Nova Scotia Forest Notes

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

Posted on January 13, 2022 by admin

From Advertisement for the Forestry Machine Operator Training Program

The Forest Sector Council of Nova Scotia is seeking candidates to participate in its Forestry Machine Operator Training Program.

The forestry machine operator training program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions as mechanized forest equipment operators.

The specialized nature of forest harvesting equipment requires skilled operators with a focus on safe, environmentally sustainable, and viable commercial operations.

The current session begins on March 14, 2022 in Truro. It involves a 5 week, in-class introduction (Forestry 101), a 5 week Basic Training component 5 weeks and 15 weeks of Advanced Equipment Operation Training in which “students are matched with a harvesting contractor who will employ the student for ‘on-the-job’ training component directly on the contractor’s active operations.” Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Tree Harvests | Comments Off

2021 Mainland Moose Recovery Plan excludes Chebucto Peninsula from areas of Core Habitat management 5Jan2021

Posted on January 5, 2022 by admin

Map 5 from the Halifax Green Network Plan (2018)
Identification of the Chebucto Peninsula is inserted. The map illustrates the advanced level of landscape level planning for conservation of biodiversity by Halifax (HRM, all of Halifax Co.) Click image for larger version

Summary

Summary Historically moose in the the Bowater-Mersey St. Margarets Bay lands were considered contiguous with the population on the Chebucto Peninsula and together formed one of the four Core Population Areas recognized in 2012. The 2021 Mainland Moose Recovery Plan, however, excludes the Chebucto Peninsula from areas of Core Habitat. The reasons are a bit obscure but seem to be related to the Recovery Team’s contention “that development has led to declines in the Chebucto Peninsula region” and “a loss of connectivity across the landscape”. However, there is no evidence that the declines on the Chebucto Peninsula have been any more precipitous than in other areas of NS that are retained as Core areas. Also, these comments do not recognize the demonstrated commitment of Halifax Regional Municipality, supported by its citizenry, to addressing habit and connectivity issues, especially for the Chebucto Peninsula. Surely, the Chebucto population should continue to be treated as contiguous with the moose in the Bowater-Mersey St. Margaret’s Bay land, and part of the Core Habitat for the Mainland Moose.

Posted in Conservation, Landscape Level Planning, Wildlife | Comments Off

NatureNS asks Nova Scotians to support the new Mainland Moose Recovery Plan 5Jan2021

Posted on January 5, 2022 by admin

NatureNS’s endorsement of the plan is significant as Nature NS has been highly critical of L&F’s management of the Mainland Moose and was one of three naturalist groups that took the province to court over this issue in 2019 – and won. NatureNS has a few reservations, particularly ones related the the Special Management Practices, and I and others are concerned that the Chebucto Peninsula was excluded from the Core Habitat areas.

On Nov 26, 2021, NS Dept of Natural Resources and Renewable (NRR or NSNRR) released the its Mainland Moose Recovery Plan following “delays, lawsuits and auditor general reports on the issue” (CBC, Nov 26, 2021). Continue reading →

Posted in Acadian Forest, clearcuts, Landscape Level Planning, Natural Resources & Renewables, Wildlife | Comments Off

Up to date forestry employment numbers for Nova Scotia 22Dec2021

Posted on December 22, 2021 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

A reader of NSFN forwarded some stats and some thoughts about the future of the forest industry, writing as one who comes from a family directly involved in forestry for three generations. He arrives at a painful conclusion: “I sometimes wonder”, he writes, “if our Provincial Governments (of all stripes) have been trying to delay the inevitable, the closure of the forestry industry”.

I wish we could recognize ‘the inevitable’ as the reader put it, and work collectively to make the transition to a very different kind of forest economy, one that would allow our Wabanake/Acadian forest to thrive and be as resilient as possible in times of great climate and social change and provide stable, rewarding employment for all of the workers now working in large scale, industrial forestry, and more.

Received today from a reader of NSFN:

‘Came across the following site:

Labour statistics consistent with the System of National Accounts (SNA), by job category and industry (statcan.gc.ca)

‘Still trying to reconcile the total number of jobs that Forestry Nova Scotia’s site highlights (11,500) Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Lumber, Pulp & Paper, Tree Harvests | Comments Off

Nova Scotia NRR advertising for “Director Organizational Strategy & Renewal” 22Dec2021

Posted on December 22, 2021 by admin

Prof.Lahey’s Independent Evaluation of the FPR was released Nov 30, 2021. Click on image to go to view it.

I missed this one, the deadline for which is 12/27/2021. I have been on the lookout for something related to Prof. Laheys recomommendations, released publicly on Nov 30, 2021, vis a vis implementation of ecological forestry, in particular this:

The Department needs 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. Appointment of this person to the vacant statutory position of the province’s Chief Forester should be considered of this person to the vacant statutory position of the province’s Chief Forester should be considered.

Coincidentally or not much of the job description for the ‘Director Organizational Strategy & Renewal’ seems to fill this requirement. Continue reading →

Posted in Ind Rev Post-Report, Natural Resources & Renewables, New PC Government | Comments Off

Maritime Forest Accord: “a hub for people to share approaches to forest care that put community and climate benefits first” 20Dec2021

Posted on December 20, 2021 by admin

It is an encouraging sign that we don’t have to wait for government to lead in these sorts of initiatives

Received yesterday from Rebecca Jacobs, Digital Communications Coordinator for Community Forests International:

The Maritime Forest Accord is a movement and a hub for people to share approaches to forest care that put community and climate benefits first.

The idea behind the Accord emerged during a week-long event that brought together participants from Medway Community Forest Cooperative, Mi’kmawey Forestry, the University of New Brunswick, the Wolasteqey Nation in New Brunswick, and Community Forests International.

Together, we explored how we might help the Wabanaki forest flourish for future generations. Conversations gravitated toward the challenges encountered by small private landowners, who care deeply about their forests but often face challenges aligning their management decisions with their values, including a lack of reliable information.

In response, we created the Maritime Forest Accord, a website dedicated to uplifting the vibrant community of people committed to forest stewardship in this region. We hope this website serves as a central resource hub for people and groups who care about the special forest in this part of the world.
Continue reading →

Posted in Private Woodlots, Wabanaki Forest | Comments Off

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

2021 Mainland Moose Recovery Plan excludes Chebucto Peninsula from areas of Core Habitat management 5Jan2021

NatureNS asks Nova Scotians to support the new Mainland Moose Recovery Plan 5Jan2021

Up to date forestry employment numbers for Nova Scotia 22Dec2021

Nova Scotia NRR advertising for “Director Organizational Strategy & Renewal” 22Dec2021

Maritime Forest Accord: “a hub for people to share approaches to forest care that put community and climate benefits first” 20Dec2021

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