Big Oil has biodiversity in its crosshairs National Observer Rob Miller | Opinion | June 7th 2024 Canada’s boreal wetlands are the ecosystem equivalent of Aladdin’s cave. These undisturbed wilderness areas are a treasure trove of biodiversity and a massive store of carbon that has been collected for thousands of years. They’re teeming with incredibly rich and vibrant life including birds, fish, mammals, insects, plants, soil, fungi and mosses. Canada’s northern wetlands are the crown jewels in a rich tapestry of biodiversity and ecosystem services. One of Alberta’s largest wetland complexes is the McClelland Lake watershed, located in the heart of oilsands country north of Fort McMurray. The McClelland wetland complex is nestled between Suncor’s Fort Hills open pit mine and Imperial Oil’s Kearl mine, where 300,000 barrels of bitumen are produced each day in the excavated wasteland that was once a boreal forest. The McClelland wetland features an extraordinary patterned fen that is an important stopover point and breeding ground for an abundance of migratory bird species. A patterned fen is characterized by alternating peat or moss ridges (called strings) and water-filled depressions (called flarks) that are perpendicular to the water flow. The ridged terrain calms the water and the mix of chemical properties in the soil gives rise to a wide cross-section of vegetation and diverse plant communities. Fens are home to rare and uncommon species, including endangered woodland caribou and whooping cranes. This natural richness creates a landscape of spirit-lifting beauty that is respected and treasured by local Indigenous communities.Although there are many similar fens in the eastern foothills of Alberta, the size of the McClelland wetland complex is significant. In a 2023 research paper by bryologist a
But perhaps the greatest value of the McClelland wetland complex is its paleoecological record that scientists can study to unlock the secrets of its resilience to climate change over the last 10,000 years. This knowledge may prove to be invaluable as climate change accelerates due to the burning of fossil fuels. The feasibility of Suncor’s plans to protect the remaining wetland has been challenged by the Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) and a formal request has been submitted to the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) asking them to reconsider and revoke the approval of Suncor’s operational plan. AWA’s Phillip Meintzer states, “AWA’s vision is for the entire 330 km² McClelland watershed to be designated a permanent protected area including Indigenous co-management, and its two patterned fens designated Ecological Reserves or other stringent protection compatible with the exercise of Indigenous rights.”.......will this happen- read on https://www.