Alberta Peatlands at Risk
Peatlands are amazing carbon sinks. According to UNEP’s Global Peatland Assessment: The State of the World’s Peatlands, “despite only covering around 3-4% of the planet’s land surface, they contain up to one-third of the world’s soil carbon.”
Currently, in Northern Alberta, Suncor plans to expand their Fort Hills oil sands project into a stunning patterned fen, the McClelland Lake Wetland Complex. Their plan is to build a wall that divides the wetland into two. They will mine half of the wetland, while guaranteeing the other half remains undisturbed. This is farcical. The experiment is bound to fail.
Alberta Wilderness Association hired expert hydrologists to assess Suncor’s operational plan and have shown that this plan is extremely weak and hasn’t considered best scientific evidence, or Canada’s commitments under climate or biodiversity targets.
This fen is a safe haven of clean water (surrounded by toxic tailings ponds) that is utilized by numerous migratory birds.
Construction and drilling in this wetland have far-reaching consequences – not just to Alberta, but to Canada and the global community.
Read more about this wetland complex here: https://albertawilderness.ca/dontminemcclelland/
And please consider sending an email to Alberta’s Energy Regulator to revoke their approval of Suncor’s plan.
#DontMineMcClelland
