Chapter 14 - Plant Communities

14. Plant Communities
"Inuit are very aware that the land gives them all they need. Strength is drawn from the land and the food is provided." (M. Webb, panel scoping meeting in Nain, April 17, 1997)

Plant communities are important features of terrestrial and wetland ecosystems. They provide food and shelter for wildlife and have critical roles in important ecological processes such as the cycling of nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon, and water. Wetlands in particular can contribute to the recharge of aquifers, enhance surface water flows, provide flood protection, and erosion controls, and moderate tidal or lake shoreline fluctuations. Wetlands may form integrated complexes with other wetlands and upland habitats, enhancing the productivity and biodiversity of the landscape.

14.1 Existing Environment
See Chapter 20 for further analysis and evaluation of land use.

Plant communities in the region provide a variety of sources of food and other items for people and animals. The primary socioeconomic uses of vegetation in northern Labrador are for firewood and food. Firewood is obtained either by harvesting of trees or by the collection of dry drift wood or other dry deadwood. This practice is known as "wooding" (Williamson 1997). Wood was also traditionally used for making tools such as dogsleds and Kamutiks, as well as toys for children (Williamson 1997). The berries of several plant species are harvested for food by Labrador residents. Bakeapple, blueberry, partridgeberry (redberry) and blackberry (crowberry) are the main species harvested. Red currants (hairy berries) are also harvested. Local residents are acutely aware of their environment and able to readily identify many subspecies and varieties. The Innu, for example, refer to birch as ushkuai, innikuai and nipii-ushkuai (Innu Nation 1997).

"...whenever I want to go anywhere on the territory, I don't ask for a map. But the white people, they always have to take their maps with them. But the Innu, when they travel on the territory, they never took any maps with them. It's from the knowledge of the land and from other people." (Agat Piwas, through a translator, panel scoping meeting in Utshimassits, April 19, 1997).

Plant communities also have an important role in the functioning of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In the terrestrial environment, plant communities provide food and shelter for wildlife and are essential in controlling erosion and drainage. Riparian vegetation, found growing along stream banks and other waterways, are important physical and biological influences on aquatic systems. Riparian vegetation shades the stream, so that large fluctuations in temperature are reduced, organic materials are ample, bank erosion is reduced, and cover for aquatic organisms is provided.

Some plant communities may be vulnerable because they occur infrequently and therefore any loss threatens the viability of the population. Still others may represent highly productive habitats, the loss of which may affect ecosystem function or the welfare of humans using that plant community.

14.1.1 Environmental Assessment Boundaries

Capitalized terms used herein (such as Landscape Region and VBNC Claim Block) may be defined in other chapters. Some terms and phrases used may have different definitions in other chapters depending upon the context in which they are used, for example, the Assessment Area.

The environmental assessment boundary is the extent of plant communities within the 35,000 ha Plant Community Assessment Area, which encompasses most of the VBNC Claim Block and which has been studied as part of a detailed Ecological Land Classification (ELC). Project interactions with plant communities will occur within a much smaller portion of the Plant Community Assessment Area. Although VBNC also conducted an ELC study on the larger Landscape Region, this ELC is less detailed because it describes a large area. Therefore, predictions for environmental effects will be made for plant communities within the 35,000 ha Plant Community Assessment Area (Figure 14.1).

Figure 14.1 Assessment Area for Plant Communities

14.1.1.1 Administrative Boundaries
The provincial government is responsible for the administration of Crown Lands, and it therefore makes decisions on matters affecting plant communities on these lands.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) is responsible for designating any endangered plant and animal species in Canada. Only one plant species on the COSEWIC list has been identified as occurring within Labrador (Fernald's milk-vetch) (COSEWIC 1996). This species was not encountered in the Assessment Area.

14.1.1.2 Technical Boundaries
The accuracy of delineating plant communities is dependent on the map scale used. The map scale is 1:25,000 for the Assessment Area. This scale allows for detailed abundance and distribution data for most of the plant communities present in the Landscape Region.

