NSERC industrial research chair for colleges in peatland restoration

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Peatlands are dominant landforms in Canada's boreal and subarctic regions, covering 12% of the surface area**and accounting for 56% of organic soil carbon in Canadian soils. In Alberta, boreal peatlands cover about 17%**of the province and their distribution coincides with the oil deposits in the northern boreal regions. These**ecosystems are facing increasing pressure with the rapid development and expansion of the energy sector over**the last few decades. There are 13,559 bitumen producing wells and over 52,000 abandoned oil and gas wells**across Alberta, with many more added each year as in-situ bitumen production continues to increase. The**cumulative impact of numerous well pads and linear features on boreal peatlands are potentially significant but**difficult to assess and mitigate. Under the renewed term, the Chair will continue to develop innovative,**science-based, practical field technologies and solutions for reclaiming functional peatland ecosystems**disturbed by industrial activities. The Chair's research will provide critical feedback for the development and**refinement of peatland related policies and regulations. The Chair will contribute to the training of HQPs with**specialty skills in peatland management and restoration through field training and workshops. Knowledge**derived from the Chair's research will help industry reduce reclamation costs, mitigate and remove ecological**footprints associated with resource exploration and extraction, and enhance peatland function and long-term**reclamation success. It will help industry secure the "social license" to operate in the boreal regions by gaining**public trust in its ability to properly manage and mitigate impacts of economic growth on the environment.**Alberta, and Canada, could become a leader in the protection and reclamation of boreal peatlands through**improved, scientifically sound reclamation and management practices.