Restoring mine sites with local native plants

The Yukon Research Centre has received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to do northern restoration research with Kaminak Gold Corporation.

The $25,000 will be used to determine how native plant species and techniques can be used to restore mine impacted sites. Not only will this research help Kaminak develop restoration protocols and capacity for the Coffee Gold site, it is also a component of the Northern Terrestrial Restoration course offered to Tr’ondek Hwech’in (TH) citizens through Yukon College’s Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining.

“We are expanding the culture and capacity to conduct research throughout the Yukon through collaboration with industry, communities and governments,” said Dr. Karen Barnes, President and Vice Chancellor, Yukon College. “Our researchers are solving northern problems with northern expertise throughout Yukon communities”, said Barnes.

The research will include surveys of natural regeneration of existing disturbed sites and the creation of a seed source map for target plant species. Site specific restoration techniques will be examined through revegetation and soil amendment applications. TH students will gain research experience in experimental design, field sampling techniques, as well as, native seed collection, preparation and storage; providing a foundation for future local community involvement in restoration and horticulture of native plants. These students will be introduced to a holistic approach to learning that combines both plant ecology and traditional knowledge.

“Kaminak is excited to be working in partnership with both Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in (TH) and Yukon College to develop a northern based approach to site reclamation at Coffee, our flagship gold development project 130 km south of Dawson.  This builds directly on the great work undertaken by the Yukon Research Centre to date and will provide valuable information that will feed directly in to the restoration protocols we are developing”, stated Eira Thomas, President and CEO of Kaminak Gold Corporation.  “We are pleased to be part of the Northern Terrestrial Restoration pilot course that will be taught, in part, on site at Coffee. Having TH elders participating in the delivery of the course at site along with the researchers will provide students with a holistic and hands-on approach to learning.”

This research will take place this summer at the Kaminak Gold Corporation site that is located at Coffee Creek; on TH traditional territory.

While the research is funded by NSERC, the course is supported by the Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining and Kaminak Gold Corporation.

More information on this project can be found on our website.