Oilsands emissions, dust may have fertilizing effect on nearby forests, report says – Edmonton Journal

July 21, 2015

EDMONTON – A report monitoring the potential impact of the oilsands on surrounding ecosystems has found that pollutants from the oilsands may be having a positive effect on nearby forests.

Ellen Macdonald, a professor of forest ecology with the University of Alberta, analyzed data collected by the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) and found that emissions and dust may have actually helped some forests closer to the oilsands in northern Alberta thrive.

“I was surprised,” Macdonald said. “I found basically the opposite to what I expected, which is that vegetation seemed to be doing better at sites close to the oilsands than at sites farther away.”

Read More: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Oilsands+emissions+dust+have+fertilizing+effect+nearby+forests+report+says/11230940/story.html