NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: environmental impact, petroleum industry, biology, revegetation, vegetation, traditional knowledge, industrial development, pipeline corridor, rare plants, environment, land use management, Mackenzie Gas Project, environmental protection plan, ecological mapping

Objective(s): Imperial Oil Resources, CONOCO Canada Resources Limited, Shell Canada Limited, and ExxonMobil Canada initiated a number of Baseline Studies during 2001 as part of a feasibility study for the Mackenzie Delta Gas Opportunity. These studies are being continued in 2002. Local knowledge and technical/scientific research, in combination with a synthesis of existing technical information, is being used to develop a suitable knowledge base for planning, assessment of impacts and development of environmental protection plans. TERA Environmental Consultants (TERA), in association with Kavik-AXYS Environmental Consulting Ltd., AMEC Earth & Environmental Ltd., and Golder Associates Ltd., has been retained to conduct the baseline studies. The proposed research program involves terrestrial studies in the Gwich'in Settlement Area to be conducted during 2002. Initial vegetation investigations were conducted in summer 2001 to classify vegetation along the study corridor. This classification was essentially completed in the Gwich'in Settlement Area. Vegetation studies during 2002 will focus on locating areas of rare or uncommon plants. These studies will only be conducted if a proposed pipeline route is surveyed and staked in 2002. If additional vegetation community typing is required, it will be conducted at the same time as the rare plant surveys. Traditional knowledge will be identified, gathered and validated through participative, community driven research methods.

Project Description: The proposed research program involves terrestrial studies in the Gwich'in Settlement Area to be conducted during 2002. Initial Vegetation investigations were conducted in summer 2001 to classify vegetation along the study corridor. This classification was essentially completed in the Gwich'in Settlement Area. Vegetation studies during 2002 will focus on locating areas of rare or uncommon plants. These studies will only be conducted if a proposed pipeline route is surveyed and staked in 2002. In the event that a potential pipeline route is surveyed and staked in 2001, rare plant surveys will be conducted along its length. Local assistants will be requested to help identify plants of cultural or traditional importance. Each study team will consist of senior personnel familiar with the flora of the survey regions, as well as a local assistant hired as part of the vegetation survey team to assist in observing and recording data taken at survey sites, informing the study team of sensitive or important areas and, if necessary, searching for and recording occurrences of rare plants as well as helping to identify plants of cultural or traditional importance. Traditional knowledge studies will be incorporated throughout the terrestrial studies being conducted in the Gwich'in Settlement Area. Traditional knowledge will be identified, gathered, and validated through participative, community driven research methods. Participative processes will be employed to ensure that stakeholders who hold valuable information are consulted. Study methods may involve community workshops, individual and group interviews, and site visits to significant biophysical or cultural locations. Participation in the study is voluntary, and all participants will sign a consent form before being interviewed.