 What are old growth Forests?
Why are they Important ?
What is being done in Nova Scotia?
Forestry in Nova Scotia
Ecosystem Management
Introduction
Interim Old Forest Policy
Hardwood old growth.
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Planning and Research Topics
Nova Scotia's Old Growth Forests
Overview
In June, 1999 Nova Scotia introduced an Interim Old Forest Policy. The policy compliments existing principles in the Forest Wildlife Guidelines and Standards, and sets an objective of maintaining or restoring old growth forest on 8 percent of crown land.
So what is old growth? Many definitions exist. Some are fairly rigorous, requiring ancient primal woodlands that have evolved free of human disturbance. Other definitions are less demanding, and include most forests in the late stages of succession. These are sometimes described in terms of declining growth rates, or trees older than half their maximum life span.
Nova
Scotia has adopted a two stage approach. The Interim Old Forest Policy defines
old growth as "climax forests that are at least 125 years old".
This simple definition provides an easy starting point to identify priority
stands. In addition, a field assessment was developed to score stands
based on measurements of important "old forest" indicators. The score sheet
provides an objective means of evaluating and ranking old forests, ranging
in value from mature second growth forests with restoration potential,
to rare remnants of pre-European settlement.
Samples of Measured Stands
The Interim Old Forest Policy is based on ecosystem management
principles to promote ecological diversity. In Nova Scotia, our hemlock/spruce/pine
ecosystems are the most likely to evolve into the classic groves of dark,
ancient, moss
draped trees most usually associated with the term "old growth". However,
the Acadian Forest Region supports old growth forests in a variety of
forms. These
include mountain slopes of 200 - 300 year old sugar maple/beech/yellow
birch, in which dappled light produces colorful blooms of spring flowers.
They may
also be found as impenetrable thickets of black spruce bottomland, or
even half dead tracts of highland balsam fir, where frequent spruce budworm
events
renew the forest at least once a century.
Regardless of their form, old
forests have been declining in abundance, becoming increasingly scarce
and isolated
over the past 400 years. These
distinctive living systems supply a multitude of values and require
extensive time spans to evolve. As historical storehouses they provide
a record
of past events and conditions, used to reconstruct such things
as climatic cycles, forest fires, air chemistry, and "natural" ecology.
They contain unique organisms and ecological processes with untold potential
for
scientific discovery. They are critical habitat to a number of
species. Less easy
to define, but equally important, are cultural and spiritual values.
The Interim Old Forest Policy is the first step in an effort to
sustain these values, which will be supported through ongoing research
and
planning.
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