Environmental Stewardship on the East Coast of the United States

Environmental stewardship is the responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices. It is a concept that recognizes the importance of balancing human needs and activities with the long-term health and resilience of ecosystems and the services they provide. On the East Coast of the United States, environmental stewardship is a critical and growing movement, as communities, organizations, and individuals work to address the complex challenges facing the region's diverse and valuable natural resources.

The East Coast is home to an incredible array of ecosystems and species, from the rocky shores and forests of New England to the wetlands and barrier islands of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. These natural areas provide a wide range of benefits and services to human and non-human communities, including clean air and water, flood control, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, recreation, and cultural heritage. However, these ecosystems are also facing significant threats and pressures, from climate change and sea level rise to pollution, development, and overexploitation.

Environmental stewardship on the East Coast seeks to address these challenges and ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of the region's natural resources, through a variety of strategies and approaches. These include land and water conservation, ecosystem restoration, sustainable resource management, environmental education and outreach, and policy and advocacy efforts. Environmental stewardship also recognizes the importance of engaging and empowering local communities and stakeholders in the management and protection of their natural resources, and of integrating social, economic, and cultural considerations into conservation and sustainability efforts.

Principles and Practices of Environmental Stewardship

Environmental stewardship is based on a set of principles and practices that guide the responsible and sustainable use of natural resources, and the protection and restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity. These principles and practices are rooted in a holistic and integrated understanding of the complex social, economic, and ecological dimensions of environmental challenges and solutions, and emphasize the importance of collaboration, participation, and adaptive management in conservation and sustainability efforts. Some of the key principles and practices of environmental stewardship include:

Ecosystem-Based Management

Ecosystem-based management is an approach to natural resource management that considers the entire ecosystem, including humans, rather than managing individual species or resources in isolation. It recognizes that ecosystems are complex and dynamic systems that are shaped by the interactions and feedback between their physical, chemical, and biological components, as well as by human activities and influences. Ecosystem-based management seeks to maintain the structure, function, and resilience of ecosystems, while also providing for the sustainable use of their goods and services by human communities.

Some of the key elements of ecosystem-based management include:

Holistic and integrated approach: Ecosystem-based management takes a holistic and integrated view of ecosystems, considering the interactions and feedback between different components and processes, as well as the cumulative impacts of human activities and natural disturbances.
Adaptive and flexible management: Ecosystem-based management is an adaptive and flexible process that involves ongoing monitoring, assessment, and adjustment of management strategies and actions based on new information and changing conditions.
Stakeholder engagement and participation: Ecosystem-based management involves the active engagement and participation of diverse stakeholders, including local communities, resource users, scientists, and policymakers, in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of management strategies and actions.
Precautionary approach: Ecosystem-based management adopts a precautionary approach to decision-making, recognizing the inherent uncertainties and risks associated with ecosystem management, and erring on the side of caution in the face of incomplete or conflicting information.

Conservation and Restoration

Conservation and restoration are two key strategies of environmental stewardship that aim to protect, maintain, and enhance the health and resilience of ecosystems and their biodiversity. Conservation focuses on the protection and sustainable use of existing natural resources, while restoration seeks to repair and recover degraded or damaged ecosystems to their former state or to a new, more resilient state.

Some of the key elements of conservation and restoration include:

Protected areas: Protected areas, such as national parks, wildlife refuges, and marine protected areas, are a key tool for conserving biodiversity and ecosystems by limiting human activities and development in sensitive or valuable natural areas.
Land and water management: Conservation and restoration also involve the sustainable management of land and water resources, such as forests, wetlands, and watersheds, to maintain their ecological functions and services, while also providing for human uses and benefits.
Species protection and recovery: Conservation and restoration often focus on the protection and recovery of specific species or groups of species that are rare, threatened, or endangered, through strategies such as habitat protection, captive breeding, and reintroduction.
Ecosystem services: Conservation and restoration also seek to maintain and enhance the ecosystem services provided by natural areas, such as clean air and water, flood control, carbon sequestration, and recreation, which are essential for human well-being and economic prosperity.