14.1.2 Methods
Information regarding plant communities in the Assessment Area was derived from a series of ecological land classifications based on field surveys conducted during 1995-1997 and a review of the literature. Ecological land classification is a system of land classification based on the relationships which exist between geology, soil and vegetation. Land units are categorized in a systematic fashion according to a hierarchical level of generalization. The hierarchy used for the mapping consists of four levels of land units, including Land Region (the largest land unit), Land District, Land System, and Land Type (the smallest land unit with a characteristic plant community). The Land Type provides the highest level of detail and corresponds to plant communities. It is variable in size since it is based on habitat units.

Existing land classification systems were used to identify and provide standardized names for plant communities found in the Assessment Area. Forest and barrens plant communities were classified according to Meades (1990), while wetlands were classified according to the Canadian Wetland Classification System (National Wetlands Working Group Canada Committee on Ecological Land Classification 1987). The plant communities present in the Assessment Area were then mapped from 1:20,000 colour air photography. Field studies were conducted during the summers of 1995-1997 within the Assessment Area to survey and identify plant communities and to determine baseline soil and vegetation chemistry conditions (JWEL 1997a).

14.1.3 Existing Conditions
Northern ecosystems are a product of the prevailing extreme climatic conditions, including low annual solar radiation and seasonal and yearly extremes in temperature and moisture regimes (Pruitt 1978; DND 1994). In particular, the growth and development of Arctic tundra vegetation is limited by low soil and air temperatures, occurrence of droughts, presence of saturated soils, and low nutrient availability, especially, phosphorus and nitrogen (Truett and Kertell 1992).

Nutrient cycling and related processes, such as decomposition, occur at relatively slow rates in the low Arctic and other northern ecosystems for a number of reasons (Johnson 1969; Svoboda and Freedman 1994). The most important controlling factors are the cold climate and short growing season. These restrict the activities of microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria, which are the most important biological agents of decay and mineralization. As well, inputs of nutrients from the atmosphere in the Arctic occur at lower rates compared with boreal and temperate latitudes.

Wetlands (e.g., bogs and fens) and some wet forests have a high water table that occurs at or near the surface for most of the growing season. Because decomposition and respiration by plant roots require high levels of oxygen, anaerobic conditions commonly occur in these wet habitats. The resulting low levels of oxygen lead to low decomposition rates in these habitats and slow accumulation of peat and other forms of dead organic matter. Given the capacity for organic matter accumulation, wetlands also serve important biogeochemical functions, including the amelioration of water pollution and immobilization of toxic substances (e.g., trace metals) suspended in surface runoff. Many ecosystems in the low Arctic are acidic in character, particularly bogs and the forest floor of conifer forests. This factor greatly restricts the activity of several species of bacteria (those that are important in decomposition of organic matter) sensitive to acidity. Because fungi are much less efficient at decomposition and nutrient cycling than a mixed community of fungi and bacteria, the rates of these processes are greatly impaired in acidic habitats. In addition, biological nitrogen fixation (largely carried out by bacteria, blue-green algae, and actinomycetes) is greatly decreased in acidic habitats.

The ELC (JWEL 1997b) provides the most detailed account of vegetation in the VBNC Claim Block and is used as the primary source of information on vegetation (see Section 14.2.1, where land disturbance from Project activities is overlaid on land types). Based on the results of the ELC, the Assessment Area contains 17 plant communities (Table 14.1), all of which, with the exception of bogs and fens, could be distinguished and mapped from the available aerial photography. The following discussion progresses from the wetter plant communities to the drier plant communities.

Participant in LIA 1997 study: "Bakeapples are in marsh area where it's wet and red berries are around sandy places and small willows." (Williamson 1997:39)

Bog and fen peatlands are mapped together as a single unit. Bogs and fens are a common land type, occupying 6.5 percent of the land in the Assessment Area. Plant communities in wetlands are vulnerable to physical disturbance due to the organic substrate (on which they grow) being sensitive to disturbance. Blackberries and bakeapples (common in many bogs and fens) are food for both wildlife and humans.

