Panta Rei blog explores the economics of forestry in Nova Scotia & changes in forests and employment

Posted on April 17, 2017 by admin

Two approaches to managing woodlots in Nova Scotia: what are the implications for the economy, the forests and employment now and in the future?

Soren Bondrup-Nielsen has posted several pieces about forestry on his
Panta Rei blog:

Analysis of the economics of forestry in Nova Scotia
Full title: Analysis of the change in labour force adjusted for volume and area harvested within the forestry sector in Nova Scotia from 1990 to 2015 (April 17, 2017)

From ships to chips
(March 22, 2017)

Nova Scotia Forestry analysis
Full title: Analysis of the change in labour force adjusted for volume and area harvested within the forestry sector in Nova Scotia from 1990 to 2015. (March 14, 2017)

Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Economics, Pulp & Paper, Social Values | Leave a comment

2015 stats for Nova Scotia on National Forestry Database illustrate continuing pressure on Crown lands

Posted on April 14, 2017 by admin

In January, I made use of stats on the National Forestry Database to address three questions:

– Has clearcutting on Crown land in Nova Scotia increased or decreased? (Posted Jan 22, 2017)

– What’s a clearcut and what’s not a clearcut in Nova Scotia? (Posted Jan 23, 2017)

– How much forestry in Nova Scotia maintains mixed, multi-aged Acadian forest? (Posted Jan 23, 2017)

In those posts, I looked at stats for the years 2000, 2010 and 2014, 2014 being the most recent year available. Since then, figures for 2015 have been posted on the National Forestry Database. I have updated the summary tables accordingly (below) and added a table (Table 4) showing the the totals for all harvest types: Continue reading →

Posted in clearcuts, Economics, Private Woodlots, Selection Harvest | Leave a comment

Spring has sprung in the ravines of Nova Scotia

Posted on April 12, 2017 by admin

Yesterday was the first very warm day of 2017, reaching a temperature of 23 degrees C while there was still snow on the ground. I went to a favourite ravine to witness the spring flow and wasn’t disappointed. A torrent of water poured into the ravine which was lined by towering hemlock, red spruce and white pine with a few red maple and yellow birch in the mix.
Continue reading →

Posted in Biophilia, clearcuts, Climate Change, Conservation | Leave a comment

The forest tragedy continued: Margaree, Cape Breton

Posted on April 11, 2017 by admin

Sam Aimsworth of the Save the Margaree Watershed (Facebook group) has posted a moving, sorrowful video on youtube: Breath of Life-Margaree, Cape Breton.

The video highlights the plight of endangered Canada lynx and pine martin after NSDNR approved logging of 261 acres of sugar maple and yellow birch with known habitat for these species.

The Forest Tragedy continues.
Continue reading →

Posted in Biophilia, clearcuts, NSDNR | Leave a comment

Loons are back

Posted on April 11, 2017 by admin

In this fragile new world, I am always encouraged when elements of the seasons that I grew up with are repeated.

Amongst them, the call of the common loon is certainly foremost.

People love loons. Their haunting voice and striking plumage, combined with their presence on some of Canada’s most beautiful lakes, make them one of this country’s best-known wilderness symbols… In Nova Scotia, approximately 1,200 pairs of loons breed each summer on lakes left behind by the recession and melting of the massive Wisconsin ice field.”
– Read more in Bird Studies Canada document

Continue reading →

Posted in Biophilia, Natural History, NSDNR | Leave a comment

Softwood jitters focus on April 24, 2017

Posted on April 7, 2017 by admin

Understandably, there are a lot of jitters around the Trump administration’s intentions to renegotiate NAFTA and to include softwood lumber trade with Canada. Now the focus is on April 24, 2017. That’s the “Latest date for DOC [U.S. Department of Commerce] to issue Preliminary Determination on subsidy”.

The word is that “no one knows what the preliminary duty will be on April 24th. However, we do know that it will be big enough to hurt and to be a motivator to settle” (B.C. Forest Sector CEO cited on treefrogcreative.ca, April 7, 2017). Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, softwood lumber | Leave a comment

WestFor makes its case to Queens County

Posted on April 6, 2017 by admin

Western Crown lands, modified from CPAWS map (2012)

An article by Michael Lee, WestFor manager defends clearcutting practices, in the Apr 5, 2017 print version of LighthouseNow describes a presentation to Council for the Region of Queens Municipality by WestFor Manager Marcus Zwicker. (The article is not available online.)

As I read the article it seems the presentation was much along the lines of an earlier presentation to Digby Council, but there were evidently fewer (or no) voices of dissent amongst the audience. Continue reading →

Posted in clearcuts, Letters&Editorials, Private Woodlots, WestFor | Leave a comment

Nova Scotia protects significant older forest stands and an important corridor

Posted on April 4, 2017 by admin

With these latest additions, the total area protected is 12.4% of Nova Scotia’s land area.

Chignecto Isthmus Wilderness Area (PPA photo)

In March of 2017, Nova Scotia Parks and Protected Areas (a section of Nova Scotia Environment) designated two new Wilderness Areas and expansion of another totalling 5950 ha, and 12 new Nature Reserves of 6 to 298 ha in area. It was a low key announcement with no Press Release, but the sites are significant. The sites were initially identified for protection in Nova Scotia’s 2013 Parks and Protected Areas Plan.
Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Ecosystem Services, Natural History, Old Growth, Parks & Protected Areas, Recreation, Watersheds, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Celebrating spring in the Acadian Forest in Nova Scotia

Posted on April 2, 2017 by admin

spring forest Three short videos celebrate spring in our forests and offer some interesting insights.

Treasures Of The Old Forest
Produced in 2005 by Avalon & Meguma Natural History Films. “Precious as jewels, fleeting as snow-flakes, yet ancient as the forest itself, these are the wildflowers of the Acadian forest. The trillium, the spring beauty, the bloodroot and lady slipper, once as abundant as the songbirds – now driven to the far recesses of their range. A priceless inheritance many Maritimers may never see, truly, the Treasures of the Old Forest”.
Continue reading →

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WestFor makes its case to Digby Municipal Council

Posted on March 30, 2017 by admin

Western Crown lands, modified from CPAWS map (2012)

In an article in the Digby Courier Sara Ericsson reports on a Mar 28, 2017 presentation by the WestFor General Manager, Marcus Zwicker, to Digby Municipal Council on its business and methods. This followed concerns about the extent of clearcutting expressed by Digby Co. residents (view Digby Courier, Mar 7, 2017). The neighbouring Annapolis Co. has also voiced concerns.
Continue reading →

Posted in Acadian Forest, clearcuts, WestFor | Leave a comment