Base de données de recherche des TNO

Régions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

étiquettes: physical sciences, permafrost, environmental monitoring, vegetation

Objectif(s): To establish vegetation and permafrost monitoring sites in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) and the Gwich'in Settlement Area (GSA); and to build local capacity for monitoring vegetation and permafrost in the region.

Description du projet: There are two objectives associated with this research project. The first is to establish vegetation and permafrost monitoring sites in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) and the Gwich’in Settlement Area (GSA). The establishment of these permanent monitoring sites will improve our understanding of base-line environmental conditions in the region. The second goal for the 2011 monitoring season is to build local capacity for monitoring vegetation and permafrost in the region. This will be accomplished by training local monitors in each community. This training will be led by faculty and students from the University of Victoria and researchers from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. During the 2011 field season, individuals from each community will be trained to implement the vegetation and permafrost monitoring protocols developed as part of a Mackenzie Delta Cumulative Impacts Monitoring Program (CIMP) pilot project. Key variables in this protocol include: vegetation structure, ground temperatures, berry productivity, shrub growth and abundance, frost tube installation, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) drilling, and water-jet drilling. Monitor trainees will work with staff from the University of Victoria (UVIC) and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to establish monitoring sites in priority areas identified by each community. In the long-term it is the researchers intention to re-sample these sites every five years. These sites will augment core sites established near each community in 2009 and 2010. At each core site, INAC maintains a meteorological station and records snow and active layer depths on an annual basis. At each site, the vegetation structure and composition will be described using a modified line intercept method. Vegetation plots will be 30x30m. To facilitate species identification, in some cases plant samples will be collected. Active layer depth and soil moisture will be recorded and soil samples will be collected for laboratory analysis. At some sites temperature cables will be installed to determine permafrost conditions at various depths (surface, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 8, 10 and 15 m). At these sites, “frost tubes" will also be installed to determine the depth of annual thaw. This project is a collaboration between the Inuvialuit Joint Secretariat, the Lands and Resources Department of the Gwich’in Tribal Council, Indian and Northern Affairs (INAC), and the University of Victoria. Monitoring sites for this project are identified on an ongoing basis through consultation with regional Hunters and Trappers Committees (HTCs), Renewable Resource Committees (RRCs), and partner organizations. This project will directly involve Inuvialuit and Gwich'in monitors, northern students, and scientists. It is intended to facilitate knowledge transfer among community monitors and northern scientists, which will in turn contribute to local capacity to monitor and understand local environmental change. This year’s monitoring will be completed by working directly with community members, who will learn how to establish permanent monitoring sites and collect data in accordance with established CIMP protocols. The community benefit of this program has the potential to be long-term. The training is meant to be simple and easily transferable once learned. Monitoring sites are situated close to communities in priority areas identified by the HTCs and RRCs. Core sites located close to communities can be visited year-round and offer excellent potential links with high school science classes. Project findings will be communicated using a plain language summary. This report will highlight project findings and successes and will be made available to schools, and interested community members. This information will also be presented to each community in the spring of 2011. Copies of Power Point presentations will also be provided to each community. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from June 21, 2011 to September 30, 2011.