Monthly Archives: September 2017

Celebrating National Forest Week in Nova Scotia

Above: A piece of largely undisturbed mixed, multi-aged Acadian forest on a Halifax area drumlin – we still have some to celebrate! Also to celebrate: private woodlot owners who value and nurture these forests while harvesting trees from them. To … Continue reading

Posted in Acadian Forest, Biophilia, NSDNR, Private Woodlots | Leave a comment

Big guys versus the rest in Nova Scotia forestry

Atlantic Forestry Review (Sep 2017) provides a pretty unbiased perspective of forestry in Atlantic Canada, allowing different players or journalists writing about those players to express their perspectives and otherwise reporting on good news, bad news, human-interest news and just … Continue reading

Posted in Biomass, clearcuts, Economics | Leave a comment

Clearcutting is putting tourism at risk says President of Nova Scotia Tourism Industry Association

“Nova Scotia is blessed with incredible natural beauty…[but] in many areas, there has been a total abdication of responsibility around clearcutting targets and forestry management practices, including herbicide and pesticide spraying. As people seek out authentic and nature-based experiences, why … Continue reading

Posted in Acadian Forest, clearcuts, Economics, NSDNR, Recreation, Social Values | Leave a comment

Northern Pulp Pictou mill still polluting the air

“Nova Scotia’s Environment Department has begun an investigation into Northern Pulp operations after the Pictou County mill exceeded air contaminant emissions limits by nearly 50 per cent in June…the third year in a row emissions from the power boiler at … Continue reading

Posted in Pulp & Paper | Leave a comment

Zack M on Old Growth forest in Nova Scotia

Just a few days back, I made a post about Zack Metcalfe’s walk through clearcut Crown land. His Guide talked about the declines of once common birds inhabiting mature forest, and how forestry on Crown land is removing the last … Continue reading

Posted in Acadian Forest, Biophilia, Conservation, Natural History, Old Growth, Social Values | Leave a comment

Hefler Forest Products to restart sawmill

Since its rebirth following bankruptcy of the once family owned, 150 year old operation in Lower Sackville, N.S., Hefler Forest products has been running on the profitable biomass energy operation alone. (View post, Aug 3, 2017). Now, according to an … Continue reading

Posted in Biomass, Economics, Lumber | Leave a comment

Bob Bancroft concerned about attention to forest ecology in the Independent Review of Nova Scotia forestry

CBC Information Morning’s Don Connelly interviewed Bob Bancroft on Aug 31, 2017, one day after the NS Government announced the start of the Independent Review of Forestry. An audio of the 8 minute interview is available on the CBC website. … Continue reading

Posted in clearcuts, Conservation, Independent Review, WestFor | Leave a comment

If we run into some good woods, we must be off of Crown land

So writes Zack Metcalfe, citing a not-so-funny joke told to him by a guide taking him through a slice of Halifax County. A Quiet Word on Forestry, published in the September issue of Rural Delivery, begins with “There are no … Continue reading

Posted in Biophilia, clearcuts, Conservation, Economics, Letters&Editorials | Leave a comment

Softwood lumber update: sales to U.S. still high

In the business section of the Chronicle Herald, James Risdon looks at the market for N.S. softwood lumber south of the border. “Booming softwood lumber prices are letting Canadian producers carry on business as usual…South of the border, lumber prices … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, softwood lumber | Leave a comment

Northern Pulp to build a replacement for Boat Harbour treatment facility

“While the province moves forward with their promise to clean up Boat Harbour and to shut down the controversial Boat Harbour treatment facility by January 2020, Northern Pulp is taking steps to replace it…There are still many aspects of the … Continue reading

Posted in Mi'kmaq, Pulp & Paper, Social Values | Leave a comment