Regulation of clearcutting is one of four Green Priorities the Ecology Action Centre has identified for the next Nova Scotia Government to implement (Nova Scotia will elect a new government on May 30, 2017):
Nova Scotia needs to regulate clearcutting and other destructive forestry practices as per the commitments in the Natural Resources Strategy.
Five years ago, as a result of a three-year public policy process that engaged thousands of citizens and expert panelists, Nova Scotia committed to: reducing the use of clearcutting to no more than 50% of all forest harvesting within five years; strictly regulate whole-tree harvesting; and to stop public subsidies for herbicide spraying.
Today clearcutting is at 89%, herbicide spraying is common-place, and there are no restrictions on whole-tree harvesting or a cap on annual allowable cut. The EAC calls on the next Nova Scotia government to re-commit to the important reforms outlined in the Natural Resources Strategy