Second paper from the Nova Scotia Ecological Forestry Natural Disturbance Regime project published, announced 6 months later 4Feb2022

Front page of the 2nd Natural Disturbance Regimes paper with abstract. Click on image for larger, readable version. Access full paper here

This ‘Priority Project’ appears to be completed, pretty well on schedule, but many issues remain to be addressed at the landscape level. Surely it is time to adopt a  key recommendation of Prof Lahey  in his recent Evaluation of Progress, namely to “adopt a more centralized and directional approach to the organization of work on implementation of the FPR and assign overall leadership of the process to a forester who is committed to ecological forestry who has the experience and knowledge to lead Nova Scotia’s embrace of an ecological paradigm”.

I try to keep on top of what’s coming out from NRR in relation to the ‘Lahey Recommendations‘, and check the NS Government’s Ecological Forestry page fairly regularly.

On Feb 2, 2022,  I checked the page for any announcement of the second published paper expected from the Natural Disturbance Regime Project. There were no updates about  it.

So  I wrote Naomi Arron, Senior Strategist, Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry with whom I had correspondence with earlier about this project, and who had told me on Oct 13, 2020:   “The department’s NDR project team is working towards submitting a scientific paper on the application of natural disturbance regimes to a journal for consideration and peer review in Spring 2021. Acceptance and the timing of publication will depend on the journal.” I asked her if there is any update on it. Continue reading

Posted in Conservation, Ind Rev Post-Report, Wabanaki Forest | Comments Off on Second paper from the Nova Scotia Ecological Forestry Natural Disturbance Regime project published, announced 6 months later 4Feb2022

Nova Scotia Crown lands Harvest Plan announcements: changes reflecting ‘Lahey’ introduced 3Feb2022

An example of the new reporting on the HPMV, accessed today (Feb 3, 2022)

Received today (Feb 3, 2022) from forestrtrymapsATnovascotia.ca together with the latest list of new announcements:

“The Harvest Plans Map Viewer is receiving an update to its legend that aligns with the Department’s continued work towards implementation of the Nova Scotia Silvicultural Guide for the Ecological Matrix (SGEM), which was released July 2021 and only applies to Acadian forest ecosites, at this time. Continue reading

Posted in Ind Rev Post-Report, Tree Harvests, Wabanaki Forest | Comments Off on Nova Scotia Crown lands Harvest Plan announcements: changes reflecting ‘Lahey’ introduced 3Feb2022

Day 59 at Last Hope Wildlife Corridor encampment in Nova Scotia 31Jan2022

Clear thinking amidst the chaos of  the third intense winter storm in less than a month

From a post on Extinction Rebellion Mi’kma’ki / Nova Scotia (public FB page) Jan 29, 2022 (bolding inserted):

Day 59 at Last Hope camp

This is the third intense storm in less than a month. We know that weather is not the same as climate, but we also know now that climate change is making severe weather of all sorts more likely. The climate is wobbling. Patterns are changing so fast that plants and animals do not have time to adapt. Cycles are going out of sync. The wheels are coming off the bus. Continue reading

Posted in Climate Change, Conservation, Show Us the Science, Social Media, Social Values, Wabanaki Forest, WestFor | Comments Off on Day 59 at Last Hope Wildlife Corridor encampment in Nova Scotia 31Jan2022

On logging of Crown land parcel AP068499 Beals Meadow, Nova Scotia: 2. Highgrading at the Landscape Level 27Jan2022

Sign at the Last Hope Wildlife Corridor Encampment underscores the landscape level values of AP068499 Beals Meadow  “The real question is not how should this parcel be cut but should it be cut at all? Bowater-Mersey left this parcel alone when they were cutting everything else in reach because of its value to wildlife. Has wildlife recovered in the intervening years?”  – Nina Newington

“Logging the Best and Leaving the Rest” is occurring on the Crown lands all over the province including the area of AP068499 Beals Meadow. It is “Highgrading at the Landscape Level”

