Bin Xu

I'm a peatland ecologist with over 15 years of research experience on the impact of human activities and natural disturbances on peatland/wetland ecosystems in Canada. I’ve been working as the NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges (IRCC) in Peatland Restoration at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Centre for Boreal Research since 2013. I work closely with university collaborators, industry partners, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop science-based, effective techniques and methods to reclaim disturbed peatlands. I’m leading research on assessing and mitigating industrial footprints, particularly in-situ oil and gas exploration, on boreal peatlands through strategic planning, innovation monitoring techniques (UAV and satellite), and ecological restoration solutions. My research is closely linked to provincial peatland reclamation standards, policies, and the national carbon inventory. I have hosted workshops and field training schools for practitioners, land managers, regulators on bryophyte biology/identification, peatland ecology, community ecology, provincial criteria assessment, as well as hands-on training of reclamation site preparation, plant species selection, propagation, and field deployment.