Carbon counting

Research and monitoring programs are important tools that can be used to gain an understanding of ecological resources and processes in the park. Each year, researchers from all over the country, and beyond, take to the sky, water and lands of Wapusk National Park to learn more about its iconic wildlife, fascinating flora, and unique ecology. These are just a few examples of the important research done inside the park during the 2024/25 research season.

By monitoring carbon sequestration and carbon loss, scientists can monitor how changes affect the climate, ecosystems and more.

Parks Canada: Hudson–James Bay Lowlands biodiversity conservation and sequestration initiative led by Alison Cassidy

The goal of this research is to advance the understanding of how much carbon is stored and removed from the atmosphere by terrestrial and coastal ecosystems in the Hudson-James Bay Lowlands area. Co-developed by the leadership of the Mushkegowuk Council, Weenusk First Nation, and Wapusk National Park, this project also blends knowledge systems and provides training. Results will contribute information towards the potential establishment of new national marine conservation areas in this region as well as for potential conservation and restoration actions in Wapusk.

Current work is focused on bringing together and analyzing results from the first two sampling seasons and planning work for the last season in 2025. So far, sampling has been conducted in various locations in and along La Perouse Bay and in peatland areas of the park and also along the Hayes and Nelson rivers near York Factory National Historic Site. Sampling activities included vegetation surveys and mapping, collecting soil cores in various types of thawed and frozen ground, collecting water chemistry and volume measurements, measuring permafrost characteristics, and the collection of landscape imagery using drones and remote sensing. Lab work has included the analysis of soil properties and will also focus on the calculation of carbon accumulation rates and total carbon volume.

University of Manitoba: Assessing land to ocean carbon delivery at the northern extent of the Hudson Bay Lowlands led by Dr. Tim Papakyriakou

This project contributes to the understanding of carbon cycling and transport in the continuous permafrost zone of Hudson Bay. Rivers and streams from peat uplands in the interior, where permafrost is common, transform and transport carbon to estuarine and coastal wetlands systems. These areas store carbon in sediments and vegetation; which may provide a source of carbon to the marine system of Hudson Bay.

In July 2024, water samples were collected at nine river and lake stations within Wapusk National Park. These samples will provide a baseline for organic and inorganic properties. Further analysis will focus on understanding carbon and nutrient loads in rivers and streams throughout the park, particularly the Owl and Broad Rivers, and the flow of these components from rivers-to-coast-to-sea.

The seawater transport of carbon is a major carbon loss for the terrestrial peatland system. This project aims to measure that loss to better understand the carbon cycle in the Hudson Bay area.

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