This page is a subpage of On Social Media
A limited selection of posts on Social Media that reflect, report on public discussion of current, forest- and forestry-related issues in Nova Scotia expressed by “Big Forestry” organizations. Not attempting to be comprehensive.
Jan 29, 2025:
Did you know that younger trees absorb carbon faster than mature ones?
On Forestry for the Future FB page
Links to this page: Canada’s Carbon Sink
A comment on the post by S.R.:
“However, it takes a very long time for a ‘young forest’ to sequester as much carbon as an old forest contained. And biodiversity and soil carbon is lost. Is this page interested in ‘forests forever’ or logging forever? I’m not against sustainable tree harvest, but clear cutting is not good for biodiversity or carbon balance.” NOTE: www.forestryforthefuture.ca is a domain registered by Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) on 2019-08-22 “Founded in 1913, the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association changed its name to the Forest Products Association of Canada in February 2001. “- Wikipedia
Dec 13, 2024:
“Canadian Forestry can Save the World”
Post on Forestry For The Future
“The ‘Canadian Forestry Can Save The World’ podcast explores what’s happening in Canada’s forests the features innovators who are using this renewable resource to bring new climate technologies to market, all while debunking some of the common misconceptions about the sector.
Listen now: https://www.forestryforthefuture.ca/podcasts
Comment (NSFN – dp): These podcasts were produced by Story Studio Network; It appears that the series began Nov 30, 2022. The same folks are producing podcasts for the “Forestry Uncut” series for Forest NS; the first one was released Sep 6, 2024. www.forestryforthefuture.ca is a domain registered by Forest products Association of Canada on 2019-08-22 (Source: GoDaddy Who Is). . Listen to Story Studio Network “CEO Erin Trafford [as she] delves into the fascinating world of branded podcasting and why it’s a game-changer for businesses.”
Also view: Dissecting forestry industry’s deceptive PR propaganda campaign by Joan Baxter in the Halifax Examiner, Mar 12, 2024 “The Forest Products Association of Canada is filling social media with its ‘Forestry For The Future’ push poll – users beware.”
Dec 11, 2024:
Future Proof Our Forests
Post on Forestry For The Future (FB Page)
Forestry for the Future Campaign. View more
View a Few of the 47 Written Comments
Dec 11, 2024:
Forest NS Podcast: A lot has happened
That’s the title of Forest Nova Scotia’s Podcast #9 in its “Forestry Uncut” series.
Go to https://www.forestns.ca/podcast/episode-9
to listen to the full podcast (21 min).
From the Written Intro on the ForestNS website:
In this episode, host Erin Trafford talks with FNS Interim Executive Director Todd Burgess about the positive changes and opportunities emerging within Nova Scotia’s forestry sector. Todd emphasises new projects, like sustainable bioenergy and aviation fuel initiatives, that are creating value from low-quality wood. These examples showcase how forestry can contribute to sustainable development and climate change mitigation. He reflects on the sector’s revitalization and the increasing membership. Erin and Todd discuss the importance of engaging both rural and urban communities to strengthen support and understanding of forestry’s impact.
View Rough Transcript & Links to other podcasts in the series
Nov 17, 2024:
The forests of Nova Scotia have the power to fuel our future.
Post on Forest NS FB page.
Episode 6
The Primal Connection and Bioenergy Solutions “In this episode, we tap into the primal connection humans have with forests and fire, exploring how our narratives around forestry and wood burning have evolved. And how looking at this primal connection to fire can lead to innovative solutions to modern day challenges. We chat with Robin Barrett, a small woodlot owner near Halifax, about his dedication to work in forestry, despite the challenges. The discussion highlights the benefits of firewood, particularly for low-income seniors, and the primal satisfaction of burning wood. Former Forest Nova Scotia Executive Director Stephen Moore* joins us to discuss the critical importance of heat in Canada and how bioenergy can address both environmental and economic issues. Jamie Stephen, Managing Director of Torchlight BioResources, provides insights into Canada’s heat consumption and the potential of bioenergy as a sustainable solution.”
Oct 18, 2024:
Forest Nova Scotia post
“Forestry is more than just about cutting trees—it’s a key player in solving global challenges. From carbon capture to everyday products, Episode 1 of Forestry Uncut dives into how this sector is addressing pollution, housing, and more.
Swipe through to discover why forestry is essential for a sustainable future and how it’s tackling some of the biggest problems facing humanity.
[🎧 Listen to Episode 1] https://www.spreaker.com/…/forestry-can-fix-that–61006369
#ForestryUncut #ClimateSolutions #GreenGrowth #SustainableForestry #ForestryMatters #PodcastEpisode
(Produced by Story Studio Network)
Comments
JB: You missed a key Stephen Moore quote from an interview he gave in February 2024: “I’m not a forester, I’m very rookie in that space. I frequently refer to myself as a really effective talking head. That’s what I do.”
DGP: “Forestry removes more carbon than it creates…” yes, with some creative accounting that includes unmanaged forest in the mix, otherwise, the evidence is mounting that many or most industrially managed forests emit more carbon than they take up. We can probably change that but we need transparent, objective carbon accounting to move in that direction.
