Halifax trees remember the explosion

Posted on December 7, 2017 by admin

I sometimes think there are more big trees per hecare in Halifax than there are in most of rural Nova Scotia. Many are over 100 years old, some well over 200.

So I guess it’s not surprising that some of them, like a few elder citizens, harbour some memories of the Halifax Explosion of Dec 6, 1917. View A century after the Halifax explosion, grim reminders can still be found in trees by Meagan Campbell in Maclean’s Magazine December 5, 2017
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Northern Pulp/Dillon on the road to reassure residents about Nova Scotia Pulp Mill Effluent Treatment Facility, Baxter book session cancelled

Posted on December 5, 2017 by admin

The effluent from the proposed new pulp effluent treatment plant would be released in the Northumberland Strait at approximately location X on the Google map above.
Click on image to enlarge (from Google Earth)
Fishers are concerned about impacts on lobster, crab, scallop, herring, and mackerel fisheries.

UPDATE DEC 6, 2017: A CBC story provides more details about cancellation of Baxter book event. “A number of events leading up to the signing, including aggressive conversations directed to store staff, have led us to cancel this event…” spokesperson Kate Gregory said in an email.” View Pressure prompts store to axe event featuring book critical of Northern Pulp By Susan Bradley, CBC News Dec 5, 2017
and
Author upset about cancellation of pulp mill protest book signing
Francis Campbell in Truro Daily News, Dec 5, 2017. “Northern Pulp wants author Joan Baxter and her latest book placed squarely on the Christmas naughty list…”

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“Northern Pulp and Dillon Consulting Limited held an open house at the Pictou County Wellness Centre Monday [Dec 3] outlining future plans for a replacement effluent-treatment facility” according to a report in The News by Sam MacDonald, Dec 4, 2017: Mill outlines proposed effluent treatment.
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Two upcoming presentations related to forests and forestry in Nova Scotia

Posted on December 4, 2017 by admin

qweqweqwe

At the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, 9 Mount Merritt Road, PO Box 215 Kempt, Queens County, Nova Scotia, Canada

Just received from MTRI:

“Given the news of invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid arriving in southwestern Nova Scotia this past summer, here’s an interesting chance, December 12th at 7pm, to meet one of the American leaders in the field.

This public screening of the short documentary “The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid” is free and will be followed by a question and answer type of discussion period with Mark Whitmore from Cornell University.
Hope to see you there!”.

Click on poster at right for larger version.

Click on image for larger version.

And a reminder (posted earlier under Events)
At Acadia University this evening
A “clear cut” Perspective About “science-based” Forest Management in NS
Donna Crossland to the Nova Scotia Institute of Science
7:30pm at KC Irving Centre Auditorium.
See NSIS announcement

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Business and Public Consultation Meetings scheduled for the Abercrombie, Nova Scotia Pulp Mill Effluent Treatment Facility Replacement EA

Posted on December 1, 2017 by admin

With less than a week notice for the public

The diffuser would be about here
Click on image to enlarge (from Google Earth)
Fishers are concerned about impacts on lobster, crab, scallop, herring, and mackerel fisheries

I was forwarded an e-mail (dated Nov 27, 2017, addressed to “Forestry Supplier”) with this information:

Dillon Consulting Limited (Dillon) has been retained by Northern Pulp Nova Scotia (NPNS) to initiate an Environmental Assessment study for the construction of a replacement effluent treatment facility at the Northern Pulp Mill located in Abercrombie, Nova Scotia.

Information on the proposed facility and the Environmental Assessment process can be found on the project website: www.NorthernPulpEffluentTreatmentFacility.ca. We invite you to the first project Open House. It will be a drop-in session format and held at two locations, with the same information presented at each. Local businesses are invited to attend in advance of the public session in order to address questions specific to your interests.

