New Guidelines for Wetlands Sent to Government
FORT MCMURRAY, AB, Dec. 18 – The Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA) has completed new Guidelines for Wetland Establishment on Reclaimed Oil Sands Leases. These have been forwarded to the Government of Alberta where CEMA has recommended that these Guidelines be approved as policy. Wetlands, including muskeg, marshes and shallow ponds, cover approximately half of the natural landscape in the oil sands region, composing a major component of the undisturbed boreal ecosystem. This second edition of the Wetlands Guidelines is an update of the state of knowledge regarding reclamation of wetlands in the oil sands region and describes an integrated approach to the planning, design, construction, monitoring and adaptive management of reclaimed wetlands.
The Guidelines received unanimous approval from the CEMA Board earlier this year with direction to forward the document to the Government of Alberta for consideration. This up-to-date research on reclamation in the region is an important Guideline for industry to return developed areas to wetlands.
“The new Wetlands Guidelines will be a helpful tool to reclaim better wetlands for the residents of the region including First Nations and Métis communities,” added CEMA President Randall Barrett. “This living document showcases the great work of CEMA and the continued importance of ongoing research and study of reclamation in the areas affected by development.”
CEMA is a nonprofit Association based in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Through
five active working groups, CEMA’s mandate is to study the cumulative
environmental effects of industrial development in the region and produce
guidelines and management frameworks recommendations.
For a full copy of the new Guideline and its appendices please visit
www.cemaonline.ca.
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For further information: Corey Hobbs, Communications Advisor, Cumulative Environmental Management Association, (780) 799-3912, Corey.hobbs@cemaonline.ca
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