Sep 24, 2024:
“Unmanaged forest can increase wildfire risks” WestFor Management presents a video by Forest Products Association of Canada. “we need to be mindful of the biodiversity…but we need to thinking more about fire and the opportunity risk of not harvesting”… Says WestFor: “We support proactive forest management to protect our communities and biodiversity! 🌳 Let’s ensure our forests remain healthy and resilient for generations to come!”
Comments
DGP to WestFor: No mention by WestFor that the video is about the Boreal Forest, not about our Wabanaki/Acadian forest which has a very different fire regime.
WestFor Management Inc.to DGP:
FPAC highlights the need to actively manage our forests to balance ecological and biodiversity values while protecting communities. While this clip specifically references the boreal forest, WestFor supports active fire prevention measures in all forests, including both boreal and Acadian forests.
DGP to WestFor: Thanks for responding to my comment, thanks for allowing me to post them, we need to have constructive discussion/debate of these issues to resolve them and to ‘get everyone onside’. So let me comment in that context. Your statement that “Unmanaged forests can increase widlfire risks..” in the image above is suggestive that unmanaged forests are in general more fire susceptible than managed forests. One could also say “Forest management can increase fire risks…” (re use of “can”), e.g. by sparks from machinery. There is an argument to be made that spraying/elimination of hardwoods by forest practices has increased fire risk in our forests in NS , also in BC. At least some Old Growth stands may be more fire-resistant than younger stands because they hold more water. There is a lot of site-specificity involved in how fire risk varies with stand type, age etc. and with specific management practices, e.g. in some situations fire risk can be reduced by thinning, in others it may be increased. So I guess I am just suggesting that we all need to avoid sweeping generalizations, and try to be objective and open minded and prepared to change our stance when the evidence calls for it.
Sep 13, 2024:
Simply Blue Group to develop major sustainable aviation fuel hub in Goldboro, Nova Scotia
Announcement by Simply Blue on www.simplybluegroup.com. “Nova Scotia has an abundance of residual biomass: renewable organic material that comes from plants. It contains carbon and hydrogen – both of which are required to make sustainable aviation fuel…Todd Burgess, Interim Executive Director at Forest Nova Scotia, commented on the positive impact of Simply Blue Group’s project on the forestry industry. ” Other endorsements by Tory Rushton, NS Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, Laurel Broten, CEO of Invest in Canada. “Headquartered in Cork, Ireland, Simply Blue Group has offices in Dublin, Belfast, Newquay, Pembrokeshire, Edinburgh, Bilbao, and Nova Scotia.”
Mar 11, 2024:
WestFor supports the Nova Scotia Government’s goal of protecting 20% of land and water.
FB pages created January 13, 2020. Website at westfor.org Under Comments: ML:”..Setbacks, buffers, and forests under the Old Forest Policy Layer don’t count towards protection percentages because they are only set aside under policy measures that can be reversed or altered with relative ease. This is not the same as the full legal protection that is afforded by the designations of Wilderness Areas and Nature Reserves.”
Feb 20, 2024
Q&A with Forest Nova Scotia’s Stephen Moore
By Maria Church in Canadian Forest Industries. A revealing interview of the PR Man, once Liberal premier’s McNeil Pointman who was CEO of Forest NS 2022-2024 and would go on to be Director Of Government Relations for the Houston Govs.*
“One of my theories coming into it [Forest NS] when I was interviewing for this job is that the loud voices weren’t representative of the broader views – and it’s true. You have a few groups who have been very effective at capturing the media, but don’t represent the views of the vast majority of Nova Scotians. That was an early sign that we have more leeway to do what we thought we needed to do.I think one of the things that forestry has lacked is political muscle and we’re slowing growing that.”
“The Lahey Report has added to the uncertainty. We as an organization endorse the report. The Lahey Report is a really delicate balance – you need all aspects of it that were agreed upon in order to ensure both economic and environmental sustainability. You need both of those. My biggest concern is that we’ll see the report selectively implemented.
“There has been a tremendous focus on conservation and that’s fine up to a point. But too much conservation isn’t good either – less provincial revenues, less effective carbon capturing in the forest, and increased wildfire risk. I think Nova Scotians are starting to understand that.”
“We spend too much time trying to achieve consensus and appeasement. I don’t think they create good strategy for anybody.”
“I say we have social license. We need to stop worrying about playing nice with everybody. We need to focus instead on what we need to do to move the sector forward.”
*From SM’s Linkein profile
Education: BA Political Philosophy Cape Breton Univ, 2003-2007
(Pres Debate Society Ed in Chief Caper Times…)
Volunteering:
Board Member Canadian Woodlands Forum Apr 2023-Aug 2024
Board Member Forestry Economic Task Force Jul2023-Aug 2024…
Experience:
– Director of Communications, Government of Nova Scotia, Sep 2014 – Apr 2018
– Vice President, Research, MQO Research May 2018 – Jan 2020, Halifax
– Director Of Government Relations, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Jan 2020 – Oct 2022
– Executive Director, Forest Nova Scotia, Oct 2022 – Aug 2024, Hilden, Nova Scotia.
– Director of Communications, Office of the Premier, Government of Nova Scotia, Aug 2024 – Present · 9 mos