News & Comments

Links to selected news items and commentary related implementation of the Lahey Recommendations (Page created May 21, 2022)

Key Background (fall 2021 to early spring 2022)

Apr 29, 2022:
Province Making Progress on Implementing New Forest Practices Guide
News Release NRR. Provides dates for various phases in implementation of the SGEM. Extracts:

– The Silvicultural Guide for the Ecological Matrix applies to Acadian forest on Crown land and is being phased in gradually. By June 1, the majority of practices in the guide will be required.
– As of February 1, the Department has required that new harvest plan proposals follow most of the practices in the new guide.
– Work is also underway to define how and where high production forestry can take place on Crown lands.

Nov 30, 2021:
Prof. Lahey’s Independent Evaluation of the Implementation of the 2018 Forest Practices Report for Nova Scotia released 30Nov2021

Nov 4, 2021:
Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act, third reading

10 The Government’s goals with respect to the protection of land are

(a) to conserve at least 20% of the total land and water mass of the Province by 2030 as protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, including Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, in a manner consistent with national reporting criteria;

(b) to support the goal in clause (a) with a collaborative protected areas strategy to be released by December 31, 2023;

(c) to implement by 2023 an ecological forestry approach for Crown lands, consistent with the recommendations in “An Independent Review of Forest Practices in Nova Scotia” prepared by William Lahey in 2018, through the triad model of forest management that prioritizes the sustainability of ecosystems and biodiversity in the Province; and

(d) to identify by 2023 the percentage allocation of Crown land dedicated to each pillar of the triad model of forest management referred to in clause (c).