Take a (virtual) tour along the Saint John River

The Saint John River, called Wolastoq by local First Nations, is the lifeblood of New Brunswick and a vital freshwater system for many communities and wildlife. Yet, growing pressures from climate change as well as development, agricultural runoff, and habitat fragmentation from dams and road infrastructure are negatively affecting the health of the watershed.

WWF-Canada has been working with local groups and municipalities to turn this around, with support from RSA Canada, by using nature-based solutions to reduce the risks of climate-related events like flooding and storm damage. To keep this work going, we host an annual Saint John River Summit to bring people together to learn, share, experience and build a more resilient watershed.

During this year’s summit, we took a live virtual field trip with the City of Fredericton along the Saint John River to tell the story of the river’s flooding and restoration efforts. From art installations that show the high-water levels and restoration projects that plant species capable of absorbing up to 220 litres of water per hour, participants heard from local experts and saw first-hand how communities along the river are effecting change.