Abstract
The ability of an ecosystem to act as a carbon source or sink can be impacted by human activity. During mining, rapid land use change occurs where native vegetation and soil is stripped from the landscape to accommodate mine infrastructure. The carbon storage capacity of the vegetation and soil is subsequently reduced and can be lost for the life of the mine. Remediation works can promote carbon storage through revegetation and habitat restoration, but “like for like” remediation back to native conditions can be difficult to achieve. This analysis reviewed land use changes and loss of carbon sequestration potential for two mine sites in Canada: i) a mine with former surface operations currently operating underground located in an semi-arid desert biome of British Columbia and ii) an open pit mine located in a boreal biome in Northern Ontario. Using satellite imagery and publically available information regarding operations for each, land use change was estimated and GHG emissions from the resulting removal of vegetation was determined. After rehabilitation efforts were accounted for, it was determined that such emissions represented 1.1% and 15% of the total estimated scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions for the underground and surface mine, respectively. Similarly, loss of carbon sequestration potential due to lost annual plant growth on site was estimated to be 1.2% and 16% of the total estimated scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions for the underground and surface mine, respectively. Estimates were greatly impacted by the surface footprint of the work and the type of native vegetation impacted by development. There is a potential for mines developed on brownfield sites to bear some responsibility for remediation of historical impacts at closure that could offer some relief if applicable carbon offsetting programs exist.