science Spectra

Project Years 2008-2010

Project Goals

1. To pilot test holistic science spectra (developed through Waquoit project) to enhance coastal ecosystem research and community outreach; 2. Baseline environmental and social assessment of Malibu Bay (Savin Hill)

Hypothesis

1. Holistic science spectra can be used on the ground to develop research protocols and enhance relationship between researcher and study area; 2. Beach users with greater knowledge about salt marsh would more likely support salt marsh restoration; 3. The three salt marshes assessed will have differences in average heights and densities of S. alterniflora reflecting environmental conditions (e.g. substrate, beach activities)

Research Questions

What are the attitudes of beach users to the beach, harbor and salt marsh grass? Is there a relationship between ecological knowledge and attitude? Are there differences among different types of beach users on this issue? What is the current extent and health of the salt marsh grass? Are there differences in average heights and densities in the different areas of the beach? (prelude to considering eelgrass/oyster restoration efforts)

Connection to the GBH Served as a microcosm “laboratory” for the GBH

Students Graduate: Lisa Greber; Undergraduate: Alexander Etkind, Meredith Eustis

Methods Overview

Day user surveys (IRB certified); participant observer (festival, beach clean-up, meetings); salt marsh transects (CZM protocol)

Results

1. Holistic methods in this case appeared to be safe for users and produce reasonable traditional data. Students‟ responses suggested that the methods helped build relationship to the beach, though simply spending time there may have been the most important factor. Too few responses for statistical analysis; more study is needed. 2. Contrary to our hypothesis, support for salt marsh restoration did not depend on participants‟ ecological knowledge. 3. As hypothesized, the three salt marshes differed by species abundance as well as by the density and heights of S. alterniflora plants.

Paper

Paper submitted to Ecological Restoration; currently editing for resubmission. "Listening to the grass:" Towards a holistic science approach for restoring human and natural systems in Malibu Bay (Boston Harbor, MA; USA); Multiple presentations (talks and posters)


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Project Name Water-Energy Nexus

Project Year(s) 2008-2012

Project Goal

To build a predictive (and visual) model that accurately relates various environmental parameters (e.g. air temperature, water temperature, salinity, instream water flux) and electricity demands to the rate of permit violations at two thermoelectric facilities in MA.

Hypothesis

When climatic and hydrological variations are adequately considered in a model of each thermoelectric facility‟s energy output, theoretical violations of water temperature and withdrawal permit regulations outnumber actual historical permit violations. Additionally, response variables may be incorporated into a model of each facility/environment system to reduce both the number of predicted “dial back” events (i.e. reduced capacity events) and the number of predicted permit violations.

Research Question

Do permits for each of the two facilities adequately consider the full range of environmental variation we can expect in the future? Are there instances in the past when, in all likelihood, the facilities violated their permits but were not issued a citation? Can we expect model generated permit violations to increase in the future? Can economic mechanisms (e.g. electricity pricing) be used to reduce the number of theoretical permit violations?


This case study of the water-energy nexus in Massachusetts will produce a model that can be used at other thermoelectric facilities that are impairing waterways which are inextricably linked to Boston Harbor. This would help in providing adequate data for the GBH‟s future Environmental Forecasting Channel.

Student Graduate: Seth Sheldon

Methods Overview

A technical description of the methodology is available in the current draft of the proposal. The project is divided into three phases: 1. Model development and Hindcasting, 2. Model refinement and Forecasting, and 3. Economic and Policy decisions that use vulnerability analysis.

Results

The committee can expect the results of this research to be documented in three papers of varying length: one for each phase of the project. Together, these papers will be submitted as a Ph.D. dissertation. When each paper is completed, it will be submitted to relevant and impactful scientific journals with the hope that it (or some section of it) is published. Seth was „Adopted‟ as a research assistant at the Civil Society Institute, which is a non-profit environmental think-tank based in Newton, Massachusetts. His current project there is intended to put relevant, educational, and meaningful energy industry information in the hands of the public, and especially the people who live near (i.e. are adversely impacted by) fossil fuel and nuclear energy facilities. The scope of the project is national, and it is still in the development stage. When the website is up and running, residents who live in and around Boston Harbor will be able to quickly ascertain whether or not they may be breathing polluted air or swimming in impaired waters. (GBH‟s vision of having the Environmental Forecasting Channel).