Table 14.1 Land Types in the Assessment Area

Land Types^a	Area (hectares)	Percent of Assessment Area
Bog/Fen Peatlands	2172	6.5
Salt Marsh	118	0.4
Stream Swamp	159	0.5
Alder Thicket	659	2
Rock Barrens	3767	11.3
Birch Thicket	4779	14.4
Dune	24	0.07
Spruce Fir/Dwarf Shrub Forest	8960	27
Fir-Spruce-Birch/Rich Herb Forest	28	0.08
Spruce/Sphagnum Forest	1788	5.4
Rich Swamp Forest	170	0.5
Black Spruce/Lichen Forest	4957	14.9
Birch Forest	99	0.3
Heath Barrens	2852	8.6
Gravel Barrens	2022	6.1
Coastal Barrens	57	0.2
Tuckamore	746	2.2
Subtotal	33194

Other Parameters^b
(Ground Obscured By Cloud)	1.48	0.4
(Lake)	2545	7.0
(River)	164	0.5
(Ground Obscured By Shadow)	176	0.5
Subtotal	3197	8.9
Total	36391	100.0
^a The area of 331.94 km² is used to calculate percent cover for indicated land types. ^b the percentage of other parameters is calculated by using 363.91 km².

Salt marsh plant communities (0.4 percent of the Assessment Area) are also vulnerable to disturbance due to relatively soft underlying substrates. The one large salt marsh present in the Assessment Area, known as Gooseland, is located at the mouth of Kogluktokoluk Brook in Voisey's Bay. This salt marsh attracts relatively large numbers of waterfowl and is a popular waterfowl hunting area. Other salt marshes in the Assessment Area are small and are not extensively used by wildlife or humans.

Stream swamp, occupying 0.5 percent of the Assessment Area, has adapted to regular disturbance by flood waters and ice. This is a transitional zone between the land and water. Because much of this land type occurs along streams used as travel routes by animals, it tends to attract many wildlife species seeking food and shelter.

Alder thickets are an uncommon plant community, comprising 2 percent of the Assessment Area. Most alder thickets are found on scree slopes, which are subject to occasional perturbations caused by falling rocks and snow slides. Given the steep slopes on which most alder thickets are found, their use by humans and wildlife is limited.

Four distinct barrens plant communities occur in the Assessment Area (rock barrens, gravel barrens, heath barrens, and coastal barrens), comprising 26.2 percent of the land area (11.3 percent, 6.1 percent, 8.6 percent and 0.2 percent of the Assessment Area, respectively). Rock barrens, gravel barrens, and heath barrens are typically found on windswept highlands, while coastal barrens occur as a thin band just above the intertidal zone. Growing conditions are poor in all of these plant communities as a result of infertile soils and physical disturbance caused by high winds and blowing snow. Blackberries, bearberries, redberries, and blueberries are plentiful in these plant communities, particularly in the heath barrens. These species are important summer food items for both wildlife and humans. During the winter months, the shallow snow depth and abundance of lichens make these plant communities good feeding areas for caribou. The open terrain also provides good winter travel routes for humans.

Birch thickets dominated by tundra dwarf birch occur as a transition zone between the forests in the valleys and the barrens on the hill tops. They are also found in sheltered depressions in the highlands. Birch thickets are a common plant community, comprising 14.4 percent of the Assessment Area.

Dunes, which occupy 0.07 percent of the Assessment Area, are also susceptible to disturbance. The root systems of plant species occupying the dune (most notably American dune-grass) stabilize the sand substrate; therefore, loss of this vegetation can result in destabilization. Dunes in the Assessment Area have a low profile and destabilization of the substrate should not result in collapse of the slopes. Revegetation of disturbed dunes will be slow as a result of the infertility of the sand substrate.

