Using bryophytes to restore mine tailings impoundments: humid sites

Master Project of Dave Tremblay

Directors: Nicole Fenton (UQAT-FIR), Marie Guittonny (UQAT-RIME) and David Paré (Laurentian Forestry Centre - Canadian Forest Service)
Collaborators: Ryam and Agnico Eagle

This project focuses on changes in carbon flux between the soil and the atmosphere as a result of anthropogenic work on the paludified boreal forest.

The project is located in northern Abitibi, in the James Bay and Abitibi lowlands, and focuses primarily on three aspects:

1. Forest harvesting with the protection of regeneration and soils (HPRS);
2. Mechanical peat removal for restoration of productivity;
3. Revegetation of a mining tailing pond with peat.

The most important measure in this project is carbon flux. When compared to a control site where the forest has not undergone any change, it indicates whether the anthropogenic work leads to an increase or a decrease in the carbon emissions from the soil to the atmosphere. In order to explain the underlying mechanisms, several factors are measured, including soil temperature, air humidity, and water table depth.

The results derived from these data will improve our understanding of the impacts of those operations on these environments. In today’s context, it is important to better understand carbon pools and sinks and how one can become the other and vice versa.

On one hand, the government can use this knowledge to adapt legislation and, on the other hand, the forestry and mining industries can use it to adapt their work to.