CONTENTS
Background
What is “Highgrading”?
Highgrading at the Landscape level
Is Highgrading at the Landscape Level happening in the vicinity of AP068499 Beals Meadow?
Postscript
A provisional definition of Highgrading at the landscape Level
On Highgrading at the Landscape Level and Wood Supply
—-
To Comment

Background

Currently there is a stand-off between the Nova Scotia Government/NS Dept of Natural Resources and Renewables (NSNRR or NRR) and citizens who are taking direct action to block government-approved logging on Crown land parcel AP068499 Beals Meadow by the WestFor consortium. Continue reading

Posted in clearcuts, Conservation, Economics, Ind Rev Post-Report, Landscape Level Planning, Show Us the Science, Wabanaki Forest, WestFor, Wildlife | Comments Off on On logging of Crown land parcel AP068499 Beals Meadow, Nova Scotia: 2. Highgrading at the Landscape Level 27Jan2022

Species-at-Risk found on AP068499 Beals Meadow, Nova Scotia, logging paused 27Jan2022

From Extinction Rebellion Mi’kma’ki / Nova Scotia (Public Facebook Page) Jan 26, 2022: (bolding inserted)

“Day 56 at the Last Hope camp
Good news: a temporary halt has been put on the plan to cut the forest we are protecting because some rare lichens have been identified here. This does not mean the forest is now protected and we can go home. Far from it. But it is a step in the right direction.

As people have learned about this forest so many people are passionate to protect, lichen enthusiasts have expressed an interest in coming to see for themselves. One did so twice last week. In spite of deep snow, he found three kinds of rare and sensitive lichens growing on oak and maple near the swamps. They are each listed as Species At Risk and require ‘Special Management Practices’ meaning, in this case, no cutting within 100m of each of these kinds of lichen. Continue reading

Posted in Conservation, Ind Rev Post-Report, Landscape Level Planning, Show Us the Science, Social Values, Wabanaki Forest | Comments Off on Species-at-Risk found on AP068499 Beals Meadow, Nova Scotia, logging paused 27Jan2022

JD Irving looking for Forest Products Truck Driver (Class 1) 25Jan2022

“J.D. Irving, Limited, NS Woodlands Division is currently seeking candidates for Forest Products Truck Driver (Class 1) . Operations will take place within Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Forest Products Truck Driver will be expected to operate the Truck in a safe, efficient and productive manner according to J.D. Irving, Limited’s Best Management Practices and maintain all legal requirements for operation on public roads. The Truck Driver will be required to maintain production and utilization targets, and work independently in remote environments. Work will consist of short haul routes, with drivers being able to return home at the end of the each shift…up to $17.00 – $22.00” View full Advertisement

‘Have to say, this seem a rather sad rate of pay in these days of high demand for truck drivers generally, the demands of the job, and given the continued high demand and high prices paid for lumber. Continue reading

Posted in softwood lumber, Tree Harvests | Comments Off on JD Irving looking for Forest Products Truck Driver (Class 1) 25Jan2022

On logging of Crown land parcel AP068499 Beals Meadow, Nova Scotia: 1. Google Earth and Global Forest Watch images reveal extent of clearcutting in the vicinity 23Jan2022

Global Forest Watch image of tree cover gain (blue) and loss (pink)  in the area of AP068499 Beals Meadow

Exploration of the circumstances surrounding the decision to log AP068499 Beals Meadow raises more questions than answers. NRR could provide at least some of the answers.

