Riparian Zones and Shelterbelts

Riparian zones and shelterbelts have been established on farms around Nova Scotia as one of the living lab activities. The primary goals of these beneficial management practices (BMPs) are to sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Both have the potential to store carbon and mitigate climate change, and woody biomass comprises much of the stored carbon in these zones. 

Riparian zones, or forested riparian buffer zones (FRBZs), are areas of permanently vegetated land located at the edge of agricultural fields along watercourses such as streams, rivers, and ponds. Riparian zones function as transition zones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. These zones are established through agro forestry, the intentional integration of trees and shrubs into cropping or livestock systems. 

Riparian zones consist of native tree and shrub species and protect watercourses by providing a buffer effect. They are used on farms to limit the impacts of soil erosion, nutrient loss, and pesticide applications on water quality. The roots from plants help to hold soil in place, maintaining soil structure and preventing stream bank erosion during normal and extreme flow events. Vegetated riparian zones can also assist with flood control. 

There are many benefits of implementing riparian zones on agricultural land such as: naturally maintaining and reinforcing streambanks, shading the watercourse to keep water cooler which improves water quality and fish habitat, trapping sediments and filtering nutrients from precipitation run-off, maintaining and enhancing biodiversity, and sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Riparian zones also provide a corridor for wildlife, reducing interactions between wildlife and agricultural activity. 

Shelterbelts are windbreaks made of native tree and shrub species. They protect crops from strong winds and provide a habitat for pollinators. For this living lab activity, shelterbelts have been established in wild blueberry fields. 

Increasing damage to crops from strong winds and winter temperatures and loss of pollinator species has been identified as an industry concern for wild blueberry producers. Establishing shelterbelts on wild blueberry fields can help address these concerns by providing the following benefits: 

Trees and shrubs have been planted by Clean Annapolis River Project (CARP) and blueberry producers along cropland and in wild blueberry fields to establish riparian buffer zones and shelterbelts.

 (Picea rubens), white spruce (Picea glauca), red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), rhodora (Rhododendron canadense) and two willow species have been planted at three wild blueberry farms in Nova Scotia to create shelterbelts. 

There are three riparian buffer sites, and the species planted at each site include Bebb’s willow (Salix bebbiana), pussy willow (Salix discolor), speckled alder (Alnus incana), red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), red spruce (Picea rubens), eastern larch (Larix laricina), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), red maple (Acer rubrum) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum).  

This living lab activity is a collaborative effort involving farmers and other agricultural and academic partners with diverse specialties, coming together to develop, test and improve this beneficial management practice. We are fortunate to have a wealth of knowledge and skill in our academic partners including:

Since the project’s inception, producers have collaborated with CARP in species selection, site preparation, planting, and conducting survivorship assessments. Living lab producers have also collaborated with CARP to identify native riparian and upland species on their properties. In the spring and fall of 2024, native trees and shrubs were planted at all riparian and shelterbelt sites by blueberry producers and the CARP team.

This year, the CARP team is working with producers to refine the practice by willow staking at the riparian sites to enhance erosion control and bank stabilization. Input from farmers and data from 2023 indicated that rodent browsing, interspecific competition, and flooding posed challenges at various locations. Consequently, CARP employed patch mowing and planted additional flood-tolerant species. 

Propagating native trees and shrubs on-site has been integral to establishing the BMP. With the support of producers, CARP has sourced native Bebb’s willow (Salix bebbiana), pussy willow (Salix discolor), and red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) from the riparian sites, as well as rhodora (Rhododendron canadense) at one shelterbelt location. Additionally, site preparation for planting has been achieved with the help of mowing equipment provided by producers. This assistance has helped reduce competition from problematic species such as reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), providing the young plants with more space to grow. 

CARP continues to monitor various parameters year-round to assess how the establishment of shelterbelts and FRBZs impacts agroecosystems. Greenhouse gas sampling proceeded as usual in 2024; however, water quality, invertebrate, and soil sampling varied from 2023. For the first time, benthic macroinvertebrates were collected at the riparian sites to assess stream health in 2024 and, the project’s the second round of intensive soil sampling was conducted at all six sites. This involved collecting bulk density samples and 30 cm soil cores to evaluate soil health and carbon content. Blue Vane and cup traps were introduced at the shelterbelt sites to enhance invertebrate sampling. These traps are specialized for Hymenopterans, particularly pollinators.

In 2025, survivorship surveys will help determine whether the practices in 2023 and 2024 were effective or need to be fine-tuned. Additional tree planting will occur where necessary, and willow and dogwood staking will take place at the riparian sites. Third-year Invertebrate, soil, and water quality results will also be analysed and discussed in 2025, including the first set of benthic macroinvertebrate data collected from the riparian sites. 

CARP will continue to collaborate with producers to ensure the successful growth of trees and shrubs while making improvements that align with the land and farmers’ needs. Living lab producers will play a vital role in maintaining these establishing corridors in the coming years. Producers are essential for ensuring that newly planted trees and saplings are protected from damage caused by farm and mowing equipment and that livestock are restricted from traversing and grazing in the planted areas. Over the next two years, we will gain a better understanding of site-to-site differences and observe changes in biodiversity and carbon storage.