DRAFTING
– Association for Sustainable Forestry
Quasi NS Gov. organization. “The Association for Sustainable Forestry is a progressive organization which provides small private woodland owners with the financial means to implement forest improvement work on their properties.”
– www.novascotia.ca
—Department of Natural Resources and Renewables
— —Forestry
— — — Forest Renewal/ Reforestation
— — — — Strathlorne Forest Nursery
The Strathlorne Forest Nursery was established in 1978 in Strathlorne, a small community near the west coast of Cape Breton, just south of Inverness…The Strathlorne Forest Nursery traditionally produces conifer seedlings through a one crop per growing season schedule, trees are typically ordered 14 months before they are required for planting…The species grown at our nursery include red spruce, black spruce, white spruce and lesser amounts of white pine, red pine, balsam fir.
Comment by DC: ‘Mostly’ boreal conifers are the species planted in NS. Often the spruce may be a bS-rS hybrid, too. They do generally focus on planting 2 to 3 species on a site now. bS is king. They are also looking seriously at Norway spruce. Very poor for wildlife and clearly boreal.
The only temperate species in the following are rS and wP.
In Nova Scotia, the forest industry primarily plants softwood species due to their economic value and suitability for the region’s climate and soils. The most commonly planted tree seedlings include:
Black Spruce (Picea mariana): Widely planted due to its adaptability to various soil types and its importance in the pulp and paper industry.
White Spruce (Picea glauca): Commonly used for reforestation and plantation forestry, valued for its fast growth and wood quality.
Red Spruce (Picea rubens): Native to Nova Scotia, it is often planted to maintain biodiversity and as part of restoration projects.
Eastern Larch (Larix laricina): Occasionally planted for its rapid growth and tolerance of wet soils.
Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana): Sometimes planted on sandy or nutrient-poor soils due to its hardiness.
White Pine (Pinus strobus): Used in some areas for its valuable timber and role in mixed forest restoration.
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea): Planted in specific regions, though less common due to susceptibility to pests like the spruce budworm.
These species are selected based on their growth rates, resistance to pests and diseases, and suitability for the province’s reforestation goals. The focus is often on species that can support the pulp and paper industry, sawmills, and long-term forest sustainability.