Two percent of the Assessment Area is occupied by krumholtz (tuckamore). These stunted and wind-shaped fir and spruce stands are typically found on the steep upper slopes of hills near the tree line. The tendency for this plant community to occur on steep slopes makes it sensitive to disturbance, since the potential for erosion is high.

Six forest plant communities are present and together, comprise 48 percent of the Assessment Area. Three of these plant communities (spruce-fir/dwarf shrub forest, spruce/sphagnum forest and black spruce/lichen forest) are common plant communities in the Assessment Area. The remaining three plant communities (fir-spruce-birch/rich herb forest, rich swamp forest, and birch forest) are uncommon, each accounting for less than one percent of the Assessment Area. Forest plant communities provide important habitat for wildlife and wood supply and shelter for humans.

The most important natural factors affecting plant community structure over large areas are periodic fires and widespread outbreaks of plant pathogens or insect pests, which occur infrequently. Charcoal layers in the soil indicate that the Assessment Area has been subjected to fires in the past. Fire rotation cycles in southeastern Labrador have been estimated at up to 500 years (Foster 1983) and longer for areas farther north (Payette et al. 1989). No evidence of widespread insect or disease outbreaks or damage to vegetation was found during field investigations. Symptoms of common diseases and parasites (e.g., fungi, dwarf mistletoe) were infrequent.

"In the summer hauling water a couple of buckets at a time was arduous. So the missionaries took spruce logs, which were bored with an auger with a four foot stem, used them to pipe water to a faucet set up beside the mission house." (F.W. Peacock in Them Days 1997: 142.

Human land use activities in the area have included berry picking and wood harvesting (Them Days 1997). Williamson (1997) reports that berry picking is an important activity for Inuit families in the autumn and occasionally in the spring of the year; species picked include bakeapples, blueberries, partridge berries, and blackberries. Nain Inuit must travel farther from the community to obtain dry wood due to the continued demand. Areas along Anaktalak Bay and Voisey's Bay were identified as frequently used sources of dry wood (Williamson 1997). These land use activities have occurred for many generations and have not greatly affected the environment in the area. The only widespread anthropogenic influence affecting vegetation in the area is the long range transport of air-borne pollutants. As shown through testing of vegetation and soil samples, however, concentrations of trace metals in both were low in comparison to other sites in northern ecosystems.

Mineral exploration activities have occupied 9.35 ha in the Assessment Area to date. As a result, minor disturbance (in each case, less than 2 percent) has occurred to six of the plant communities found in the Assessment Area: bog/fen peatlands; spruce fir/dwarf shrub forest; spruce/sphagnaum forest; black spruce/lichen forest; rich swamp forest; and dune.

14.1.4 Likely Future Conditions
The expected condition of plant communities within the Assessment Area, within the expected lifespan of the Project, and in the absence of the Project, is likely to remain relatively stable for long periods of time. Most plant communities appear to be mature and species compositional changes are likely to be slow. Some early successional plant communities are found along streams and rivers where natural disturbance occurs on a regular basis as a result of flooding and ice scour. Species compositional changes would occur quite rapidly in these areas. Disturbance associated with flooding and ice scour is restricted to a small portion of the Assessment Area.

In the absence of Project activities, land use activities (such as wood harvesting and berry picking) will continue and may even increase within the Assessment Area. The long range transport of air-borne contaminants will continue to influence the area through changes in acidity and contaminant loading. Exploration activities are also expected to continue, over the short-term, although the level of exploration from the surface should be reduced compared to 1995-1997.

Participant in the 1997 LIA study: "When there were more thunderstorms and snows, berries and bakeapples would grow...today with less thunderstorms, I don't think they grow more...with the light rains we get now, the ground is not wet enough for anything to grow." (Williamson 1997:38)

Predicted climatic changes, such as increased variability, a temperature decrease of less than one Celsius degree, and an increase in mean sea level of approximately 12 cm will influence snow cover, ice patterns affecting moisture regimes, colonization of successional species, decomposition, and other processes. Some changes have been noted in recent years. Based on information collected from Inuit informants, Williamson (1997) reported that drier summers over the last 10 years appear to have reduced the amount of berries available, especially bakeapples. The 1996 season, however, did show an increase in berry production.

14.2 Environmental Effects Assessment
Plant communities in the Assessment Area could be affected by physical disturbance, fires, and contaminant uptake. Potential environmental effects are summarized in Table 14.2. Results of the effects analysis are summarized in Appendix 14A.

Table 14.2 Potential Environmental Effects

Potential Environmental Effects	Project Phase	Activities
physical disturbance and loss	construction operation decommissioning	site preparation, surface facilities
contaminant uptake	operation decommissioning	liquid effluent, air emmissions/dustfall

14.2.1 Physical Disturbance and Loss
Physical disturbance of plant communities and some loss of vegetation will result from construction of the mine facilities. Where physical disturbance occurs, it is anticipated that the existing vegetation will be removed and the site grubbed where appropriate to provide a foundation for the required facilities. This will result in disturbance to plant communities. When the infrastructure sites are restored during decommissioning, these sites will naturally regenerate slowly. Roads will be constructed over undisturbed soils. However, the fill placed on top of the undisturbed soils to create the road bed will essentially provide soil conditions similar to the grubbed areas.

The plant communities present in the Assessment Area will be affected to a limited extent by construction activities (Table 14.3). Approximately 75 percent of the 753 ha to be cleared consists of forested habitats. The plant community most affected by the construction phase is dune. This habitat is uncommon in the Assessment Area (0.07 percent). Plant communities occurring infrequently are vulnerable to disturbance since construction activity could potentially affect a portion of the total area of each plant community. It is estimated that 5.4 percent of the dune land type present in the Assessment Area will be disturbed, primarily as a result of construction of plant/port access road. All other plant communities will be affected to an even lesser extent, not exceeding 4 percent of their availability (Table 14.3).

Table 14.3 Potential Area of Disturbance to Land Types

Land Types	Area of each Land Type (hectares)	Land Types Disturbed by Project Features (hectares)
Bog/Fen Peatlands	2172	69.33
Salt Marsh	118	0.13
Stream Swamp	159	0.32
Alder Thicket	659	13.27
Rocky Barrens	3767	16.67
Birch Thicket	4779	38.30
Dune	24	1.30
Spruce-Fir/Dwarf Shrub Forest	8960	249.33
Fir-Spruce-Birch/Rich Herb Forest	29	0.06
Spruce/Sphagnum Forest	1788	98.74
Rich Swamp Forest	170	6.70
Black Spruce/Lichen Forest	4957	207.29
Birch Forest	99	0.76
Heath Barrens	2852	4.90
Gravel Barrens	2022	32.95
Coastal Barrens	57	0.86
Tuckamore	746	5.05
(Ground Obscured by Cloud)	148	-
Lake	2545	7.31
River	164	0.02
(Ground Obscured by Shadow)	176	0.00
Column Total	36391	753.31

The increased water level in Headwater Pond will inundate approximately 25 ha of shoreline vegetation. Spruce fir/dwarf shrub forest is the most common land type bordering the existing shoreline, with lesser amounts of black spruce/lichen forest, bog/fen peatlands, and gravel barrens.

During underground operations, an additional 155 ha of various plant communities will be affected by the increased water level required for the North Tailings Basin. Twelve plant communities will be displaced. Eighty-one percent of the affected shoreline comprises three plant communities' spruce-fir/dwarf shrub forest, black spruce/lichen forest, and gravel barrens. Approximately 1 percent or less of these three land types in the Assessment Area will be affected by the raised water level. Relatively uncommon plant communities affected include swamp forest and rich stream swamp. Approximately 4 percent of the rich swamp forest and 0.2 percent of the stream swamp present in the Assessment Area will be affected. Figure 14.2 displays the relationship between the infrastructure and plant communities.

Figure 14.2 Ecological Land Classification-Assessment Area and Project Disturbance

Recovery Potential

Each plant community differs somewhat in its susceptibility to disturbance. All are susceptible to fires, although forest plant communities in poorly drained sites, such as black spruce/sphagnum forest and rich swamp forest, may be less likely to burn than forest plant communities found on well-drained sites. Black spruce/sphagnum forest and rich swamp forest are more susceptible to physical disturbance such as off-road vehicle traffic because the wet soils and peat underlying these forest types are easily damaged by heavy vehicles. The fir-spruce-birch/rich herb forest and birch forest plant communities are also sensitive to soil disturbance. Because they are typically found on steep slopes, there is an increased potential for erosion. The lichen carpets which form the dominant ground vegetation cover in black spruce/lichen forest are sensitive to physical disturbance, including foot traffic. The lichens become brittle when they dry out and are easily crushed. These forest plant communities would be expected to revegetate relatively rapidly following disturbance, since they are found in the areas most conducive to plant growth. The development of mature forests on disturbed sites may take many decades, because tree growth is slow.

Due to the low decomposition rate in lower Arctic ecosystems, dead biomass commonly accumulates in certain low-arctic ecosystems. This is particularly true of bogs, which can develop metres-deep deposits of peat, and conifer forests, which can have a thick forest floor. In forests, fires may oxidize much of the accumulated organic matter. The low availability of nutrients may also constrain the productivity of low-arctic plant communities, although climate-related stresses are generally of greater importance than nutrient availability.

Although ecological constraints on nutrient cycling and decomposition are natural in origin, some anthropogenic influences may also have an environmental effect. For example, pollution by sulphur dioxide, metals, and acidification can result in lower rates of activity by microorganisms, resulting in slower rates of nutrient cycling and decomposition. Such environmental effects have been documented in the vicinity of the Smoking Hills in the Northwest Territories (Freedman and Hutchinson 1980b; Freedman et al. 1990).

Recovery following disturbance is slow for plant communities in wetlands since peat substrates are poor in nutrients. The alder thicket community recovers relatively quickly following disturbance. Recovery of the barrens plant communities following disturbance is slow. Recovery of the birch thickets community after disturbance is more rapid than that of the barrens plant communities, given that the growth of vegetation is less constrained by environmental conditions. Tree growth in the tuckamore stands is slow; consequently, recovery following disturbance is slow.

14.2.2 Contaminant Uptake
The prediction of metal concentrations in plant tissues in the Assessment Area is based on two components:

the external accumulation of settled particulate matter from the atmosphere onto the surface foliage; and

the internalized uptake of metals from soil (arriving via deposition of airborne particulates).

Sources of particulate matter include the proposed open pit and underground excavations, the crushing/milling facility, and the concentrate storage and loading facility at Edward's Cove.

The rate of interception of settling particles by vegetation is dependent on the rate of settling of those particles and the morphology of the foliage (e.g., wide flat leaves intercept a greater proportion of settling particles than do narrow leaves, which are more vertically oriented). Modelling results (Beak International Incorporated 1997) show that the uptake is low during the start up of open pit mining. The concentrations increase during full production of open pit mining and decreases again to low levels after underground mining begins. There will be no detectable environmental effects to lichens from the metal concentrations predicted.

14.2.3 Accidental Events
Accidental events that could affect plant communities include fire, fuel spills, and tailings dam or pipeline failure. Most of the facilities and roads are situated in valley bottoms, where plant communities are present. Under dry, windy conditions a forest fire could affect larger areas (i.e., spruce and lichen forest).

