This annotated bibliography presents resources related to mitigating
impacts on wetlands for proposed mining project developments in the Ring-of-Fire region
in the far north of Ontario. The report and the bibliography were developed for the Priority
Species Unit of the Ontario Region of the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS-ON).
The Ring-of-Fire mineral exploration region is centered around McFaulds Lake (52.8° N,
86.1° W) and covers approximately 3,000 km2 in the transition zone between the Boreal
Shield and Hudson Bay Lowland. Rich mineral deposits have been discovered there of
chromite, nickel, copper, platinum group elements, gold and zinc. The region is only
connected via winter roads, so any proposed mining development would also include the
construction of at least 300 km of all-season roads.
The Hudson Bay Lowland or Hudson Plains is a vast peatland expanse of bog and fen with
areas of conifer swamp, as well as coastal marsh along the shores of Hudson Bay and
James Bay (OMNRF, 2019; Tarnocai et al., 2011). Wetlands, most of them peatlands, cover
almost 100% of the landscape. Uplands are scarce. The adjacent Boreal Shield or Ontario
Shield has more upland and less wetland cover, but wetlands, again mostly peatlands,
remain extensive and cover at least 50% of the landscape (OMNRF, 2019; Tarnocai et al.,
2011).
The explicit scope of the report and the annotated bibliography is focused on mitigation
options for migratory birds and species-at-risk in wetlands in the Ring-of-Fire region.
However, given that few documents cover migratory birds or species at risk in this region,
this scope is widened to include mitigation options for wetlands, especially peatlands,
without direct consideration of migratory birds or species-at-risk in Hudson Bay Lowland
and the adjacent Boreal Shield. Any impacts to wetlands and peatlands will also affect the
habitats for migratory birds and faunal and vegetation species-at-risk.