In regard to reclamation, the predisturbance inventories carried out as a function of the EIA or D&R Approval, dictate to a large extent the vegetation cover or land uses that will be established. As a general rule, those lands considered to be productive, as defined by our Alberta Forest Service Phase I II Specifications, will be required to be reforested. This would mean that, if predisturbance inventories indicate that a certain percentage of the land base contains productive forest land (as defined by our Phase III), this same percentage must be restored. At present, while we have strong reforestation guidelines for the forest industry that clearly outline their responsibility, we do not have the same for lands being reclaimed. We are presently requiring productive forest lands to be restocked with acceptable tree species as specified by the Timber Management Regulations. The minimal stocking standard, as specified in the regulations, would require 1,000 seedlings per hectare to be established before the end of a ten-year period. Our experience to date indicates that, in order to· meet this standard, an average of 1,250 seedlings per hectare for average sites and up to 1,700 seedlings for harsh sites would have to be planted.
Related Resources
Defining Best Management Practices for Conservation of Reclamation Materials in the Mineable Oil Sands Region of Alberta
Resource Date:
2011
Regulatory Requirements for Reclamation and Closure Planning at Alberta’s Oil Sands Mines
Resource Date:
2011
Organization
Handbook for State of the Watershed Reporting: A Guide for Developing State of the Watershed Reports in Alberta
Resource Date:
November
2008
Organization
Determining Sustainable Levels of Cumulative Effects for Boreal Caribou
Resource Date:
May
2008
Revegetation Using Native Plant Materials: Guidelines for Industrial Development Sites
Resource Date:
2003
Organization
Glossary of Reclamation and Remediation Terms Used in Alberta – 7th edition
Resource Date:
2002
Organization
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