Grant: Alliance Grants

The global imperative of shifting from fossil fuel to renewable energy-based economies is driving an increased interest in mining for critical and strategic minerals around the globe. Canada is poised to become a significant player as northern Canada holds globally important reserves of these minerals. Increased mineral development within the boreal, will come with increased pressure on boreal and northern biodiversity, with high overlap between areas of resource and biological interest. Significant knowledge gaps remain in how we can exploit the necessary ressources for the green energy transition while preserving northern biodiversity. Three knowledge gaps have been identified: 1-most studies have focused on the hyperlocal effects of mines on biodiversity, related only to mineral extraction, 2-strategic development via ecological planning is necessary, but under used, to ensure that mining for critical elements of the green energy transition does not generate greater negative than positive effects for biodiversity and 3-there is little to no communication between mining industries and conservation groups to develop common strategies. We propose to start filling these gaps with applied knowledge for the Canadian boreal, while including Indigenous knowledge and partners. We will define the impacts of mines on surrounding ecosystems for a variety of organisms, including those of importance for indigenous communities. Consequently, we will propose ways to limit impacts of operating mines on the surrounding landscape. We will also develop tools for ecological planning for priority landscapes: indigenous territories and wetlands. Finally, through our cooperative and inclusive approach we will facilitate discussion among different often opposing groups, and we will focus specifically on meaningful communication with indigenous communities and community capacity building via our research results. All of these elements will lead on the ground to advances in biodiversity conservation and will permit the development of needed infrastructure and the extraction of required resources for the green transition with the least amount of damage possible.