Salt marsh plant communities could be exposed to oil spills in nearshore waters or during off loading at the port. The largest areas of salt marsh, however, is the Gooseland in Voisey's Bay located away from Project activities. Oil spills could also occur on land resulting in localized environmental effects on terrestrial plant communities. More widespread environmental effects would occur if spilled fuel entered wetland plant communities with flowing surface waters. Environmental effects would also occur if oil reached the root systems of vegetative cover.

A tailings dam or tailings pipeline failure could release tailings and expose plant communities to high metal concentrations and smothering of plants. This event would be localized and not have a widespread effect on plant communities in the Assessment Area.

14.2.4 Cumulative Environmental Effects
There are several ongoing activities which could affect plant communities within the Landscape Region. Ongoing and future mineral exploration by VBNC and others could result in small localized (i.e., drill sites and camp site) disturbance to plant communities. The relocation of Utshimassits could also result in some very localized disturbance of plant communities. These activities will have no detectable cumulative environmental effect on the abundance of plant communities in the Landscape Region.

14.2.5 Environmental Design, Mitigation and Optimization
"It is not going to last forever and it will take up a lot of land...what will happen when the mine is over...will there be land and wildlife for our children." (Nain Elders, from Williamson 1997:24)

VBNC is committed to reducing the Project's environmental effects on plant communities through an environmental design which will reduce the amount of vegetation disturbed by the construction and operation of the mine and enhancing reclamation of areas which are disturbed by the Project. These design features have been developed elsewhere in the mining industry and have been proven successful. Key points relevant to plant communities include:

identification, inventory and avoidance of sensitive land types by pedestrian and vehicle traffic, where possible;

vehicles will be restricted to designated routes;

progressive reclamation of disturbed sites (reclamation will begin once a Project activity is completed);

test areas will be developed to evaluate suitable revegetation by indigenous species;

working with the Innu Nation and LIA to investigate suitable and appropriate plant species for reclamation and preservation;

the trained volunteer fire fighting team and the necessary equipment to provide basic fire protection in the event of a fire emergency; and

the volunteer fire fighting team and Project personnel will be available in the event of fire.

14.3 Summary of Residual Environmental Effects
The definitions for the rating of residual environmental effects significance are as follows:

A major (significant) residual environmental effect is one affecting all of a land type (or plant community) in the Plant Community Assessment Area in such a way as to cause a change in abundance and/or change in distribution of wildlife supported by this community or human related role. This change would be beyond which natural recruitment (reproduction and immigration from unaffected areas) would not return that population, or any populations or species dependent upon it, to its former level within several generations.

A moderate (significant) residual environmental effect is one affecting a portion of a land type in the Plant Community Assessment Area that results in a change in abundance and/or distribution over one or more generations of that portion of the land type dependent upon it, but does not change the integrity of the Plant Community Assessment Area as a whole; it may be localized.

A minor (not significant) residual environmental effect is one affecting a specific example of a land type community in the Plant Community Assessment Area at a localized area and/or over a short period (one generation or less), but not affecting other trophic levels or the integrity of the vegetation community itself.

A negligible (not significant) residual environmental effect is one affecting the land type in the Plant Community Assessment Area at a localized area and/or over a short period in such a way as to be similar in effect to small random changes due to natural irregularities, but having no measurable effect on the land type as a whole.

The residual environmental effects remaining after the application of mitigation, and including consideration of cumulative effects, are listed in Table 14.4. The Project's residual environmental effects on plant communities will be restricted to those areas required to construct site infrastructure.

