Nova Scotia-only Cap & Trade system announced

Posted on October 4, 2017 by admin

There appear to be no incentives (or disincentives) for forestry

An objective carbon accounting would penalize both clearcutting and use of primary forest biomass (versus genuine wastes) in bioenergy schemes.

“Nova Scotia’s Environment Minister has announced that the province will go it alone for now in creating its new carbon pricing plan.” View N.S. lays groundwork for cap and trade system (ATV News, Sep 29, 2017).

View NS Government Press Release (Sep 29, 2017).

From the government:

Nova Scotia is a national leader in fighting climate change,” said Environment Minister Iain Rankin. “Working closely with our stakeholders, our program will set and achieve targets for further greenhouse gas reductions while protecting the pocketbooks of Nova Scotians.

The fledgling plan has its critics. Continue reading →

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

Nova Scotia Forestry in the Spotlight..30Sep2017

Posted on October 1, 2017 by admin

Forestry issues made a splash on the opinion pages this weekend, and more quietly, on the woodlot of Peter and Pat Spicer at Spencer’s Island on the Fundy shore of Cumberland Co.

Even in Protected Areas: Clearcut in lands designated for the Raven Head Protected Area, 2011 (“To negotiate a price within the province’s budget, Wagner Forestry [was] allowed to harvest about one quarter of the Apple Head area”)
Click on photo for larger version.

Writes Jim Guy, author and professor emeritus of political science at Cape Breton University:

The economic rationale embraced by the industry is to get the most out of the forest for the lowest possible cost. This was the same rationale used by 17th and 18th century foresters who knew nothing about the science of forestry or the threats of deforestation to global climate stability…This review should demonstrate our commitment to protect the province’s forests and honour the rights of Nova Scotia’s indigenous people.

Continue reading →

Posted in Acadian Forest, clearcuts, Letters&Editorials, NSDNR, Private Woodlots | Leave a comment

Celebrating National Forest Week in Nova Scotia

Posted on September 28, 2017 by admin

Above: A piece of largely undisturbed mixed, multi-aged Acadian forest on a Halifax area drumlin – we still have some to celebrate!

Also to celebrate: private woodlot owners who value and nurture these forests while harvesting trees from them. To its credit, that (rather than industrial forestry) is what NSDNR is choosing to celebrate for National Forest Week: Continue reading →

Posted in Acadian Forest, Biophilia, NSDNR, Private Woodlots | Leave a comment

Big guys versus the rest in Nova Scotia forestry

Posted on September 24, 2017 by admin

Atlantic Forestry Review (Sep 2017) provides a pretty unbiased perspective of forestry in Atlantic Canada, allowing different players or journalists writing about those players to express their perspectives and otherwise reporting on good news, bad news, human-interest news and just interesting news and facts about forests and forestry in our region.

The various articles and reports in the current issue, the “2017 Trucking Issue”, illustrate some of the tensions between the big and smaller players.
Continue reading →

Posted in Biomass, clearcuts, Economics | Leave a comment

Clearcutting is putting tourism at risk says President of Nova Scotia Tourism Industry Association

Posted on September 22, 2017 by admin

Photo courtesy of Raymond Plourde

“Nova Scotia is blessed with incredible natural beauty…[but] in many areas, there has been a total abdication of responsibility around clearcutting targets and forestry management practices, including herbicide and pesticide spraying. As people seek out authentic and nature-based experiences, why are we putting at risk both our healthy and sustainable forests and Nova Scotia’s tourism”.

So asks Darlene Grant Fiander, president, Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia in an Op-ed in the Chronicle Herald (Sep 21, 2017).

Good question, and hardly the first time it has been asked. Continue reading →

Posted in Acadian Forest, clearcuts, Economics, NSDNR, Recreation, Social Values | Leave a comment

Northern Pulp Pictou mill still polluting the air

Posted on September 19, 2017 by admin

“Nova Scotia’s Environment Department has begun an investigation into Northern Pulp operations after the Pictou County mill exceeded air contaminant emissions limits by nearly 50 per cent in June…the third year in a row emissions from the power boiler at the Northern Pulp mill exceeded the limits set down by the Environment Department.”

Local mill watchdog Matt Gunning wants NSE to post results of emmissions tests on its website.

