Lectures

Challenges of 'Natural' Reclamation and Revegetation in the Canadian High Arctic: Pilot Study at an Active Mine Site on North Baffin Island, NU

The Mary River Project is an active iron ore mine located on North Baffin Island, Nunavut, in the Canadian High Arctic. Since 2018, a reclamation Pilot Study focusing on natural (i.e., unassisted) revegetation has been advanced to guide future reclamation planning. Key objectives are to evaluate methods and approaches that are appropriate and adaptable to the inherent challenges of the Arctic environment.

Study areas were established at four (4) locations along the Project, including an abandoned airstrip; reclamation trials were established at three (3) of these locations. These sites were selected to represent different revegetation timeframes, from 1-Year Post-Disturbance to >40 Years Post-Disturbance.  Rates of natural revegetation in the Arctic are characteristically slow due to the region’s climate, narrow growing season, and challenging site conditions and terrain. A key observation of the revegetation survey is that natural/unassisted revegetation does occur at the Project. Revegetation following disturbance appeared to be shaped by initial starting conditions, such as the level of landscape disturbance (i.e., landscape form and function), soil characteristics (i.e., nutrient availability and organic matter content), and integrity of nearby ‘undisturbed’ vegetation (i.e., as a source of native seed).

Northern mine sites are (probably) novel ecosystems... Now what?

This analysis seeks to situate current and anticipated challenges associated with ecological stewardship with an emphasis on biotic and abiotic limitations for ecosystem development. Echoing wider opinions regarding the management of degraded landscapes, a significant development across the field of restoration ecology is the acknowledgement that highly assertive disturbances, such as mining, can (and often do) cause irreversible effects to natural landscapes leading to the emergence of novel ecosystems. This workshop paper briefly summarizes theoretical underpinnings of novel ecosystems, whereas the associated presentation examines examples of novelty among mine sites and the limitations they pose to ‘natural’ ecological restoration.

Land reclamation in Canada's sand-box: Do novel ecosystems require novel approaches?

Focusing on the oil sands mining landscape of northern Alberta, this analysis seeks to situate current and anticipated challenges affecting the reclamation of boreal forest following assertive mining activities by describing (a) how regulatory criteria (e.g., Equivalent Land Capability) shape reclamation practices and targeted end-goals, and (b) how these approaches embody latest trends and priorities in the area of restoration ecology.

Changing restoration priorities in the 21st century: Accounting for natural and novel ecosystems among post-mining landscapes

This lecture addresses the development of novel ecosystems as direct outcomes of mining activities and the challenges of maintaining the highest levels of biological conservation and ecological stewardship in the Anthropocene.

Development of climate-based suitability indices for the improvement of success in mine site rehabilitation

Mine site revegetation in arid and semi-arid environments can be strongly affected by the availability of water prior or during the time of seed dormancy, germination and early growth of seedlings.  In Australia, these environments are often characterized by highly variable and erratic rainfall and hence the actual weather conditions at and around the time of germination and seedling emergence play a critical role in determining the success of plant establishment and the type of plant community that may develop. Using available climate data, an analysis has been undertaken and a set of indices has been developed which describe the suitability of the climatic conditions for rehabilitation.

Examining the emergence of mono-dominance on rehabilitated North Stradbroke Island

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Getting to the Roots of AM-Plant Metal Tolerance

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The Itzamma Project: Conservation of Indigenous Plant Medicines

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