Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-00089, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Dambrowitz, Christopher (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Alberta, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Applied Research and Development Grants (<$75k), program name french : Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée (<75,000 $), program purpose english : Oil sands extraction results in widespread ecosystem disturbance across Canada's boreal forest, including the_x000D_
construction of well-sites. At least 84,000 ha of well-site disturbance are present in the region; given that 30%_x000D_
of the region consists of peatland, many of these well-sites have been constructed in peatland ecosystems._x000D_
Despite the introduction of peatland reclamation criteria for well-sites and associated infrastructure (e.g., access_x000D_
roads, pipelines, etc.) by the Province of Alberta, ecological restoration methods for well-sites remain_x000D_
inefficient. Therefore, the energy sector is faced with the challenge of developing and employing innovative_x000D_
peatland restoration techniques to meet regulatory requirements and recreate functioning ecosystems. The_x000D_
proposed research program will evaluate a variety of peatland restoration techniques for oil sand well-site_x000D_
disturbances on peatland for their ability to meet provincially set reclamation criteria. In addition, a range of_x000D_
ecosystem functions, including hydrologic regulation, biodiversity support, chemical conditions, peatland_x000D_
accumulation and greenhouse gas exchange, will be assessed and compared to rates in regional undisturbed_x000D_
peatlands as a reference. The congruence between the structure of the vegetation community and the ecosystem_x000D_
function can then be assessed. Results from the study will inform best management practices for peatland_x000D_
well-site restoration, improve the environmental performance of the energy sector, and help ensure the_x000D_
long-term health of Canada's boreal forest., program purpose french : Oil sands extraction results in widespread ecosystem disturbance across Canada's boreal forest, including the_x000D_
construction of well-sites. At least 84,000 ha of well-site disturbance are present in the region; given that 30%_x000D_
of the region consists of peatland, many of these well-sites have been constructed in peatland ecosystems._x000D_
Despite the introduction of peatland reclamation criteria for well-sites and associated infrastructure (e.g., access_x000D_
roads, pipelines, etc.) by the Province of Alberta, ecological restoration methods for well-sites remain_x000D_
inefficient. Therefore, the energy sector is faced with the challenge of developing and employing innovative_x000D_
peatland restoration techniques to meet regulatory requirements and recreate functioning ecosystems. The_x000D_
proposed research program will evaluate a variety of peatland restoration techniques for oil sand well-site_x000D_
disturbances on peatland for their ability to meet provincially set reclamation criteria. In addition, a range of_x000D_
ecosystem functions, including hydrologic regulation, biodiversity support, chemical conditions, peatland_x000D_
accumulation and greenhouse gas exchange, will be assessed and compared to rates in regional undisturbed_x000D_
peatlands as a reference. The congruence between the structure of the vegetation community and the ecosystem_x000D_
function can then be assessed. Results from the study will inform best management practices for peatland_x000D_
well-site restoration, improve the environmental performance of the energy sector, and help ensure the_x000D_
long-term health of Canada's boreal forest., agreement title english : Evaluating Ecological Restoration Outcomes for Oil Sand Disturbances on Peatland: Linking Ecosystem Structure and Function, agreement title french : Evaluating Ecological Restoration Outcomes for Oil Sand Disturbances on Peatland: Linking Ecosystem Structure and Function, agreement number : CARD2, agreement value : 126560.0, agreement start date : 2017-04-25, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2020-2021), additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2020-2021), owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada