A Reminder: Comments on RRA-NS are due by Friday Dec 6, 2024

Posted on December 4, 2024 by David Patriquin

The Sustainable Biomass Program launched its public consultations on “Regional Risk Assessments” including one for Nova Scotia on Nov 6, 2024 with responses to their Draft Document due by this Friday,  Dec 6, 2024.

In a post on Nov 7, 2024, I suggested that “As a compendium of ‘what’s broadly understood about NS forests & wood supply’ (my paraphrasing), this RRA warrants careful scrutiny by Nova Scotians – especially given that the “biomass issue” was not addressed by Lahey in the 2018 Forest Practices Review and given the several plus mega-projects that involve use of wood, wood processing byproducts or clearing of forested lands that have been proposed, discussed, and some approved recently coupled with our commitment to 20% Protection by 2030.”

View the Draft Regional Risk Assessment for the province of Nova Scotia, Canada Continue reading →

Posted in Bioeconomy, Certification systems, Conservation, Forest Biomass, Low Grade Wood | Comments Off on A Reminder: Comments on RRA-NS are due by Friday Dec 6, 2024

Proposed harvests within the boundaries of citizen-proposed Protected Wilderness Areas in Nova Scotia, continued… 26Nov2024

Posted on November 27, 2024 by Admin

From a post by Lisa Proulx on Friends of Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area (Public Facebook Page).

“As soon as we heard about the new cut block that was posted for comment in the Harvest Plan Map Viewer (HPMV) within the boundaries of the proposed Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area, we had a crew at the ready. Continue reading →

Posted in Citizen Sceince, Conservation, Landscape Level planning, ProtectedAreas, Species At Risk, Wabanaki Forest | Comments Off on Proposed harvests within the boundaries of citizen-proposed Protected Wilderness Areas in Nova Scotia, continued… 26Nov2024

Responses of Nova Scotia Liberals, NDP, PCs & Greens to “Nature Protection First Not Last” 20Nov2024

Posted on November 21, 2024 by Admin

Just received (Nov 20, 2024) from the Healthy Forest Coalition:

The Healthy Forest Coalition reached out to the provincial party leaders with a 7 point  election statement and a question [See Post, Nov 8, 2024, for details]. It ended thus:

…Right now, our government appears to be offering up our forest resources — whether as fiber, biofuel or real estate for wind turbines — to any company offering economic growth, seemingly forgetting the commitments it has already made to protecting the health of our lands and waters and all who depend on them.

The promises of new industries must be weighed against the costs. Wealth without ecosystem health is worthless.

Will you and your party put nature protection first, not last, ending log now, save later and acting with the urgency required to protect 20% of our province by 2030?

Below  are the responses (in order of receipt) from the Liberals, NDP and PCs. Due to an error on HFC’s part, the Green Party has only just received the statement. Their response will be post as soon as it is received. See Update Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, ProtectedAreas, Sustainable Wood Harvests, Wabanaki Forest | Comments Off on Responses of Nova Scotia Liberals, NDP, PCs & Greens to “Nature Protection First Not Last” 20Nov2024

CBC InfoAM interviews on Logging in Citizen-Proposed Protected Areas #1: the “Activists” 20Nov2024

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Admin

In the proposed Ingram River Wilderness Area From www.protecttheingram.com

CBC’s Carsten Knox interviewed St. Margaret’s Bay Stewardship Association Coordinator Mike Lancaster, and Ecology Action Centre’s Wilderness Coordinator Raymond Plourde on the topic of “Protecting Wilderness Areas” for Information Morning – NS with Portia Clarke, aired on Nov 19, 2024.

Forestry and conservation efforts are frequently at odds in Nova Scotia. Environmental groups are concerned about an uptick in forestry operations on public land that they’re working to protect. We hear from a couple of activists.

Lancaster has been actively involved in efforts to protect the citizen-proposed IRWA (Ingram River Wilderness Area), an approx 15000 ha area near Saint Margaret’s Bay.

As he described in a Facebook post reproduced on NS Forest Matters on Sep 23, 2024, Protect Ingram River Wilderness Areas supporters have been concerned about plans for logging in that area well before final boundaries are established for achieving the government’s legislated commitment to 20% Protection by 2030.

