The Regional Municipality of Sudbury’s Land Reclamation Program is well known to the Society for Ecological Restoration. The Land Reclamation Program is very successful and has truly helped to transform the Sudbury landscape over the past decade. What was once barren land, with black rock, is today a treed landscape. What was once a landscape suffering, is today a landscape that is thriving and flourishing. What was once a community with a negative reputation, is today a community gaining popularity.
The Regional Municipality of Sudbury initiated its Land Reclamation program in 1978 to restore damaged lands within its urban communities and along its road corridors. Today over 3,200 ha of the most damaged land have been revegetated with grass cover, through the application of lime, fertilizer and seed. In these same areas 4,400,000 trees comprising of 15 different coniferous and hardwood species have been planted.
Carried out under the Region’s sponsorship and administration, the program has provided short term employment opportunities for over 3,500 students and unemployed individuals. Program costs exceed 17 million dollars with funding primarily obtained through a wide variety of government grant programs and private sector contributions.