Field report, by Ariane Fortin

From September 9 to 18, 2025, Ariane Fortin (a master’s student in biology, supervised by Juan Carlos Villarreal Aguilar and Mélina Guêné-Nanchen) and Mélina Guêné-Nanchen (assistant professor in the Department of Plant Science), both from Université Laval, traveled to the Nunavik Nickel mining site (61.564N, -73.356W), owned by Canadian Royalties.

The main objective was to set up an experimental ecological restoration system on an esker used as a borrow pit. Soil biological crusts were also sampled for greenhouse cultivation and microbial analysis.

While the vastness of the northern taiga landscape is striking, life at the mining camp leaves a strong impression as well. Work was impossible during the first two days due to mandatory training (e.g., lockout/tagout, working at heights) and the requirement to be accompanied by vehicle for any outdoor excursions. Once driving permission was granted, the days followed a demanding rhythm: wake-up at 4 a.m. and return to camp around 6 p.m. Between bryophyte collection and monitoring restoration efforts, there was no time to unwind at the end of the day.

In just 10 days, it felt as though three months had gone by.