Developing protocols and capacity for northern restoration with local native plants

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Development of cost effective amendment technologies and restoration protocols for remediation and restoration of mine impacted sites is strongly needed in northern Canada. One of the first steps in developing successful restoration protocols is to determine and development appropriate local native plant species and soil amendments. The objective of this research project is to determine target plant species and techniques for the restoration of a northern mine impacted site. Determination of target plant species will include surveys of natural regeneration of existing disturbed areas and creation of a seed source map for target species. Site-specific restoration techniques will be examined through re-vegetation and soil amendment trials on drilling fences and a nitrogen-fixing species greenhouse trial. In addition, this project will provide a unique approach to integrating research and education to simultaneously build scientific knowledge and local capacity. The research project has been developed concurrently with a 12 day education program (Northern Terrestrial Restoration) that will allow local First Nations students to gain research experience in experimental design, field sampling techniques, as well as, native seed collection, preparation and storage providing a foundation for future local community involvement in restoration and horticulture of native plants. Through directly integrating research and education we aim to take the first steps in not only identifying, preserving and testing materials for restoration of the Coffee Gold Project, but also in determining effective restoration protocols and building capacity for native plant horticulture in Yukon communities.