Oilsands development changes entire forest community: study – CP

Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
May 9, 2018

EDMONTON – New research suggests that even underground oilsands mines have profound effects on the forest community above them.

The paper, partly funded by an Alberta government agency, looked at the effects of forestry and in situ oilsands mines on 10 different mammals from moose to wolves to squirrels.

It found some species were winners and some were losers, but all were affected.

Lead author Jason Fisher, a wildlife scientist, says industry and government should consider the broad impact of industrial development instead of emphasizing a single species such as caribou.

He say scientists still don’t know that much about how plants and animals interact with each other in Canada’s northern forests.

(The Canadian Press)

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