Sustainable Resource Management

Sustainable resource management is another key practice of environmental stewardship that seeks to balance the use and conservation of natural resources in a way that meets the needs of both current and future generations. It recognizes that human communities depend on natural resources for a wide range of goods and services, such as food, water, energy, and materials, but that these resources are finite and can be depleted or degraded if not managed sustainably.

Some of the key elements of sustainable resource management include:

Renewable resource management: Sustainable resource management focuses on the use of renewable resources, such as forests, fisheries, and water, in a way that allows them to regenerate and maintain their productivity over time, through practices such as selective harvesting, catch limits, and water conservation.
Waste reduction and recycling: Sustainable resource management also seeks to reduce waste and promote recycling and reuse of materials, minimize the environmental impacts of resource extraction and consumption, and conserve finite resources for future use.
Environmental impact assessment: Sustainable resource management involves the assessment and mitigation of the environmental impacts of resource use and development, through tools such as environmental impact statements, life cycle analysis, and best management practices.
Certification and labeling: Sustainable resource management also includes the use of certification and labeling programs, such as the Forest Stewardship Council and the Marine Stewardship Council, to promote and verify sustainable resource management practices and to incentivize responsible consumer behavior.

Environmental Education and Outreach

Environmental education and outreach are critical practices of environmental stewardship that aim to raise awareness, understanding, and engagement around environmental issues and solutions, and to empower individuals and communities to take action for conservation and sustainability.

Environmental education and outreach can take many forms, from formal classroom instruction and experiential learning to community-based programs and public awareness campaigns.

Some of the key elements of environmental education and outreach include:

Environmental literacy: Environmental education seeks to promote environmental literacy, or the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to understand and address environmental challenges, through curricula, training, and resources that are relevant, accurate, and engaging.
Experiential learning: Environmental education often involves hands-on, experiential learning opportunities, such as field trips, service learning projects, and citizen science programs, that allow learners to connect with nature, apply their knowledge and skills, and develop a sense of place and stewardship.
Community engagement: Environmental outreach seeks to engage and empower communities, particularly those that are underserved or disproportionately impacted by environmental issues, through programs and partnerships that build capacity, foster leadership, and promote social and environmental justice.
Behavior change: Environmental education and outreach ultimately aim to inspire and enable behavior change, by providing the information, motivation, and resources needed for individuals and communities to adopt more sustainable and environmentally responsible practices and lifestyles.

Policy and Advocacy

Policy and advocacy are important practices of environmental stewardship that seek to influence and shape the laws, regulations, and decisions that affect the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

Environmental policy and advocacy can take many forms, from lobbying and litigation to public education and grassroots organizing, and can operate at different scales, from local to national to international.

Some of the key elements of environmental policy and advocacy include:

Science-based decision-making: Environmental policy and advocacy often rely on scientific research and data to inform and support decision-making around environmental issues, and to ensure that policies and actions are based on the best available evidence and understanding of ecological and social systems.
Public participation: Environmental policy and advocacy also seek to engage and empower the public in environmental decision-making, through processes such as public comment periods, hearings, and stakeholder advisory groups, to ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered and represented.
Market-based incentives: Environmental policy and advocacy sometimes use market-based incentives, such as taxes, subsidies, and cap-and-trade programs, to encourage and reward environmentally responsible behavior and to internalize the social and environmental costs of resource use and pollution.
International cooperation: Environmental policy and advocacy also recognize the global nature of many environmental challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, and seek to promote international cooperation and agreements, such as the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, to address these challenges at a global scale.

These principles and practices of environmental stewardship are not exhaustive or mutually exclusive but rather represent a range of complementary and overlapping approaches to conservation and sustainability that can be adapted and applied in different contexts and at different scales.

They also reflect a shift away from traditional, top-down, and single-sector approaches to environmental management, towards more collaborative, participatory, and integrated approaches that recognize the complex social-ecological systems in which environmental challenges and solutions are embedded.

Environmental Challenges and Opportunities on the East Coast

The East Coast of the United States is a diverse and dynamic region that is home to a wide range of ecosystems, species, and human communities, each with its unique environmental challenges and opportunities. Some of the major environmental challenges facing the East Coast include:

Climate Change and Sea Level Rise

Climate change and sea level rise are perhaps the most significant and far-reaching environmental challenges facing the East Coast, with the potential to fundamentally alter the region's natural and human systems in the coming decades.

