Category Archives: Economics

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

Posted on September 8, 2017 by admin

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

Posted on September 6, 2017 by admin

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

In Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Sunday Aug 20: Forest Market and Fair

Posted on August 19, 2017 by admin

The Medway Community Forest Cooperative is holding their first annual Forest Market and Fair at the Annapolis Royal Farmer’s Market grounds on Sunday, August 20th from 11:00am-2:00pm. Visitors are invited to Explore the amazing diversity of goods and services that … Continue reading →

Posted in Acadian Forest, Biophilia, Conservation, Economics, Social Values | Leave a comment

‘Looks like the Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia, pellet plant will reopen

Posted on August 12, 2017 by admin

UPDATE AUG 25, 2017: The deal is still in the works “likely to be finalized within about a month.” (Chronicle Herald Aug 24, 2017). The last we heard was that “it’s déjà vu all over again in Middle Musquodoboit as … Continue reading →

Posted in Biomass, clearcuts, Economics | Leave a comment

Lessons for Nova Scotia from private land forestry in Finland

Posted on August 7, 2017 by admin

(Augmented Aug 8, 2017) Digby County forester Harold Alexander has provided a report on his investigatory trip to Finland last fall, conducted with a view to “learn why that country’s forestry well outpaces the performance of ours, yet remains sustainable … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Private Woodlots | Leave a comment

Biomass plant brings in the bucks for the reborn Hefler Forest Products, another biomass plant envisaged

Posted on August 3, 2017 by admin

The 150 year old Hefler Forest Products in Sackville, Nova Scotia, accumulated over $30 million in debt and went under creditor protection in 2016, but the 3.1 megawatt biomass power plant it operated remained profitable. Prospective buyers wanted to separate … Continue reading →

Posted in Biomass, clearcuts, Climate Change, Economics | Leave a comment

Cellufuel wants access to Nova Scotia’s “Inactive Forests”

Posted on August 2, 2017 by admin

Cellufuel, the Nova Scotia business heavily backed by government funding that wants to produce synthetic fuels from forestry sources in Nova Scotia, has had to “shutter its plant and layoff staff” according to a news report by Devin Stevins in … Continue reading →

Posted in Biophilia, clearcuts, Climate Change, Conservation, Economics, Ecosystem Services, Mi'kmaq | Leave a comment

New group of private woodlot owners and contractors in SW Nova Scotia challenge WestFor deal

Posted on August 1, 2017 by admin

An article by Brittany Wentzell in LighthouseNow reports on a meeting “held on July 19 in the Forties to address issues woodlot owners, foresters and contractors say they have faced since the consortium of 13 mills formed and began cutting … Continue reading →

Posted in clearcuts, Economics, NSDNR, Private Woodlots, WestFor | Leave a comment

Low wood volumes harvested from Crown land explained

Posted on July 28, 2017 by admin

In an earlier post I had remarked on the apparently low wood volumes harvested from Crown land compared to private land in Nova Scotia, and that I had submitted a request to NSDNR for an explanation. I received this explanation … Continue reading →

Posted in clearcuts, Economics, NSDNR, Pulp & Paper, Tree Harvests | Leave a comment

Clearcut Nova Scotia continued..17July2017 & how much wood can be harvested from one hectare

Posted on July 21, 2017 by admin

How much wood? Plenty, but not on 50-year rotations! With promises of “the right balance” at some time in the future, clearcutting on Crown land continues unabated including cuts close to Protected Areas. The latest announcement cites plans for 48 … Continue reading →

Posted in Biophilia, clearcuts, Conservation, Economics, Lumber, NSDNR, Old Growth, Show Us the Science, WestFor | Leave a comment