Nova Scotia's Forest Strategy

Overview

In 1993, a Coalition of Nova Scotia Forest Interests was established to address issues of common interest and concern facing the forest sector. In July 1996 this group of forestry organizations and associations released recommendations called A New Forest Strategy for Nova Scotia: Discussion Paper. A public response to this discussion paper was subsequently released in November of 1996.

In October 1997, the government released the position paper called Toward Sustainable Forestry: A Forest Strategy for Nova Scotia (157 kb Pdf) which outlined the direction the government is currently following. This was in response to the recommendations given by the Coalition and the wood supply analysis.

In January, 1998 the first element of the Forest Strategy, the Registry of Buyers, was established. Eleven months later the first amendments to the Forest Act as outlined in the Forest Strategy were passed in the Nova Scotia Legislature. (News Release)

In 1999, the Department of Natural Resources wood supply analysis showed that the current level of harvest on small, privately owned woodlands was not sustainable without significant increases in silviculture.

In June 1999, forest sustainability and wildlife habitat management draft regulations were released for public review. (News Release)

A Summary of Public Comments: Public Review of the Draft Wood Sustainability Regulations and the Draft Wildlife Habitat Regulations was compiled and released later that year. (News Release)

In September, 1999 a Forest Technical Advisory Group was established to assist with and provide comments on each aspect of the Forest Strategy as it is brought forward. This advisory group includes representatives from universities, land owner groups, contractors, consultants, environmental interest group sector and industry. (News Release)

In April 2000, the amendments to the Forest Act and the Forest Sustainability Regulations were officially proclaimed by the legislature. An Order in Council established the Sustainable Forest Fund. (News Release)

Elements in Place

Some of the key elements of the Forest Strategy are now in place.

These include Registry of Buyers, Forest Act Amendments , Forest Sustainability Regulations , Sustainable Forest Fund Forest Technical Advisory Group and a Communications Strategy to ensure the public is aware of the strategy and any changes that occur to it.

Wildlife Habitat and Watercourses Protection Regulations were made into law January 14, 2002.

Work in Progress

A Code of Forest Practice will be incorporated into Crown Land requirements this year. This code will provide a framework for planning and conducting forest management operations.

A State of the Forest Report is planned to provide the industry and the public with an annual snap shot of condition of Nova Scotia's forests.

Conclusion

Implementation of the Forest Strategy has and will continue to take time to complete. We are working closely with the forest sector and public to ensure that the strategy and each of its elements are known, understood, and reviewed as they are developed and enacted.

All the elements of the Forest Strategy complement each other and will help to ensure that Nova Scotia's forests are managed wisely.

Full implementation of the Forest Sustainability regulations will increase the funding level for silviculture on small, privately owned lands to $9 million per year, making the total silviculture spending in Nova Scotia more than $15 million. This level of funding, which is tied directly to the level of harvest, will help ensure that the harvest of Nova Scotia's forests is sustainable.

These regulations will ensure more consistent and dependable funding for silviculture programs available to woodlot owners compared to the uncertainty of funding experienced over the past several years. Woodlot owners will also be able to participate in a more flexible range of forest activities, including management of hardwood species, and unevenaged forest management systems for softwood, hardwood and mixedwood forests.