The East Coast is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, due to its long coastline, low-lying topography, and dense population centers, as well as its exposure to sea level rise, coastal flooding, and extreme weather events.

Some of the key impacts of climate change and sea level rise on the East Coast include:

Coastal flooding and erosion: Sea level rise and more frequent and intense coastal storms are increasing the risk of flooding and erosion along the East Coast, threatening coastal communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems, and requiring costly adaptation and protection measures.
Saltwater intrusion: Sea level rise is also leading to saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers, rivers, and wetlands, altering the chemistry and ecology of these systems and impacting the availability and quality of freshwater resources for human and natural communities.
Species and habitat shifts: Changing temperatures, precipitation patterns, and sea levels are altering the distribution and abundance of species and habitats on the East Coast, with some species and ecosystems experiencing range shifts, phenological changes, and increased stress and mortality.
Human health and well-being: Climate change and sea level rise are also impacting human health and well-being on the East Coast, through increased exposure to extreme heat, air pollution, vector-borne diseases, and mental health stressors, as well as through disruptions to food, water, and energy systems.

Addressing the challenges of climate change and sea level rise on the East Coast will require a range of strategies and actions, from reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to clean energy, to adapting to unavoidable impacts and building resilience in natural and human systems. It will also require collaboration and coordination among different levels of government, sectors, and stakeholders, as well as significant investments in research, planning, and implementation.

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

Habitat loss and fragmentation are major environmental challenges on the East Coast, driven by factors such as urbanization, agriculture, resource extraction, and infrastructure development. These activities are converting and dividing natural habitats into smaller, more isolated patches, reducing their ecological integrity and connectivity, and impacting the species and ecosystem services they support.

Some of the key impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on the East Coast include:

Biodiversity loss: Habitat loss and fragmentation are major drivers of biodiversity loss on the East Coast, as they reduce the amount and quality of available habitat for species, disrupt ecological processes and interactions, and increase the risk of local and regional extinctions.
Ecosystem degradation: Habitat loss and fragmentation also degrade the ecological functions and services provided by natural habitats, such as water filtration, flood control, carbon sequestration, and recreation, impacting both human and natural communities that depend on these services.
Invasive species: Habitat loss and fragmentation can facilitate the spread and establishment of invasive species, which can outcompete and displace native species, alter ecosystem structure and function, and cause economic and social impacts.
Human-wildlife conflicts: Habitat loss and fragmentation can also increase human-wildlife conflicts, as wildlife are forced into closer contact with human communities and activities, leading to issues such as crop damage, property damage, and public safety risks.

Addressing the challenges of habitat loss and fragmentation on the East Coast will require a range of strategies and actions, from land conservation and restoration to sustainable land use planning and management, to invasive species prevention and control. It will also require collaboration and partnerships among different landowners, land managers, and stakeholders, as well as investments in research, monitoring, and adaptive management.

Water Quality and Quantity

Water quality and quantity are critical environmental challenges on the East Coast, affecting both human and natural communities that depend on clean and abundant water resources for drinking, irrigation, recreation, and ecological functions.

The East Coast's water resources are under pressure from a range of factors, including pollution, overuse, climate change, and aging infrastructure, which are impacting the availability, reliability, and safety of water supplies.

Some of the key water quality and quantity challenges on the East Coast include:

Nutrient pollution: Nutrient pollution, primarily from agricultural and urban runoff, is a major water quality issue on the East Coast, leading to algal blooms, hypoxia, and other impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human health.
Chemical and microbial contamination: Chemical and microbial contamination, from sources such as industrial discharges, sewage overflows, and stormwater runoff, is another significant water quality concern on the East Coast, posing risks to human and ecological health.
Groundwater depletion: Groundwater depletion, due to factors such as overuse, drought, and saltwater intrusion, is a growing water quantity challenge on the East Coast, particularly in coastal and agricultural areas that rely heavily on groundwater for irrigation and drinking water.
Aging infrastructure: Aging water infrastructure, such as leaking pipes, outdated treatment plants, and inadequate stormwater systems, is another major challenge on the East Coast, contributing to water loss, contamination, and flooding risks.