Similar concerns have been expressed about logging and plans for logging in the  Chain Lake Wilderness Area, the Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area and the Tobeatic Wilderness Area Addition (view posts Oct 20, 2024, Nov 4, 2024).
Read more

Posted in Citizen Sceince, Conservation, Landscape Level planning, ProtectedAreas | Comments Off on CBC InfoAM interviews on Logging in Citizen-Proposed Protected Areas #1: the “Activists” 20Nov2024

“Landscape Ecologist Karen Beazley a candidate for the Green Party in Nova Scotia election” 16Nov2024

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Admin

At a time when “Environment” seems to have dropped off the list of priorities for most voters, the Climate and Biodiversity Crises notwithstanding, it’s encouraging to see such a high caliber candidate and champion of Nature AND People amongst our choices.

Karen Beazley sees a close linkage between Healing Nature & Healing People. View this presentation as an example of her clear thinking about complex ecological issues.

I learned recently that Karen Beazley, well known for her pioneering research on landscape-level processes affecting wildlife in Nova Scotia and more broadly, is running for the Green Party as a candidate for the Halifax Citadel-Sable Island riding in the current Nova Scotia election.

Born in Nova Scotia, Karen Beazley has had a  career that spanned the Real World and the Ivory Tower, first as a professional Landscape Architect in Ontario, followed by 25 years as a Professor (and at times Director) for Dalhousie University’s School for Resource and Environmental Studies. Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Landscape Level planning, Wildlife | Comments Off on “Landscape Ecologist Karen Beazley a candidate for the Green Party in Nova Scotia election” 16Nov2024

Healthy Forest Coalition to Nova Scotia Political Leaders: Nature Protection First not Last 8Nov2024

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Admin

Just received: this message which the Healthy Forest Coalition sent to party leaders yesterday (Nov 7, 2024):

NATURE PROTECTION FIRST
NOT LAST

The value of forests is changing. The way we treat them must change too.

We are all stakeholders in a livable planet. Protecting and restoring ecosystem health must be the overarching priority in how forests are managed.

We call on government to:

  • Meet the mandated targets of permanently protecting 15% of our lands and waters by March 2026 and 20% by 2030.

Continue reading →
Posted in Conservation, ProtectedAreas, Sustainable Wood Harvests, Wabanaki Forest | Comments Off on Healthy Forest Coalition to Nova Scotia Political Leaders: Nature Protection First not Last 8Nov2024

Sustainable Biomass Program launches public consultations on “Regional Risk Assessments” including one for Nova Scotia 7Nov2025

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Admin

As a compendium of ‘what’s broadly understood about NS forests & wood supply’ (my paraphrasing), this RRA warrants careful scrutiny by Nova Scotians – especially given that the “biomass issue” was not addressed by Lahey in the 2018 Forest Practices Review and given the several plus mega-projects that involve use of wood, wood processing byproducts or clearing of forested lands that have been proposed, discussed, and some approved recently coupled with our commitment to 20% Protection by 2030.

This initiative for Nova Scotia was announced back in mid-June with the public consultation process then expected to begin in mid-Aug (NSFM Post, June 16, 2024).

The release of a Draft RRA for public review was finally announced yesterday, not only for Nova Scotia but for 6 other regions as well (Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Quebec; plus Denmark – Trees Outside Forests, & US – Primary Sourcing Regions).

THE DOCUMENT TO BE REVIEWED:
Draft Regional Risk Assessment for the province of Nova Scotia, Canada
Version draft for Stakeholder Consultation, September 4, 2024. The Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC)
A 254 page document with 19 Figures, 8 Tables and 6 Annex sections.

FOR A LINK TO SUBMIT COMMENTS:
View this page on the Sustainable Biomass Program Website :
SBP Launches Public Consultations on Seven Regional Risk Assessments

As a compendium of ‘what’s broadly understood about NS forests & wood supply’ (my paraphrasing), it definitely warrants careful scrutiny by Nova Scotians – especially given all of the mega-projects that involve use of wood, wood processing byproducts or clearing of forested lands that have been proposed, discussed, and some approved recently coupled with our commitment to 20% Protection by 2030.