Read more at CBC news (Sep 19, 2017)

View also cleanthemill.com
“People of Pictou County have been concerned about the pollution produced by the pulp mill since it began operations in 1967, but the desire to maintain jobs had historically overpowered the voices of the concerned.” The pollution includes harmful air emissions, and use of Boat Harbour to treat pulp mill effluents, both notorious.

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Posted in Pulp & Paper | Leave a comment

Zack M on Old Growth forest in Nova Scotia

Posted on September 19, 2017 by admin

Old growth hemlock

Just a few days back, I made a post about Zack Metcalfe’s walk through clearcut Crown land. His Guide talked about the declines of once common birds inhabiting mature forest, and how forestry on Crown land is removing the last vestiges of suitable habitat. It is a melancholy story that struck a lot of chords, as evidenced by the discussion about it on Woods and Waters Nova Scotia (some the comments are appended to the post on this website).

Now Zack M writes about the few remnants of the forest that covered much of our land when the first Europeans arrived, the fabled “Old Growth”.

It’s easy to lose yourself in old growth in the forest, your neck craned back to admire the towering canopy and your voice kept low as to not disturb the silence. Stepping into one is like entering a cathedral, and having its defining features pointed out is like an initiation into some exclusive club. And the more you see, the more lofty your membership.

Continue reading →

Posted in Acadian Forest, Biophilia, Conservation, Natural History, Old Growth, Social Values | Leave a comment

Hefler Forest Products to restart sawmill

Posted on September 15, 2017 by admin

heffler300 Since its rebirth following bankruptcy of the once family owned, 150 year old operation in Lower Sackville, N.S., Hefler Forest products has been running on the profitable biomass energy operation alone. (View post, Aug 3, 2017).

Now, according to an article by James Risdon in the Chronicle Herald (Sep 15, 2017) , they will be restarting the sawmill, beginning with “production of specialty wood products, including 12-foot and 16-foot lengths and deck boards”, and will add 25 sawmill jobs for a total of 40 employees.

As well, they will direct wastes, in place of a portion of purchased biomass, to the biomass energy operation thereby reducing a portion of the carbon emissions associated with any use of primary forest biomass. (“Hefler Forest Products has been buying the biomass needed to keep its power plant in operation through Wagner Forest Nova Scotia.” – CH, July 27, 2017)

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Posted in Biomass, Economics, Lumber | Leave a comment

Bob Bancroft concerned about attention to forest ecology in the Independent Review of Nova Scotia forestry

Posted on September 11, 2017 by admin

Bob Bancroft talking about cavity dwellers in a talk to the Friends of Redtail Society in 2013

CBC Information Morning’s Don Connelly interviewed Bob Bancroft on Aug 31, 2017, one day after the NS Government announced the start of the Independent Review of Forestry. An audio of the 8 minute interview is available on the CBC website.

In late June/early July, CBC Information Morning conducted four interviews related to Western Crown lands issues which had precipitated the Independent Review (see links).

Below is an ‘abbreviated transcript’ of the interview with Bob Bancroft.

Intro: Stephen McNeil announced a review of the provinces forestry practices during the election campaign in May. He said it would be completed by September. Yesterday DNR Minister Margaret Miller announced that the review will be headed by former Deputy Environment Minister Bill Lehey and it will be completed by the spring. Bob Bancroft is a wildlife biologist and was one of the authors of the provinces last forestry review in 2011

DC: Good morning Bob, what do you think of the choice of Bill Lehey to run this review?
Continue reading →

Posted in clearcuts, Conservation, Independent Review, WestFor | Leave a comment

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.

    Practicing forestry as if there were a tomorrow. This old logging road is on land now owned by Halifax Regional Municipality land. As private land it was logged up until about 20 years ago, but there are still lots of trees over 2 ft diameter, and snags and coarse woody debris.

    A Quiet Word on Forestry, published in the September issue of Rural Delivery, begins with “There are no names in this story”, a line by Ernest Hemingway. Writes ZM:

    I’ve followed this topic [NS forestry] in earnest for several months now, and everywhere it’s the same, from people in government, industry and even conservation; no one wants to talk openly about it – some for political reasons, some citing job security, and some because they don’t want to burn important bridges. So while visiting a slice of Crown land in Halifax County with yet another person in-the-know, I decided to indulge my source in anonymity. Otherwise, this story wouldn’t exist.

    Continue reading →

Posted in Biophilia, clearcuts, Conservation, Economics, Letters&Editorials | Leave a comment