Paper

Dissertation project proposal accepted;


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Project Name Marine Invasive species and water quality monitoring in BH

Project Years 2009-2011

Project Goal Investigate relationship between water quality, marine invasive species and total diversity in different areas of Boston Harbor.

Hypothesis

Areas with consistently lower water quality will be dominated by tolerant non-native species and areas of better water quality will show higher diversity and more native species.

Research Question

1. Are there consistent differences in the water quality at the study sites chosen?

2. Are there consistent differences in the types of species that settle at different sites? A. Are the rates of settlement different? B. Does the biodiversity reflect the water quality? C. Is the ratio between native and non-native species reflective of the

water quality? D. Are there seasonal variations of non-native species and water

quality?


Water quality is the key for all GBH efforts and establishing links between settlement and persistence of non-native marine species at different sites provides useful information for other restoration efforts. The study is designed to be a long-term monitoring project that will provide a link between water quality and the distribution of species throughout the harbor. This design is applicable to a variety of different efforts and can provide information for many different studies.

Students Graduate: Chris McIntyre

Methods Overview

Settlement of species is studied using aluminum and plastic settlement plates at three locations. Locations were chosen for depth (plates hang at 7 ft), initial variations of water quality (MWRA data), and convenience of study while operating the City of Boston Pump-out boat. Six plates, each with 3 5”x5” quadrates were deployed at each site. Two plates were photographed on a weekly and bi-weekly schedule. Two plates were replaced weekly and new settlement was recorded by species. Two plates are left as controls until the end of the study. Quadrates of the photographed and control plates were scraped and analyzed for biodiversity and biomass. Each quadrate sample is separated by species. Biomass of each species then assessed using wet weight followed by dry weight which is taken using freeze drying. Quadrate photos are analyzed using a grid to assess percent coverage over time. ANOVA statistical analysis will be used to determine the significance of any variations at each site.

Results

Marine invasive species assessment in BH: Species occurrence varied slightly from site to site. Ten invasive species indicated in the MIMIC protocol were identified throughout the season in BH. Several non-native species that were not specified by MIMIC include: Ciona intestinalis (solitary tunicate) and Caprella mutica (Japanese skeleton shrimp).

Paper Green Boston Harbor Project Reports (2009, ‟10): Marine Invasive Species Monitoring in Boston Harbor


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Frankic, A, L. Greber, and M. Farnsworth. 2011. Teaching and learning with nature using a

biomimicry-based approach to restore three keystone habitats: salt marsh, eelgrass and shellfish

beds. Biomimicry Institute Publication, in press.

Project Name Salt marsh-eelgrass connectivity

Project year(s) 2010-ongoing

Project Goal To identify basic physical and biological aspects of the relationship/connectivity between salt marshes and eel grass beds;

Hypothesis

Multi-habitat restoration projects will enhance their self-sustainability in situations where water clarity and other parameters may preclude successful restoration of any single habitat

Research Question

Would survival and ecosystem services be increased if eelgrass beds are placed in the vicinity of salt marshes? If so, what is the optimal spatial relationship for restoration? Would functionality be further increased if shellfish are restored at the same time? Can habitat health be attributed to connectivity? If so, what parameters should be monitored?


This project is essential to defining the connections among “ahapua‟a” units, and the ways in which habitats may help sustain each other (nutrient transfers, sediment stabilization, improvements in water quality, etc.). If successful, the method could be replicated at other sites around the harbor with similar water quality concerns.

