Category Archives: WestFor

Show us the science behind clearcuts on Crown land close to the pending Shingle Lake Nature Reserve, Nova Scotia

Clearcutting close to the pending Shingle Lake Nature Reserve illustrates transparency issues & raises questions about landscape level planning for biodiversity conservation in Crown land harvest decisions This is a lengthy post, so I am inserting a Summary & Table … Continue reading

Posted in Acadian Forest, clearcuts, Conservation, NSDNR, Parks & Protected Areas, Private Woodlots, Show Us the Science, WestFor | Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

CBC InfoA.M. attempts to sort out issues between smaller private owners and operators and the WestFor consortium – #4 A Forest Ecologist’s view

Donna Crossland, a co-author of Restoring the Health of Nova Scotia’s Forests (2010), says we can’t maintain an Acadian forest on 50 year rotations. CBC Halifax Information Morning has carried several lengthy interviews recently to do with the state of … Continue reading

Posted in clearcuts, Climate Change, Conservation, Economics, Ecosystem Services, Letters&Editorials, NSDNR, Private Woodlots, Show Us the Science, WestFor | Leave a comment

CBC InfoA.M. attempts to sort out issues between smaller private owners and operators and the WestFor consortium – #3 The Government view

Deputy Minister Julie Towers defends NSDNR CBC Halifax Information Morning has carried several lengthy interviews recently to do with the state of forestry in Nova Scotia, and in particular controversies surrounding cutting on the Western Crown lands by the WestFor … Continue reading

Posted in clearcuts, Economics, Ecosystem Services, Letters&Editorials, Lumber, NSDNR, Private Woodlots, Pulp & Paper, Show Us the Science, Social Values, WestFor, Wildlife | Leave a comment

CBC InfoA.M. attempts to sort out issues between smaller private owners and operators and the WestFor consortium – #2 WestFor responds

CBC Halifax Information Morning has carried several interviews recently to do with the state of forestry in Nova Scotia, and in particular controversies surrounding cutting on the Western Crown lands by the WestFor consortium. Below is an abbreviated transcript of … Continue reading

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

CBC InfoA.M. attempts to sort out issues between smaller private owners and operators and the WestFor consortium – #1 Private Operator

CBC Halifax Information Morning has carried several interviews recently to do with the state of forestry in Nova Scotia, and in particular controversies surrounding cutting on the Western Crown lands by the WestFor consortium. Below is an abbreviated transcript of … Continue reading

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

Annapolis Co. warden says municipalities should have a say in forestry practices in Nova Scotia

Why not? Ontario passed legislation enabling municipalities to pass Tree Bylaws in 1946! In early March, Annapolis County council sent a letter to Premier McNeil (also the MLA for the area) requesting that the county be excluded from the impending … Continue reading

Posted in Acadian Forest, clearcuts, Conservation, Economics, Private Woodlots, Recreation, Selection Harvest, Show Us the Science, Social Values, WestFor | Leave a comment

Who is appointed Minister of Natural Resources will provide the first sign of what’s up post election for forestry and forests in Nova Scotia

The Liberals mustered a narrow majority in the May 30, 2017 election, so they will again be in the driver’s seat. My immediate question: who will be the Minister of Natural Resources? The answer will provide the first sign of … Continue reading

Posted in Acadian Forest, clearcuts, Economics, Mi'kmaq, NSDNR, Selection Harvest, Social Values, WestFor | Leave a comment

Forestry becoming an election issue in Nova Scotia

The N.S. Liberals made some key environmental commitments on May 8 including Maintaining the moratorium on fracking (the Liberal government introduced a moratorium on fracking in 2014);. Introducing a new Coastal Protection Act; Introducing a new Biodiversity Act and launching … Continue reading

Posted in clearcuts, Economics, NSDNR, Social Values, WestFor | Leave a comment