Chairholders

Profile

Line Rochefort

Department of Plant Sciences
Université Laval

Chair title

NSERC Industrial Research Chair on Peatland Management

Chair program

Industrial Research Chairs program

Role

Senior Chairholder since 2003

Summary

The Chair aims to improve knowledge on methods of restoring peatland ecosystems after peat mining in wetlands. It also provides an opportunity to improve knowledge of sustainable peatland development and, in some cases, to add agronomic value: northern small fruit production in peatland and cultivation of sphagnum fibres to amend growing substrates or to be reintroduced for restoration. The Chair will complement 15 years of research carried out by the Peatland Ecology Research Group (PERG), in partnership with the Canadian peat industry. The Chair program for the second period includes four main research avenues:

1. Restoring the functions of sphagnum-dominated peatland ecosystems. We now know that the residual peat substrate can be successfully revegetated in less than three years, but can we state that the ecosystem structure and functions are also restored?
2. Developing a solid base of scientific knowledge on the restoration of fens (a type of minerotrophic peatland) and wet meadows. This is becoming necessary especially in western Canada, but also in the case of peatlands where deep peat mining has taken place and the residual peat deposit is composed of sedges.
3. Looking at the potential for commercial production of sphagnum biomass. To that end, a number of factors that are suspected to promote sphagnum growth (such as ecohydrological relationships, competition and nutrient enrichment) will be verified.
4. Knowledge and technology transfer to users and the general public.

Meeting the objectives in these research areas will require maintaining four field stations: the site of a sphagnum peatland restoration in Bois-des-Bel (Cacouna, QC), the sphagnum farming experimental site (Shippagan, NB), the site of a fen restoration in Bic St-Fabien (QC) and the agroforestry research station in Pointe-Lebel (QC).

Partners

• Premier Horticulture Ltd.
• Sun Gro Horticulture Canada Ltd.
• Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association/Association de la tourbe de sphaigne canadienne
• FPM Peat Moss Co. Ltd.
• Berger Peat Moss Ltd.
• La Mousse Acadienne (1979) ltée/Acadian Peat Moss (1979) Ltd.
• Fafard et Frères ltée
• ASB Greenworld Ltd.
• Annapolis Valley Peat Moss Co.
• Modugno-Hortibec Inc.
• Alaska Peat Inc.
• Lambert Peat Moss Inc.
• Heveco Ltd.
• Jiffy Company (NB) Ltd.
• Sunterra Horticulture (Canada) Inc.
• Beaver Peat Moss Inc.
• Nirom Peat Moss Inc.
• Northstar Multicorp Inc.

Contact information

Department of Plant Sciences
Université Laval
Paul-Comtois Hall
2425, rue de l’Agriculture
Québec, Québec
G1V 0A6

Tel.: 418-656-2131, ext. 2583
Fax: 418-656-7856
Email: line.rochefort@fsaa.ulaval.ca

Website:
http://www.gret-perg.ulaval.ca/