Muddy Boots is our internal blog where our staff members share experiences getting their boots muddy with on-the-ground conservation research! You can find our contributions to external blogs and Op Eds here.
🧵 Find the original thread on WCS Canada's Twitter posted on World Water Day 2022!
500 kms north of ThunderBay, Ontario, lies one of the most carbon-rich #peatlands on the planet. This water-logged landscape of lakes, ponds and rivers carpeted in moss is known as the Hudson Bay Lowlands — or the "breathing lands" to nearby First Nations.
Read this article on CBC.ca
Ontario wants to develop the #RingOfFire for critical minerals: nickel, copper and chromite buried in the peatlands. Greg Rickford (@GregRickford, the Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry), Natural Resources Canada (@NRCan), the Ontario Mining Association (@OntMiningAssoc) promote mining to build electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems.
🌲 WCS Canada submitted recommendations on the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (@iaac_aeic) draft Agreement for Regional Assessment for the Ring of Fire. For #WorldWaterDay, here is our take on how the Regional Assessment must get it right! https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80468/contributions/id/56891
Photo credit: Garth Lenz
Ontario is supporting 3 road projects across peatlands for mining:
🛣️ https://supplyroad.ca
🛣️ martenfallsaccessroad.ca
🛣️ northernroadlink.ca
Roads in intact regions increase human access & development and contribute to #CumulativeImpacts
In 2020, WCS Canada requested a Regional Assessment for the area to address #CumulativeImpacts on wildlife like caribou, climate change, peatlands, First Nations and sustainability. Jonathan Wilkinson (@JonathanWNV) agreed given cumulative impacts and First Nations rights: https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/documents/p80468/133830E.pdf
Photo credit: WCS Canada
Cheryl Chetkiewicz (@Cheryl_Wildlife), Meg Southee (@megsmaps), Constance O'Connor (@fishes_oconnor), Claire Farrell (@ClaireE_Farrell) and Lorna Harris (@lorna_h1) provided the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (iaac_aeic) with information on what the Regional Assessment needs to consider including goal, scope, assessment priorities, cumulative impacts and First Nations governance.
Find the the comment here: https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80468/contributions/id/53414
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (iaac_aeic) ignored our suggestions on Regional Assessment Scope for #RingOfFire. Instead of a #watershed approach, they proposed an assessment area that covers just 3.5% of the far north, which excludes the 3 road projects, and focuses mainly on mining and “other physical activities”.
Map by Meg Southee/WCS Canada
Want to learn more about the Ring of Fire? Follow @WCSRingofFire and visit the new WCS Canada Ring of Fire hub!
Photo credits: Banner | Lila Tauzer © WCS Canada