Addressing the water quality and quantity challenges on the East Coast will require a range of strategies and actions, from source water protection and pollution prevention to water conservation and efficiency, to infrastructure repair and replacement. It will also require collaboration and coordination among different water users, managers, and regulators, as well as investments in research, monitoring, and innovation.

Environmental Justice

Environmental justice is an important environmental challenge on the East Coast, recognizing that low-income communities, communities of color, and other marginalized groups are often disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards and burdens, while also being underrepresented in environmental decision-making and benefits.

Environmental justice seeks to address these disparities and ensure that all communities have equal access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

Some of the key environmental justice challenges on the East Coast include:

Unequal exposure to pollution: Low-income communities and communities of color on the East Coast are often exposed to higher levels of air, water, and soil pollution, due to factors such as proximity to industrial facilities, transportation corridors, and waste sites, as well as lack of access to green space and clean energy.
Unequal access to environmental benefits: These same communities are also often underserved by environmental amenities and services, such as parks, public transit, and energy efficiency programs, which can improve health, quality of life, and economic opportunities.
Lack of representation and participation: Low-income communities and communities of color are often underrepresented in environmental decision-making processes and institutions, such as public hearings, advisory boards, and government agencies, limiting their ability to shape and benefit from environmental policies and programs.
Cumulative impacts: Environmental justice communities on the East Coast often face multiple, cumulative environmental and social stressors, such as poverty, racism, and health disparities, which can compound the impacts of environmental hazards and limit their capacity to adapt and recover.

Addressing environmental justice challenges on the East Coast will require a range of strategies and actions, from community engagement and empowerment to targeted investments and policies, to institutional reforms and accountability. It will also require a shift towards more inclusive, equitable, and community-driven approaches to environmental stewardship, that prioritize the needs and voices of those most impacted by environmental challenges.

Environmental Stewardship Initiatives and Case Studies on the East Coast

Across the East Coast, there are many inspiring examples of environmental stewardship initiatives and case studies that are working to address the region's environmental challenges and opportunities and to advance conservation, sustainability, and resilience at different scales and in different contexts. These initiatives and case studies demonstrate the diversity and creativity of environmental stewardship on the East Coast, as well as the importance of collaboration, innovation, and community engagement in achieving environmental goals. Here are a few notable examples:

Chesapeake Bay Program

The Chesapeake Bay Program is a regional partnership that brings together federal, state, and local government agencies, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and community groups to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, spanning over 64,000 square miles across six states and the District of Columbia, and providing critical habitat, ecosystem services, and cultural and economic benefits to the region.

The Chesapeake Bay Program was established in 1983 to address the significant water quality and ecosystem health challenges facing the Bay, driven by factors such as nutrient and sediment pollution, habitat loss and degradation, and overfishing.

The Program has set ambitious goals and targets for Bay restoration, including reducing nutrient and sediment pollution, restoring oyster and wetland habitats, and improving water clarity and dissolved oxygen levels.

Some of the key strategies and achievements of the Chesapeake Bay Program include:

Watershed Implementation Plans: The Program works with states and local jurisdictions to develop and implement Watershed Implementation Plans, which outline the actions and strategies needed to meet pollution reduction targets and restore Bay health.
Agricultural conservation: The Program works with farmers and agricultural organizations to promote and implement best management practices, such as cover crops, nutrient management, and riparian buffers, to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff from agricultural lands.
Stormwater management: The Program works with local governments and communities to promote and implement green infrastructure and stormwater management practices, such as rain gardens, permeable pavement, and urban tree canopy, to reduce polluted runoff from urban and suburban areas.
Habitat restoration: The Program works with partner organizations and landowners to restore and protect critical Bay habitats, such as oyster reefs, wetlands, and forests, which provide important ecosystem services and support biodiversity.

