To date, most of the public concern about logging in NS has been focussed on Crown lands. On Thursday, June 27, 2019, 27 people participated in a XRNS protest at a clearcut on private land
Nina Newington photos
On Thursday, June 27, 2019, 27 people participated in a protest at a clearcut on private land. Wrote Nina Newington on Annapolis Royal & Area – Environment & Ecology (Public Facebook Group):
Twenty seven people showed up on Thursday to protest the clearcut happening on the North Mountain along Hampton Mountain Rd from Arlington Road to Foster Lake. Many are members of the Annapolis County chapter of Extinction Rebellion. Others live nearby.
Cutting started on Monday, June 24th. It’s nesting season and, although the Forest Technician…claimed to have heard no birds at all when he was surveying the property, it is impossible to believe that no birds’ nests are being destroyed as three feller bunchers decimate one hundred acres of Acadian forest in a matter of days. Birds sing in the woods all around.
The planet faces irreversible climate and ecological breakdown if we don’t keep global warming below 1.5C. We have 12 years to cut green house gas emissions and restore ecosystems across the globe. Clearcutting forests is the wrong way to go in the Amazon — and it is the wrong way to go here. Destroying ecosystems is insanity.
This cut is on private land, land purchased less than a year ago…Clearcutting forests has to stop.
Indeed. Thx, NN and XR folks & friends.
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From the discussion
TB: ….As far as I understand it is the owner’s right to clearcut the land but during nesting season are there not regulations to delay cutting? Or is that merely a recommendation?
BW to TB: – Just jumping in here about the Migratory Birds Convention Act. Yes, it’s a federal law to protect Migratory birds — throughout the year, actually, but it also protects nests, eggs, and young birds. It should be preventing destruction of nests, eggs, etc.. but the problem is that, the way it is currently being enforced, the federal people won’t usually do anything until birds are killed, nests destroyed,, etc.. So, it’s pretty much up to others to find the nests and watch them, then provide proof to the federal enforcers so that they can investigate and prosecute. A couple of days ago, I uploaded a file prepared by others, that explains all of this and what is necessary in order to prosecute. You can find this in our “Group Files” — the name of the file is “Protocol Bird Nest Destruction.pdf”. I think we all have to learn more about what we need to do to bring about a prosecution. We also need to get the Migratory Birds Protection Act strengthened. It is currently being reviewed and I’m sure industry is trying its damnedest to have the regulations made harder to enforce. We should all be working together to make sure that doesn’t happen. I started that new group “Nova Scotia Bird Protectors” so that we can try to increase awareness of the problem, learn how to get the goods needed for prosecutions, and submit recommendations to strengthen the Migratory Birds Convention Act.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nova.scotia.bird.protectors/
DT: I guess these guys are making a living. However, I also don’t agree with clear cutting.
GN: Did anybody tell [the Forest Technician] that birds don’t make a lot of noise when they are raising young so as not to advertise their location to predators? He should walk the proposed clearcuts in early Spring when they are competing for mates.
BW to GN: You are so right about that! This afternoon, I was back in my woods photographing an insect. I stood up after and looked around. I kid you not — my eyes fell upon a bird nest not even 2 feet from my head — with a Red-eyed Vireo sunken deep into the nest. She was almost close enough that she could have bitten me on the nose. She was totally silent — just staring at me. Beautifully made little nest — amazing that I did not see it right away, but in the filtered sunlight, it was practically invisible. Those who say they can see nests, and know when there are birds present, make their ignorance known the second they open their mouths.
GN: I’m always surprised when the leaves go in the Fall, how many nests there are around the house.
DGP: Even Lahey would not break the taboo about coming down on destructive forestry on private woodlots in NS. Thx for doing it NN & Co. It’s pretty obvious the birds do not make a distinction.
Forest Tech comments
GN: Did anybody tell Forest Tech that birds don’t make a lot of noise when they are raising young so as not to advertise their location to predators? He should walk the proposed clearcuts in early Spring when they are competing for mates.
Forest Techto GN: actually it was early spring. I cruised the lot right after the snow left.
TB: …which might have been before the migratory birds arrived to begin mating…
GN to SW: If there are standing trees, there will be nesting birds.
Forest Tech So what your saying is Forestry needs to stop completely in Canada during all the summer months?
TB: In order to preserve fish stocks there are widely accepted, carefully regulated “fishing seasons”. Why not do the same for wildlife and forests?
Forest Tech to TB: Harvesting on crown and private is heavily regulated. Drive through a stream and see what happens. When it comes to dictating what private land owners do on their own land it will send the Provence down a dark road.
GN to Forest Tech: What I am saying is there are many, many externalized costs when forestry is practiced the way we do. The damage to the environment from clear cutting is well documented, and the costs are downloaded onto the well being of our descendants..…See More
GN: Here’s a good article about how externalizing costs shift the costs from the producers to the public:
The Story of Stuff: Externalized Costs and the $4.99 Radio
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-story-of-stuff-extern_b_490351
TB to Forest Tech: are we allowed to fish for trout all year long on private land?
BW: Yes, just after the snow left was “too early” this year. We were checking for birds on territory for several weeks this spring and they were late on territory — that was widespread– so not hearing singing was MEANINGLESS. goodbye Forest Tech.