The Alberta Oilsands: Considerations for Offsetting
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Transcript of The Alberta Oilsands: Considerations for Offsetting
Considerations for Offsetting
Dave Poulton Biodiversity Offsets University of Ottawa February 14, 2014
Landscape and ecosystem of oilsands region Nature of disturbance Issues for implementing offsets Poulton’s prescriptions
Landscape and Ecosystems
“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
Photo: Archie Landals, Government of Alberta
• Mosaic of aspen, mixedwoood and spruce forests
• Treed (black spruce) fens • Jackpines in the east
“Undulating plains, aspen-dominated forests and fens”
Natural Regions and Subregions of Alberta
Photo: Archie Landals, Government 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: Wendy Everett
No single form
• Overburden less than 75 metres
• Oilsands deposits typically 40-60 metres thick
• Loss of intactness: 90.6% (Habib et al, 2013, citing ABMI)
Photo from Energy Insiders: Oilsands and the Environment citing World Wildlife Fund
In Situ - SAGD
• Lighter footprint
• Heavy linear
footprint
• Loss of intactness: 23.8% (Habib et al/ABMI)
From oilsands development From other sources
Forestry Conversion to
agriculture Peat mining
Are same offset rules to apply to these and other sources?
Carbon emissions Air quality Water quality and use Tailings How will we handle conflicts between remedial measures? Stacking and bundling issues
Lower Athabasca Regional Plan 2012-2022
“ . . . to maintain an acceptable level of air, water, land, and biodiversity integrity, while enabling long-term 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.
Points to Ponder
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?
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?
Lack of tools on private land • No legally secure instruments • No “rights of non-use” • Split title and unco-ordinated dispositions
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