In a CH op-ed today (Apr 22, Earth Day), Dale Smith questions the elevated status of forestry as the default use for Crown land in Nova Scotia. “The role and importance of Crown land as a publicly-owned asset effectively has been lost in the longstanding and contentious debate around forestry policies and practices in Nova Scotia”, he writes. “Crown land, as a public asset, should and must be managed to achieve a wide variety of objectives that collectively serve the common good. In broad strokes, these range from the maintenance of biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services through outdoor recreation and nature tourism to resource utilization, including commercial forestry.” View OPINION: Crown land usage: Recreation vs. logging