NSERC industrial research chair for colleges in peatland restoration

泥炭地是加拿大北方和亚北极地区的主要地貌，覆盖了12%的地表面积，占加拿大土壤有机土壤碳的56%。在艾伯塔省，北方泥炭地覆盖了该省约17%的面积，其分布与北部北方地区的石油储藏相吻合。随着过去几十年能源行业的快速发展和扩张，这些生态系统正面临越来越大的压力。整个阿尔伯塔省有13559口沥青生产井和超过52000口废弃的油气井，随着沥青产量的不断增加，每年还会有更多的废弃油气井增加。许多井台和线性特征对北方泥炭地的累积影响可能是巨大的，但难以评估和减轻。在新的任期内，主席将继续开发创新的、以科学为基础的实用现场技术和解决方案，以恢复受工业活动干扰的功能性泥炭地生态系统。主席的研究将为制定和完善泥炭地相关政策和法规提供重要反馈。主席将通过实地培训和讲习班，促进培训具有泥炭地管理和恢复专业技能的卫生保健人员。从主席的研究中获得的知识将帮助工业界降低复垦成本，减轻和消除与资源勘探和开采相关的生态足迹，并增强泥炭地的功能和长期复垦的成功。它将通过赢得公众对其妥善管理和减轻经济增长对环境影响的能力的信任，帮助工业获得在北方地区经营的“社会许可证”。阿尔伯塔省和加拿大可以通过改进的、科学合理的复垦和管理实践，成为北方泥炭地保护和复垦的领导者。

Peatlands are dominant landforms in Canada's boreal and subarctic regions, covering 12% of the surface areaand 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. Theseecosystems are facing increasing pressure with the rapid development and expansion of the energy sector overthe last few decades. There are 13,559 bitumen producing wells and over 52,000 abandoned oil and gas wellsacross Alberta, with many more added each year as in-situ bitumen production continues to increase. Thecumulative impact of numerous well pads and linear features on boreal peatlands are potentially significant butdifficult 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 ecosystemsdisturbed by industrial activities. The Chair's research will provide critical feedback for the development andrefinement of peatland related policies and regulations. The Chair will contribute to the training of HQPs withspecialty skills in peatland management and restoration through field training and workshops. Knowledgederived from the Chair's research will help industry reduce reclamation costs, mitigate and remove ecologicalfootprints associated with resource exploration and extraction, and enhance peatland function and long-termreclamation success. It will help industry secure the "social license" to operate in the boreal regions by gainingpublic 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 throughimproved, scientifically sound reclamation and management practices.