What if a discarded Christmas tree could help bring a damaged river ecosystem back to life? For years, the Niagara River’s shoreline has been losing an important part of its natural ecosystem. More than 75% of the original coastal wetlands on the Canadian side had disappeared, reducing the shallow, sheltered areas that fish need for feeding, breeding and growing. In response, conservation teams began using an unusual but practical material: dead trees, including recycled Christmas trees, anchored directly into the riverbed. The structures help slow waves, reduce erosion and create calmer areas where aquatic life can thrive.
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