Students Graduate: Erin Rempala

Methods Overview To be determined based on current knowledge and best practices

Results

NA

Paper

Paper at NEERs conference (2010); Poster at Restoring America‟s Estuaries conference (2010)


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Project Name Malibu Bay Restoration 2: Multi-habitat restoration of salt marsh, eelgrass, and shellfish

Project Year(s) 2010 – ongoing

Project Goals

1. To use of multi-habit restoration as a key to adapting to sea level rise and inundation, minimizing erosion, mitigating degraded water quality and degraded coastal ecosystems; 2. To develop a protocol for biomimicry-based habitat restoration; repopulating native shellfish (e.g. oysters); 3. To restore connectivity between salt marsh and eelgrass habitats; and 4. To restore human community ties to these ecosystems.

Hypothesis

Coastal multi-habitat restoration will enhance their self-sustainability in situations where water clarity and other parameters may preclude successful restoration of any single habitat.

Research Question

Will a pilot multi-species restoration project be self-sustaining (maintain or increase habitat sizes) over a five-year period following initial restoration? Will there be improvements in water quality (e.g. TSS, N levels, DO) over the same period?


This project is essential to defining the connections among “ahapua‟a” units, and the ways in which habitats may help sustain each other (nutrient transfers, sediment stabilization, improvements in water quality, etc.). If successful, the method could be replicated at other sites around the harbor with similar water quality concerns.

Students Graduate: Lisa Greber; Chris McIntyre

Methods Overview To be determined based on the current knowledge and best practices

Results

Lisa Greber was recently awarded NOAA‟s Walter B. Jones Award for Excellence

in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study – which recognizes graduate students whose

academic study promises to contribute materially to the development of new or

improved approaches to coastal or ocean management

Paper

Greber, L., A. Frankic, 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. (in press, Journal of Integrative

Environmental Sciences)

Frankic, A. and L. Greber. 2011. A Holistic Science Approach to Living within

Coastal Ecosystems in Boston Harbor and Beyond. (in press, International Journal

on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability)


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Other Related Activities

As part of the GBH vision and work, we initiated and were responsible for making UMass

Boston the lead University for EPA‟s urban waters restoration and collaborative, specifically

addressing the Mystic River Watershed Initiative (MyRWI). The MyRWI recently received a 9K

grant to start-up community outreach in this area, and are the only university partner in this

project.

We established and successfully implemented the „Adopt a Student for a Green Job‟ program

that links green education with green jobs and the new green economy. Through this program I

provided funding for two years for Seth Sheldon (Civil Society Initiative), five years for graduate

students working with the PO activity (City of Boston): Carrie Schuman (one semester), Chris

McIntyre (2 years); and two years for Taylor Brown (Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies).

As well as for many undergraduates.

We are hoping that UMass Boston will brand this program and use it to address the present

economic crisis both within the state and nationwide.

As discussed above, undergraduate student interest in GBH is high. These students can receive

independent study credit in lieu of salary.

The GBH helped develop a program for the Green Team – high school program at the CDC Hyde

Park, on the Neponset River. Please check our web site for more information.

We have two new courses: I) Capstone Corse – teaching and learning by doing projects on seven

sites: along the Mystic River and on Boston Harbor, in collaboration with the landscape architects

from Boston Architecture College (BAC); and II) Intro to Biomimicry – a summer three credit

course (please visit http://faculty.umb.edu/anamarija.frankic/files/teaching/frankicteaching.html

for more information).

Conclusion

It took 5 years to establish this rich professional and community relationships, and to build the

graduate and undergraduate student capacity to help develop and participate in the GBH project. Due

to this long, complex, and multidisciplinary work, our research results are only beginning to come as

papers and grants.

As coastal stewards rather than solely scientists, our research and work is based on applying available

knowledge to help improve our natural and social conditions, and on identifying gaps where potential

research is needed in order to better address environmental issues. Through the process of developing

GBH, we have come to belong here, both at UMass Boston and to the Harbor itself. Through the

Ahupua‟a approach - understanding and supporting sustainable relationships among land, water, and

human residents; and biomimicry – learning from and applying wisdom from nature - we will

continue this holistic process to be healthy, wealthy and sustainable here and now.

http://faculty.umb.edu/anamarija.frankic/files/teaching/frankicteaching.html

green boston harbor project (gbh) overview report

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