Tuesday December 5, 2017
Glasgow Square
155 Riverside Parkway
New Glasgow
LOCAL BUSINESSES:
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
PUBLIC:
5:00 pm – 7:30 pm		 Wednesday December 6, 2017
Abercrombie Fire Hall
2030 Granton Abercrombie Road
Granton
LOCAL BUSINESSES:
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
PUBLIC:
5:00 pm – 7:30 pm

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Red flags and hopes for the Independent Review of Forestry Practices in Nova Scotia

Posted on November 29, 2017 by admin

In an op-ed, Government overhaul key to forestry reform (Chronicle Herald, Nov 28, 2017), Dale Smith reviews the lead-up to the Independent Review, its terms of reference and offers a set five recommendations that reflect his experience as a senior bureaucrat in both the NS Dept of Environment and the NS Dept of Natural Resources (he’s now retired).

His perspective that “it is hard not to be skeptical about the recently-announced review”, but “at the same time, it is prudent to avoid rushing to pre-judgment” is shared by many people, myself included, who want the Independent Review to be successful.
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Editorials and letters about forestry in Nova Scotia continued..25Nov2017, forestry elders speak up

Posted on November 25, 2017 by admin

In today’s (Nov 25) Chronicle Herald, woodlot owner and operator Tom Miller responds to Stacie Carroll’s COMMENTARY: Education key in understanding lumber industry (Chronicle Herald Nov. 17, 2017). Says Tom:

Every forestry “crisis” that’s happened over my 43 years in this field has resulted in industry suggesting that what was needed is to educate the public in forestry. That this response is once again being put forward either shows how dense the public is or the poor job industry has done in “educating” us.
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Two journeys in Nova Scotia forests

Posted on November 25, 2017 by admin

Each generation must make their own journey through a thick terrain.

How ever we get lost along the way, let us rejoice in the healing steps that follow.

I hope we all continue to gather at the edge of the woods where the generations before us and after us re-merge.

– Prologue to Generations Re-Merging by Shalan Joudry

Two recent news stories illustrate these journeys, one about loss, the second about healing.
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Update on the Independent Review of Forest Practices in Nova Scotia names experts

Posted on November 23, 2017 by admin

“Bill Lahey, University of King’s College president and leader of Nova Scotia’s Independent Review of Forest Practices, has assembled a team of experts to help review forest harvest practices and the overall role of Crown wood supply throughout Nova Scotia.”

Seven experts are named including two from Maine, three from Ontario one from B.C. and one from Nova Scotia.

“In addition, Prof. Lahey has also asked for advice from the Forest Biodiversity Science Advisory Committee of the Department of Natural Resources.”
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Mining Association of Nova Scotia’s SWAP Initiative – “the threat is real”

Posted on November 23, 2017 by admin

wildareaSo says Chris Miller in an op-ed in the Coast today.

…My question is this. Why do we do it? Why do we stick it out here despite the challenges? It’s tough everywhere, but there are certainly more opportunities in places like Toronto, or New York or London.

We all have our own reasons, but I think at least part of the answer lies with Nova Scotia itself. Let’s face it: This is a pretty spectacular part of the planet that we all share. It’s the sort of place that gets into your veins and makes you want to stay, despite the challenges.

…The landscape itself pulls us in and holds us. It infiltrates our lives; our culture; our way of life.

…So, when the Mining Association of Nova Scotia comes along and starts lobbying for access to our protected wilderness areas, we should all be very alarmed.

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New Brunswick co. a leader in new forest assessment technology

Posted on November 21, 2017 by admin

Forest metrics for 20 x 20 m cells

This item on a news feed caught my eye: Fredericton’s Leading Edge Geomatics Ready for Takeoff With New Investment (by Cherise Letson in huddle.today, Nov 20, 2017).

…The three men had worked in geomatics in Afghanistan and they knew those skills would be applicable here. They just weren’t sure they could build a viable business…

Ten years later, Leading Edge Geomatics is a New Brunswick company providing aerial survey and geomatics services across North America. Based in Lincoln, Leading Edge has a fleet of four aircraft and seven digital sensors and offers customized solutions to clients across different industries including energy, forestry, and mining…What makes the company stand out from others in the industry, Hogan says, is their specialty in the forestry sector…

On the forestry side, they work with J.D. Irving and other forestry companies in the Maritimes.

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