Community Arts Living Shoreline (C.A.L.S.) Pre- and Post- Participation Surveys Measuring Solastalsia and Increased Understanding of Climate Change in Louisiana Communities

To engage coastal residents in nature-based climate solutions, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) proposed Community Art Living Shorelines (C.A.L.S.). This project connected the art, food, and festival cultures of south Louisiana to broaden community engagement in coastal restoration and understanding of climate resilience. CRCL leveraged their Oyster Shell Recycling Program (OSRP), through which they recycle oyster shells from New Orleans restaurants to build living shorelines. The OSRP diverts shell from landfills to build reefs that reduce shoreline erosion, support local fisheries, and provide critical wetland habitat. C.A.L.S. fostered diverse engagement spaces where coastal residents create art from recycled oyster shells that are then incorporated into living shorelines. We brought clean recycled shells to outreach events, including festivals, powwows, conferences, children’s museums, and Mardi Gras gatherings. Between the pre- and post- surveys and on the ground outreach at events, we found that community members in south Louisiana felt more informed about the impacts of climate change for coastal Louisiana, reported to be more likely to address climate change, felt that the community was better positioned to adapt to climate change, felt that the government is better prepared for climate change that initially thought, and as a result of interacting with CRCL, felt that their understanding of the use of nature-based climate solutions, like restoring living shoreline oyster reefs significantly increased.