Table 14.4 Summary of Residual Environmental Effects to Plant Communities

Project Phase	Residual Environmental Effect	Significance	Likelihood^a	Sustainable (Capacity) Use of Renewable Resources^a
construction	physical disturbance or loss	minor (not significant)	n/a	n/a
operation	bioaccumulation disturbance	minor (not significant)	n/a	n/a
decommissioning	disturbance	negligible (not significant)	n/a	n/a
post-decommissioning	none (due to reclamation)	n/a*	n/a	n/a
accidental events	forest fire	major (significant)	low	medium
^a likelihood and sustainable use of renewable resources are only defined for environmental effects that are significant (moderate or major) (CEAA 1994: 84, 187). * n/a = not applicable

14.3.1 Construction
At least some of each plant community present in the Assessment Area will be affected by construction activity. Seventy-two percent of the area affected is composed of three plant communities: spruce-fir/dwarf shrub forest, black spruce/lichen forest, and spruce/sphagnum forest. The areas affected account for 2.8 percent of the spruce-fir/dwarf shrub forest; 4.2 percent of the black spruce/lichen; and 5.5 percent of spruce/sphagnum forest. This disturbance in plant communities occurs in common, less productive land types and avoids the less abundant and more sensitive habitats. No plant community will be disturbed at greater than 10 percent of its occurrence. A minor (not significant ) residual environmental effect is predicted.

14.3.2 Operation
All clearing will be completed during construction, with the exception of the North Tailings Basin. Of the five plant communities affected, four will have less than 1 percent of their total cover in the Assessment Area lost. Four percent of the swamp forest community will be lost in the Assessment Area. The residual environmental effect is predicted to be minor (not significant).

14.3.3 Decommissioning
No additional disturbance of plant communities is expected during the decommissioning phase of the Project. Vegetation reclamation programs will be implemented at this time to revegetate the mine site and enhance previously disturbed areas, thereby shortening regeneration periods. No residual environmental effects would be associated with this phase of the Project; the rating is predicted to be negligible (not significant).

14.3.4 Post-Decommissioning
Vegetation reclamation will be on-going naturally and no other relevant activities are expected to occur during this phase. The gradual recovery will eventually provide wildlife habitat. Residual environmental effects associated with this phase of the Project are rated as negligible (not significant).

14.3.5 Accidental Events
The accidental event which would be the most serious for plant communities is a large forest fire. The probability of occurrence for a large scale forest fire is low. The presence of fire fighting equipment and trained personnel at the mine site would permit a rapid response to any fire. Depending on the extent of the fire, there is certainty that an accidental event leading to a large-scale forest fire will result in a major (significant) residual environmental effect to plant communities in the Assessment Area.

14.3.6 Follow-up Program
There are no compliance monitoring requirements for land and vegetation. VBNC plans for any follow-up are summarized in Chapter 4.

14.4 References
Literature Cited

Beak International Incorporated. 1997. Assessment of Potential Contamination Effects in the Environment, Voisey's Bay Mine/Mill Project. Updated December 1997. Prepared for Voisey's Bay Nickel Company. Voisey's Bay Nickel Company, St. John's, NF.

CEAA (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency). 1994. Responsible Authority's Guide.

COSEWIC. 1996. List of species at risk designated by the committee on the status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

DND (Department of National Defence). 1994. EIS: Military flight training. An environmental impact statement on military flying activities in Labrador and Quebec.

Foster, D.R. 1983. The history and pattern of fire in boreal forest of southeastern Labrador. Canadian Journal of Botany, 61:2459-2471.

Freedman, B., V. Zobens, T.C. Hutchinson, and W.I. Gizyn. 1990. Effects of naturally occurring pollution on tundra vegetation at the Smoking Hills, Northwest Territories, Canada. Ecology, 71: 492-503.

Freedman, B. and T.C. Hutchinson. 1980b. Effects of smelter pollutants on plant litter decomposition near a nickel-copper smelter at Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Canadian Journal of Botany, 58: 1722-1736.

Innu Nation. 1997. Proposal-Aboriginal Knowledge Component, Environmental Assessment of the Proposed Voisey's Bay Mine/Mill Issue Scoping Session. April 28, 1997.

JWEL (Jacques Whitford Environment Limited). 1997a. Voisey's Bay 1996 Environmental Baseline Technical Data Report: Soil and Vegetation Chemistry. Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Limited, , St. John's, NF.

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Appendix 14A:

Environmental Effects Assessment Synthesis: Plant Communities