Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-00298, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Strack, Maria (University of Waterloo), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Ontario, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Collaborative Research and Development Grants - Project, program name french : Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative - projet, program purpose english : Oil sands extraction results in widespread ecosystem disturbance across Canada's boreal forest, including the construction of well-sites. At least 84,000 ha of well-site disturbance are present in the region; given that 30% of the region consists of peatland, many of these well-sites have been constructed in peatland ecosystems. Despite the introduction of peatland reclamation criteria for well-sites and associated infrastructure (e.g., access roads, pipelines, etc.) by the Province of Alberta, ecological restoration methods for well-sites remain inefficient. Therefore, the energy sector is faced with the challenge of developing and employing innovative peatland restoration techniques to meet regulatory requirements and recreate functioning ecosystems. The proposed research program will evaluate a variety of peatland restoration techniques for oil sand well-site disturbances on peatland for their ability to meet provincially set reclamation criteria. In addition, a range of ecosystem functions, including hydrologic regulation, biodiversity support, chemical conditions, peatland accumulation and greenhouse gas exchange, will be assessed and compared to rates in regional undisturbed peatlands as a reference. The congruence between the structure of the vegetation community and the ecosystem function can then be assessed. Results from the study will inform best management practices for peatland well-site restoration, improve the environmental performance of the energy sector, and help ensure the 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 construction of well-sites. At least 84,000 ha of well-site disturbance are present in the region; given that 30% of the region consists of peatland, many of these well-sites have been constructed in peatland ecosystems. Despite the introduction of peatland reclamation criteria for well-sites and associated infrastructure (e.g., access roads, pipelines, etc.) by the Province of Alberta, ecological restoration methods for well-sites remain inefficient. Therefore, the energy sector is faced with the challenge of developing and employing innovative peatland restoration techniques to meet regulatory requirements and recreate functioning ecosystems. The proposed research program will evaluate a variety of peatland restoration techniques for oil sand well-site disturbances on peatland for their ability to meet provincially set reclamation criteria. In addition, a range of ecosystem functions, including hydrologic regulation, biodiversity support, chemical conditions, peatland accumulation and greenhouse gas exchange, will be assessed and compared to rates in regional undisturbed peatlands as a reference. The congruence between the structure of the vegetation community and the ecosystem function can then be assessed. Results from the study will inform best management practices for peatland well-site restoration, improve the environmental performance of the energy sector, and help ensure the long-term health of Canada's boreal forest., agreement title english : Evaluating ecological restoration outcomes for oil sand well-site disturbances on peatland: linking ecosystem structure and function, agreement title french : Evaluating ecological restoration outcomes for oil sand well-site disturbances on peatland: linking ecosystem structure and function, agreement number : CRDPJ, agreement value : 105200.0, 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