Posts & webpages on NSFN (Nova Scotia Forest Notes) addressing soil acidification/nutrient issues.
Webpages:
Current Issues/CALCIUM DEPLETION
Page Created Aug 10, 2016
Current Issues/CALCIUM DEPLETION/Notes
Current Issues/CALCIUM DEPLETION/Notes/SGEM
Current Issues/CALCIUM DEPLETION/Notes/Posts
Current Issues/CALCIUM DEPLETION/Notes/Liming
Posts
Nutrient/acidification issues are mentioned in many posts of NSFN. Following are some of them.
Feb 16, 2021: Comment on the revised SGEM for Nova Scotia: an inconvenient truth about our soils 16Feb2021
Oct 29, 2018: Biodiverse Southwest Nova Scotia at Risk
Sep 7, 2018: Some reservations about The Report on the Independent Review of Forest Practices in Nova Scotia
July 25, 2018: More DNR research on Nova Scotia forest soils published in science journals but not publicized by NSDNR
Apr 1, 2018: Lessons from New Hampshire: clearcutting on acidified soil reduces sugar maple regeneration, favours beech
Feb 22, 2018: “it is very poor land, very poor quality wood, its best function would be to just leave it alone”
Nov 18, 2017 Addendum (Prepared for meeting on Nov 18, 2017 with Prof William Lahey (Project Leader for the Independent Review of Forestry in Nova Scotia)
Following are some steps that I suggest would help to establish more confdence in NSDNR’s handling of the “nutrient fle”:
• NSDNR recognizes concerns about limitatons to the FNBM [Forest Nutrient Budget Model] highlighted by questons and discussion at the meeting and in this document.
• NSDNR considers nutrient issues in the context of whole watersheds and interacts with aquatc scientsts to help address the extreme low aquatc calcium values in many of our watersheds created by acid rain combined with the poor bufering capacity of our soils, and that are exacerbated by clearcutng.
• The model is validated at the level of a whole watershed or subwatershed in which clearcutting is being conducted, as well as in a watershed not being harvested and those results published in a recognized journal.
• NSDNR issues writen reports on the status of the model and its use at annual or shorter intervals.
• The public at large, and not just the larger private concerns, is given access to the model and to related informaton such as results of new soil surveys no later than any private partners are given access, with updates as appropriate (the public availability of the NS Forest Growth and Yield Model with a disclaimer [10] is a precedent).
• When the output from a FNBM is part of the PTA, the results should be published as part of the public notfcaton process related to harvests on crown land.
• Open (public) access to results is agreed upon by any partners in the ongoing and further research in this area by NSDNR.
Sep 18, 2017 Comments on NSDNR forestry science and a suggestion for a science expert to assist in the Independent Review
Sep 1, 2017: NSDNR responds to Halifax Field Naturalists’ Concerns and Questions about impacts of forestry in Nova Scotia on conservation of biodiversity Cites this reply from Minister to Naturalists – View Questions 20 to 22 and responses
Apr 26, 2017: Naturalists question the science of sustainable forestry in Nova Scotia Cites Impacts of forestry in Nova Scota on conservaton of biodiversity: Concerns and Questons: A Submission to Nova Scota Department of Natural Resources From the Conservaton Commitee of the Halifax Field Naturalists* April 19, 2017 See Section 7 on Soil Acidification and Loss of Calcium
Dec 13, 2016: What’s good for salmon is good for trees in Nova Scotia…and v. versa! ” “For the sake of the forests and salmon, it’s time for NSDNR/Westfor to heed the science and put the brakes on clearcutting in SW Nova Scotia.” Includes links to news, papers about liming of NS rivers.”
Nov 9, 2016: The Nova Scotia Forest Nutrient Budget Model surfaces Related CBC story: Nova Scotia to use new forestry tool and update soil data
Michael Gorman · CBC News · Posted: Nov 08, 2016
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Pre- June of 2016 letters, news articles etc.
May 7, 2016: Acid Rain + Clearcuts = permanent loss
Op-ed in the Chronicle Herald
April 15, 2016: A critical issue: nutrient depletion in soils of Nova Scotia’s forests
Comments and diagram prepared for meetings with MLAs, re: clearcutting for biomass electricity By David Patriquin (Professor of Biology, retired, Dalhousie University)
Aug 29, 2014: DNR and the disappearing science
Robert deVet in Halifax Media Co-op
Feb 12, 2014: Need for transparent and objective assessment of our forests’ potential to meet demands for forest fibre and biomass sustainably
Letter to the Premier, Minister of Natural Resources, Minister of Environment
July 14, 2010: The Port Hawkesbury Biomass Project (2010): Concerns related to carbon emissions and impacts of harvesting on soil nutrients & acidification
Comments submitted to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board by David G. Patriquin, Professor of Biology (Retired), Dalhousie University
Attached in the same document:
-January 27, 2010 Forest biomass will not reduce carbon dioxide emissions
Comments on the final Energy Consultation Document, Submitted January 27, 2010 to wheelercomments@gov.ns.ca (Nova Scotia Department of Energy)
– December 15th 2009: Clearcutting N.S. Forests for Biomass: Implications for Carbon Sequestration and Sustainability
Comments submitted to the Nova Scotia Renewable Energy Stakeholder Consultation Process in response to the Interim Report To Stakeholders (December 15th 2009)