5. “Vast expanses of upland forests and wetlands
on level to gently undulating plains, short, warm
summers and long, cold winters”
Natural Regions and Subregions of Alberta
• Mosaic of aspen,
mixedwoood and spruce
forests
• Treed (black spruce) fens
• Jackpines in the east
Photo: Archie Landals, Government of Alberta
6. “Undulating plains, aspen-dominated forests
and fens”
Natural Regions and Subregions of Alberta
• Aspen stands with
scattered white spruce
interspersed with fens
• Warmest of subregions of
boreal region
• Subject to conversion to
agriculture
Photo: Archie Landals, Government of Alberta
Photo: Archie Landals, Government of Alberta
10. • Overburden less than 75 metres
• Oilsands deposits typically 40-60 metres thick
• Loss of intactness: 90.6% (Habib et al, 2013, citing ABMI)
11.
12. In Situ - SAGD
• Lighter
footprint
• Heavy linear
footprint
• Loss of
intactness:
23.8% (Habib et
al/ABMI)
Photo from Energy Insiders: Oilsands and the Environment citing World Wildlife
Fund
13. From other sources
Forestry
Conversion to
agriculture
Peat mining
Are same offset rules to
apply to these and other
sources?
From oilsands
development
Carbon emissions
Air quality
Water quality and use
Tailings
How will we handle
conflicts between remedial
measures?
Stacking and bundling
issues
14. Lower Athabasca
Regional Plan
2012-2022
“ . . . to maintain an
acceptable level of air,
water, land, and
biodiversity integrity,
while enabling longterm economic benefits
of the region and the
province.”
(p. 23)
Targets and thresholds to
be set by:
• Biodiversity
management
framework
• Regional landscape
management plan
. . . to be developed by
the end of 2013.
16.
What is our objective?
◦ No net loss? Probably not.
◦ Strategic objectives? (per Habib et al.)
Caribou
Central mixedwood
Are we taking measures for ecological or
reputational objectives?
17.
Scope of impacts to be offset?
◦ Water, air, carbon?
Timing issues
◦ Are oilsand impacts temporary?
◦ Perpetual vs temporary offsets
◦ Relationship to reclamation obligations
Allow banking? Establish a credit exchange?
18. Lack of tools on private land
• No legally secure instruments
• No “rights of non-use”
• Split title and unco-ordinated dispositions
19.
Focus on nature of disturbance, not on
source
Focus on linear disturbance
◦ Net reduction
Treat oilsands impacts as permanent and
require perpetual offsets
Develop conservation rights on public land
Allow banking
Defer exchange