Currently there is a stand-off between the Nova Scotia Government/NS Dept of Natural Resources and Renewables (NSNRR or NRR) and citizens who are taking direct action to block government-approved logging on Crown land parcel AP068499 Beals Meadow by the WestFor consortium. Continue reading

Posted in Acadian Forest, Conservation, Ind Rev Post-Report, Landscape Level Planning, Natural Resources & Renewables, Show Us the Science, Tree Harvests, Wabanaki Forest, Wildlife | Comments Off on On logging of Crown land parcel AP068499 Beals Meadow, Nova Scotia: 1. Google Earth and Global Forest Watch images reveal extent of clearcutting in the vicinity 23Jan2022

Nova Scotia FSC (Forestry Sector Council) seeking Committee Members 22 Jan 2022

 The Forestry Sector Council posted this notice  on linkedin.com:

Are you interested in serving the forestry industry in developing its workforce in Nova Scotia?

We are seeking subject matter experts to serve on the following Advisory Committees:
– Workforce (labour/human resources)
– Skills and Training
– Attraction and Retention

Detailed committee descriptions and the application form can be found here: https://bit.ly/3fH9Q7j

Completed forms can be sent to info@forestrysectorcouncil.ca. All applications will be vetted by the Nominating Committee prior to making a recommendation to the Board of Directors.

Related Posts on NSFN

Nova Scotia Forest Sector Council offers training to address shortage in skilled forestry machine operators 13Jan2022

We now have another “FSC” in Nova Scotia forestry 1July2021


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Posted in Economics, Tree Harvests | Comments Off on Nova Scotia FSC (Forestry Sector Council) seeking Committee Members 22 Jan 2022

A second Line in the Sand of Crown land forests in Annapolis Co. 20 Jan2022

Picturesque Annapolis Co. 2017. Annapolis Co. has a high proportion of Crown land which has been subject to intensive and extensive harvesting (View Post Jan 8, 2019) NRR’s defence of their line in the sand at Beals Meadow makes no reference to landscape level planning for biodiversity conservation – a major issue in relation to the Beals Meadow site, as cited by Nina Newington on Dec 3, 2021.

Early on, in fact on Day 2 of the Last Hope Wildlife Corridor Encampment /Protest, a senior bureaucrat at Nova Scotia Natural Resources and Renewables stated clearly they were not about to change direction in regard to Crown land block AP068499 Beals Meadow. The position was reiterated by NRR Minister Tory Rushton on Jan 12, 2022.

It was the second such line drawn in the sands of Annapolis Co. since Prof Lahey released his report on Aug21, 2018. The first was at The Corbett Lake Old Hardwood Forest in 2019 under the Liberal government with Iain Rankin as Minister of Lands and Forestry. That was also the site where the Women of Annapolis County/Extinction Rebellion Mi’kma’ki / Nova Scotia staged their first encampment to block logging on a Crown land parcel.

The more that was learned about that site, the more reasons there were for not logging it, but the government remained entrenched in its position.

Is that recent history about to repeat itself?

Read More


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Posted in Conservation, Ind Rev Post-Report, Landscape Level Planning, Natural Resources & Renewables, New PC Government, Wabanaki Forest | Comments Off on A second Line in the Sand of Crown land forests in Annapolis Co. 20 Jan2022

PC Government moving ahead with protection of Owl’s Head and protection of 20% of Nova Scotia by 2030 18Jan2022

Good News worth noting 

From the PC’s commitments during the run-up to the August 2021 election

In an article on saltwire.com today, reporter Francis Campbell cited the  Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables Tory Rushton’s comments on Owls Head*
________
*Owl’s Head is a 285-hectare area of Crown land on the Eastern Shore that includes rare coastal barrens. The McNeil/Rankin Government  secretly delisted it from the Parks and Protected Areas Plan and was negotiating for its sale to an American golf course developer, a factor in the Liberal Government’s defeat in the August 2022 election.

“I’ve asked my department to prioritize this piece of land to move it forward,”Tory Rushton, Nova Scotia’s minister of natural resources and renewables, said after a cabinet meeting Thursday.

Continue reading

Posted in New PC Government, Parks & Protected Areas | Comments Off on PC Government moving ahead with protection of Owl’s Head and protection of 20% of Nova Scotia by 2030 18Jan2022