A researcher from Laurentian University is preparing to launch a unique project utilizing honey bees to aid in the restoration efforts at the Côté Gold Mine near Gogama, Ontario. Mateus Pepinelli secured a $100,000 grant from IAMGOLD to collaborate on a two-year research initiative. The bees will be tasked with gathering environmental DNA from the re-greened areas around the mining site. Pepinelli described the honey bees as valuable research assistants, as they will be collecting essential data for the project.
This upcoming summer, Pepinelli and a team from IAMGOLD will establish three apiaries near the remediation zones adjacent to the mine. Each apiary will be equipped with a small fan containing a filter designed to capture the DNA traces brought in by the bees. Pepinelli explained that by filtering the air within a honey bee colony, they can detect various environmental interactions and signals. The filters will trap minuscule elements that the bees encountered outside the hive.
After collecting the filters, Pepinelli and his team will extract the environmental DNA for analysis in a laboratory setting. This process will yield a wealth of information, including data on plant species, microorganisms, pathogens, and unwanted elements like varroa mites present in the hive. Jessica Tratnik, IAMGOLD’s environmental and social governance lead at the Côté Gold Mine, highlighted the significance of this data in monitoring the progress of their rehabilitation efforts.
Tratnik emphasized that the insights gathered from the honey bees can enhance their understanding of ecological changes over time. By identifying potential shortages in plant species or pollination issues, researchers can adjust their restoration strategies accordingly. This method offers a consistent and efficient means of monitoring ecological shifts, providing valuable information that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Graeme Jennings, IAMGOLD’s vice-president of investor relations, noted that the Coté Gold Mine has a projected lifespan of over 20 years, positioning it as a long-term mining operation. Tratnik stressed the importance of ongoing land restoration efforts to ensure timely ecological recovery. Rather than waiting until production ceases, the continuous rehabilitation of the land is crucial for expediting the return of these areas to their natural state.