The deadline for response is Dec 6, 2024.

– David P Continue reading →

Posted in Bioeconomy, carbon, Low Grade Wood, Sustainable Wood Harvests | Comments Off on Sustainable Biomass Program launches public consultations on “Regional Risk Assessments” including one for Nova Scotia 7Nov2025

Harvesting in citizen-proposed Nova Scotia Protected Area continued…4Nov2024

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Admin

Post by David Patriquin

Map of the 3900 hectare proposed Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area View Post Oct 1, 2024 for details.

Citizens have 40 days and 40 nights to comment on the proposed harvest but only comments specific to the site will be answered; in the meantime it’s not clear whether the parcel in question will remain in the Ecological Matrix or will become a High Production Forestry site or will eventually become part of the Conservation Zone. The venue by which citizens were to be informed and involved in long term planning, the Forestry EA (recommended by Lahey), now seems simply to have been dropped, and it’s not clear whether there is any ongoing landscape level planning for biodiversity conservation at NRR.

When I received the “New-Crown Land Harvest Plans” notice today (Nov 4, 2024) and saw 9 parcels totaling 345.65 ha listed for Annapolis Co.,  I wondered  whether those would include at least one within the citizen-proposed Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area (re Open letter to Nova Scotia Premier Houston requesting cessation of logging in areas that are prime candidates for protection – post on this website Oct 17, 2024).

Indeed that is the case: Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, NS NRR, ProtectedAreas | Comments Off on Harvesting in citizen-proposed Nova Scotia Protected Area continued…4Nov2024

A second scientific paper by MG Betts & colleagues further documents “Forest Degradation” in Maritime Canada 31Oct2024

Posted on November 1, 2024 by Admin

It’s difficult to understate the significance of this paper given the recent efforts of the E.U. to bring in regulations that limit exports and imports of forest products associated with “deforestation” and “forest degradation” while the Canadian forest industry and the federal government contend that our forestry practices are fully sustainable and express concern that such regulations would create unfair trade barriers for Canadian wood exports. The results and conclusions from this recent “Carbon Paper” and an earlier “Bird Paper” by MG Betts & colleagues, both based on data for forests in Maritime Canada, lend a lot of credence to recent protests in Nova Scotia over forest degradation associated with harvesting of remaining patches of Old Forest in landscapes on Crown lands. Likewise, the 2024 “Carbon Paper” does not support the contention of Forest NS that growing secondary forests lock carbon away more effectively than unharvested forests in Protected Areas.

“New Brunswick forests are losing, not storing, carbon. But conservation could have benefits for the climate and biodiversity”

So reads a News Release citing a paper published on Oct 30, 2024 in Global Change Biology by M.G. Betts et al.

M.G. Betts et al., 2024. “Congruent Long-Term Declines in Carbon and Biodiversity Are a Signature of Forest Degradation”Global Change Biology Oct 30, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17541

The Full Text (graphics inserted): Continue reading →

Posted in carbon, Conservation, NS NRR, ProtectedAreas, Sustainable Wood Harvests, Triad, Wabanaki Forest | Tagged | Comments Off on A second scientific paper by MG Betts & colleagues further documents “Forest Degradation” in Maritime Canada 31Oct2024

Special Announcement – Public Meeting on the proposed Chain Lakes Wilderness Area Mon Oct 28, 2024

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Admin

Rutted logging road on Crown lands in the proposed Chain Lakes Wilderness Area

The province has promised to protect 20% of the land area of Nova Scotia by 2030, but government folks are evidently not taking their promise very seriously.

It appears that the intent of DNRR is to cut the best of the remaining public forests before protection is fully evaluated or finalized.

There are harvest proposals put forth within several proposed wilderness areas. The harvests would remove roughly half the forest each time under the guise of ecological forestry, but leave a degraded and fragmented landscape behind. Continue reading →

Posted in Conservation, Forest Roads, NS NRR, ProtectedAreas, Triad, Wabanaki Forest | Comments Off on Special Announcement – Public Meeting on the proposed Chain Lakes Wilderness Area Mon Oct 28, 2024