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The environmental reclamation program at Ontario’s Victor Mine is proceeding at a good clip, reports De Beers Group. More than 430,000 seedlings were planted in the mine area this year.
The program is maintaining a focus on local plant life, including green and river alder, paper birch, fireweed, and yarrow.
Approximately 5.6 million seeds (weighing 6.6 kg [14 ½ lb]) were harvested locally by youth from the Attawapiskat First Nation. Of these, 329,000 were cultivated offsite in local nurseries, while 105,000 were grown onsite in a greenhouse and hydroponic seed starter facility.
Progressive earthworks also formed a significant part of the program, with the goal being to reshape the land to a natural contour. This work comprised a major part of the 2018 program’s $8.4-million cost and will continue through the winter as the 2019 reclamation work begins.
Since the reclamation initiative began in 2014, almost 600,000 trees and plants have been planted.
