Monthly Archives: July 2016

All is well, apparently, with Forest Biomass & Forest Harvesting in NS

Posted on July 27, 2016 by admin

NS Energy Minister Michel Samson reassured Peter Ritchie recently that “We recognize that the science around forest biomass carbon accounting is evolving” and that “harvest of primary forest products for all uses from Nova Scotia… remains within sustainable harvesting levels” … Continue reading →

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Lumber co. forced to burn logs for NS Power

Posted on July 23, 2016 by admin

A Nova Scotia lumber founded in 1866 is in trouble with the cause related to the province’s ill-thought-out biomass-for-electricity programs. “Former Hefler Forest Products employee Stephen Peter Thurston blames the biomass plant for the company’s financial woes….They were able to … Continue reading →

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First step on a crooked path

Posted on July 20, 2016 by admin

On April 8, 2016, the NS Government announced that the Nova Scotia Power biomass plant will no longer run 24/7, which the Ecology Action Centre and others called ‘a great first step’ to eliminating biomass”. I shared that optimism. However, … Continue reading →

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Adapting to climate change in Nova Scotia: Go boreal

Posted on July 20, 2016 by admin

For the Record: “VEGETATION MANAGEMENT NOTIFICATION” [July 20, 2016] Wagner Forest NS Ltd has applied for a forest vegetation management permit from Environment Nova Scotia. A total of approximately 500 hectares has been submitted in the Counties of Cumberland, Pictou … Continue reading →

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Intervale Travails

Posted on July 18, 2016 by admin

Earlier in July, I spent a day slugging through hawthorns on one of Nova Scotia’s remnant intervale (floodplain) forests looking for flowers of the now rare wild leek. The intervale forests are remnant because the first European settlers liked to … Continue reading →

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Youngsters inspire

Posted on July 17, 2016 by admin

Sometimes it’s easy to get very down about the state of our landscape in 2016. Old timers, among whom I count myself at this point, have to hope that coming generations will not have lost the connections to nature that … Continue reading →

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Opinions– on resetting NS forest policy & protecting woodlands

Posted on July 9, 2016 by admin

The Opinion section of the C-H today (Sat July 9, 2016) carried two articles relating to the state of our forests. Dale Smith, a land use planneer and past Director of Protected Areas, argues for a Reset on Forest Policy. … Continue reading →

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What is this hub? Who, exactly, is receiving the money? And why is Emera investing so heavily?

Posted on July 9, 2016 by admin

In the C-H Buisness section today (July 9, 2016) Rachel Brighton raises lots of questions about the just announced forestry innovation hub, noting that “Emera, which indirectly owns the province’s two major biomass plants, seems attracted to the commercial prospects … Continue reading →

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Bio-based fuels from our forests?

Posted on July 7, 2016 by admin

Big announcement today, with taxpayer dollars going to study “innovative uses of [Nova Scotia] forest products and new market opportunities…Being studied are things including new market opportunities and alternatives for petroleum products with bio-based fuels in marine diesel and heating … Continue reading →

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Forest-Lake links: pollen

Posted on July 3, 2016 by admin

There were wonderful yellow-green creations by the shore on Dollar Lake where I spent Canada Day as illustrated in a few photos. I wondered whether pollen is a significant input to aquatic systems, ‘made a post on Twitter about it, … Continue reading →

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