Studies suggest boreal forests can handle oilsands development

Researcher finds trees and soil are adapting to mining emissions so far, but says careful monitoring needed over long term. Scott Chang studied tree rings from 60-year-old aspen and pine stands to find out how oilsands development is affecting tree growth. (Photo: Richard Siemens) Ongoing work by University of Alberta researcher Scott Chang is providing cautious optimism about how forest soil and trees are coping with oilsands development in Northern Alberta. Studies published this year in Ecological Indicators , Atmospheric Environment and the Canadian Journal of Forest Research focused on the effects of airborne pollutants on boreal forests and soils in the Athabasca oilsands region. Findings indicate that, for now at least, the ecosystem appears to be managing nitrogen and sulfur emitted into the air by mining and upgrading activity. "While the research isn't indicating whether our findings are either good or bad, we can be carefully optimistic," said Chang, a professor of forest soils and nutrient dynamics in the U of A's Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences. "There are no signs of soil acidification occurring in the boreal forest ecosystem surrounding the oilsands.