Through these and other efforts, the Chesapeake Bay Program has made significant progress in improving Bay health and resilience, with recent reports showing improvements in water quality, habitat conditions, and fisheries. However, the Program also acknowledges that much work remains to be done to fully restore the Bay and its watershed and to address emerging challenges such as climate change and population growth.

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is a non-profit organization that works to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian Trail, a 2,190-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine along the Appalachian Mountain range.

The Appalachian Trail is one of the longest and most iconic hiking trails in the world, passing through 14 states and a diversity of landscapes and ecosystems, from southern hardwood forests to northern boreal forests.

The ATC was founded in 1925 to oversee the building and maintenance of the Appalachian Trail and has since grown into a national leader in trail conservation and stewardship. The ATC works in partnership with federal and state agencies, local trail clubs, and thousands of volunteers to protect and enhance the natural, cultural, and recreational values of the Appalachian Trail and its surrounding landscapes.

Some of the key strategies and achievements of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy include:

Land protection: The ATC works to protect the Appalachian Trail corridor and its viewshed through land acquisition, conservation easements, and partnerships with land trusts and public agencies. To date, the ATC has helped to protect over 250,000 acres of land along the Trail.
Trail maintenance and management: The ATC works with a network of over 6,000 volunteers to maintain and improve the Appalachian Trail, including trail building, signage, and facilities such as shelters and campsites. The ATC also provides training and support to local trail clubs and works to promote Leave No Trace principles and sustainable trail use.
Community engagement and education: The ATC works to engage and educate the public about the values and benefits of the Appalachian Trail and the importance of protecting and stewarding public lands. The ATC offers a range of programs and resources, such as guided hikes, workshops, and publications, to connect people to the Trail and inspire a sense of stewardship and responsibility.
Landscape conservation: The ATC works to promote and support landscape-scale conservation efforts that protect the ecological, cultural, and scenic values of the Appalachian region beyond the Trail corridor. The ATC is a partner in initiatives such as the Appalachian Landscape Conservation Cooperative and the Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture, which bring together diverse stakeholders to address regional conservation challenges and opportunities.

Through these and other efforts, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is working to ensure that the Appalachian Trail and its surrounding landscapes remain a vital and enduring resource for current and future generations and a model for environmental stewardship and collaboration.

Gowanus Canal Conservancy

The Gowanus Canal Conservancy (GCC) is a community-based organization that works to restore and revitalize the Gowanus Canal and its surrounding neighborhoods in Brooklyn, New York. The Gowanus Canal is a 1.8-mile industrial waterway that has been heavily polluted by over a century of industrial and sewage discharges and was designated as a federal Superfund site in 2010.

The GCC was founded in 2006 by residents and stakeholders who were concerned about the environmental and public health impacts of the Canal, as well as the lack of access to green space and waterfront recreation in the area. The GCC works to engage and empower the community in the cleanup and redevelopment of the Canal, and to advocate for a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future for the Gowanus neighborhood.

Some of the key strategies and achievements of the Gowanus Canal Conservancy include:

Community stewardship: The GCC works to engage and mobilize the community in the stewardship and restoration of the Gowanus Canal and its surrounding environment. The GCC offers a range of volunteer and educational programs, such as clean-up events, tree plantings, and water quality monitoring, that allow residents to take an active role in the health and future of their neighborhood.
Green infrastructure: The GCC works to promote and implement green infrastructure projects that reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality in the Canal, while also providing community benefits such as access to green space and urban cooling. The GCC has installed over 50 bioswales, rain gardens, and street trees in the Gowanus watershed, and is working to create a network of green spaces and corridors along the Canal.
Superfund cleanup: The GCC works to advocate for a comprehensive and transparent Superfund cleanup process that addresses the legacy of contamination in the Canal, while also protecting public health and facilitating sustainable redevelopment. The GCC serves as a community liaison and watchdog in the cleanup process and works to ensure that the community's priorities and concerns are heard and addressed.
Vision planning: The GCC works to develop and promote a community-driven vision for the future of the Gowanus Canal and neighborhood, one that balances environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic vitality. The GCC has led a series of visioning workshops and charrettes that have engaged hundreds of residents and stakeholders in imagining and shaping the future of Gowanus.

