PARTNERSHIPS
Seed the North, in partnership with BC Biocarbon and the University of Toronto, have been awarded a four year Alliance grant by NSERC entitled: "Biochar-based tree seed coatings for climate-smart forest restoration."
Sean C. Thomas, the research professor and principal investigator for this project focuses on forests and environmental change at the Institute of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Toronto. He is supported by professor Sally G. Krigstin, whose expertise in biomaterials will be invaluable through her experience working in industry with value-added composites derived from lignocellulosic materials, with specific expertise on binding agents, composites, and biomaterial use in horticultural applications.
University of Toronto green roof where NSERC mesocosm will be set up
The anonymous Evaluation committee commends this project with the following reviews:
Hilary Lefort and Jim Pojar at in-situ seed orchard conducting species ID
"Considering forest regeneration challenges associated with soil degradation at post-fire sites due to loss of organic matter in acidic soil, this research project can benefit many Canadian sectors in a big way. For example, germination and seedling establishment of forest trees species using biochar coated seeds, greenhouse gases mitigation through C sequestration, improving physicochemical properties, improving water quality, and above all overall economic benefits to the forest sector."
"There is a critical need to mitigate climate change effects. The proposal will examine a strategy for reforestation in northern ecosystems, specifically those in Northern BC and Northern Ontario. This past year, BC has been hard hit by forest fires and more recently rain and mudslides. The cleanup from the recent rain and mudslides is estimated to be in the billions of dollars. Mudslides that could potentially be mitigated by anchoring roots of forests. The disruption of these events that are believed to be fueled by climate change is so large it is difficult to measure but impacts Canada economically, socially and environmentally. There are current reforestation strategies, but these are challenging. The project addresses a gap and urgent need to find more effective methods for reforestation in remote areas."
"Natasha Kuperman is the researcher within Seed the North; her architecture and infrastructure background combined with work and thus critical knowledge of remote communities and their challenges is very appropriate and critical for the project."
