VICTORIA - The Stewardship Centre for British Columbia is getting a $40,000 B.C. government grant towards the Green Shores sustainability project, Environment Minister Barry Penner announced today in celebration of World Ocean Day.

"British Columbia's beautiful shorelines are rich in ecological, social and economic resources," said Penner. "In a time of unprecedented waterfront residential and commercial growth, it is our responsibility
to preserve the integrity of our coasts, and to minimize the negative impacts of shore zone development."

The Green Shores Project promotes healthy coast and marine ecosystems through planning and design that benefits the environmental, social and economic aspects of coastal systems. It offers a positive approach for
property owners, developers and design professionals to address environmental and sustainability issues associated with increased
waterfront development, while offering information and tools to assess shoreline property and habitat protection.

"In my 25-year career in marine coastal science and management, Green Shores is the first program I've encountered with the potential to truly address the impact of coastal development while benefiting coastal
communities," said Brian Emmett, Green Shores technical team project manager. "With the financial support from the B.C. Ministry of
Environment, the project will be able to move from the developmental stage to an operational program over the next two years."

The project will use a voluntary rating and certification program to encourage sustainable approaches to shore development, therefore curtailing the environmental impact of seawall construction and disruption of coastal sediment processes.

The Stewardship Centre for British Columbia is a non-profit society dedicated to support and advance stewardship activities in British
Columbia by facilitating information exchange, communications and outreach, and by fostering partnerships and collaboration among British Columbians who are active in conserving and restoring ecosystems.

On May 31, British Columbia and California signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Pacific Coast Collaboration to Protect our Shared Climate and Ocean. The document provides for action on Pacific Ocean
conservation, including the sharing of information about coastal and ocean resources and health; collaborating on best practices for the development, monitoring and management of marine protection areas;
synchronization of environmental protection at Pacific ports; and stronger relations between existing sea-floor observatories.