Through these and other efforts, the Gowanus Canal Conservancy is working to transform the Gowanus Canal from an environmental liability into a community asset and to demonstrate the power of community-led environmental stewardship in urban landscapes. The GCC's work also highlights the importance of addressing environmental justice and equity in the context of environmental restoration and redevelopment, and of building coalitions and partnerships across diverse stakeholders and interests.

Conclusion

Environmental stewardship is a critical and growing movement on the East Coast of the United States, as communities, organizations, and individuals work to address the complex challenges facing the region's diverse and valuable natural resources. From climate change and sea level rise to habitat loss and fragmentation to water quality and quantity to environmental justice, the East Coast faces a range of environmental challenges that threaten the health, resilience, and sustainability of its ecosystems and communities.

However, the East Coast is also home to a vibrant and innovative environmental stewardship community, with a wide range of initiatives, organizations, and individuals working to protect and restore the region's natural resources, and to advance conservation, sustainability, and resilience. These efforts are guided by a set of principles and practices, including ecosystem-based management, conservation and restoration, sustainable resource management, environmental education and outreach, and policy and advocacy, that recognize the importance of balancing human needs and activities with the long-term health and integrity of ecosystems.

The case studies and examples highlighted in this article demonstrate the diversity and impact of environmental stewardship on the East Coast, from regional partnerships like the Chesapeake Bay Program that are working to restore and protect entire watersheds, to community-based organizations like the Gowanus Canal Conservancy that are working to transform degraded urban landscapes, to landscape-scale initiatives like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy that are working to protect and connect iconic natural and cultural resources across multiple states and jurisdictions.

These examples also illustrate the key elements of successful and effective environmental stewardship, including:

Collaboration and partnerships: Environmental stewardship on the East Coast often involves collaboration and partnerships among diverse stakeholders and interests, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, community groups, and private landowners. These partnerships allow for the sharing of resources, knowledge, and expertise, and the development of coordinated and integrated strategies and actions.
Community engagement and empowerment: Environmental stewardship on the East Coast also often involves the active engagement and empowerment of local communities and stakeholders, particularly those that are most directly impacted by environmental challenges and decisions. Community engagement can take many forms, from volunteer and educational programs to participatory planning and decision-making processes, and can help to build trust, ownership, and capacity for environmental stewardship.
Science-based and adaptive management: Environmental stewardship on the East Coast is often guided by science-based and adaptive management approaches, which use the best available data, tools, and methods to inform and evaluate conservation and sustainability strategies and actions. Adaptive management involves ongoing monitoring, assessment, and adjustment of strategies based on new information and changing conditions, and can help to ensure that environmental stewardship efforts are effective, efficient, and responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities.
Innovation and experimentation: Environmental stewardship on the East Coast also often involves innovation and experimentation, as organizations and individuals develop and test new approaches, technologies, and practices for conservation and sustainability. Innovation can take many forms, from green infrastructure and nature-based solutions to market-based incentives and financing mechanisms, and can help to drive progress and catalyze change in environmental stewardship.

Ultimately, the success and impact of environmental stewardship on the East Coast will depend on the continued commitment, collaboration, and creativity of the many individuals and organizations working to protect and restore the region's natural resources. It will require sustained investments in research, education, and action, as well as a willingness to adapt and innovate in the face of new challenges and opportunities. It will also require a recognition of the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic issues, and a commitment to building a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

As we look to the future of environmental stewardship on the East Coast, we must continue to build on the successes and lessons of the past, while also embracing new ideas, voices, and approaches. We must work to engage and empower more diverse and inclusive communities in environmental stewardship and to address the underlying drivers of environmental degradation and injustice. We must also work to build the capacity and resilience of our environmental stewardship institutions and networks and to foster a culture of learning, collaboration, and innovation.

By working together and leading by example, we can ensure that the East Coast remains a vital and vibrant region, with healthy and resilient ecosystems, communities, and economies that support and sustain the well-being of current and future generations. Environmental stewardship is not just a responsibility, but an opportunity to create a better world for all, and the East Coast has the potential to be a model and catalyst for this transformation.