Nova Scotia's
Forest Sustainability Regulations
Sustaining Our Wood
Supply Through Increased Silviculture
Information
Leaflet FOR-3
New
forestry regulations created during the spring of 2000 require certain
forestry companies, based on their annual volume of wood acquired, to
undertake annual silviculture work on private land. (Private land means
all lands excluding Crown land.) Companies can meet the requirements
of these regulations by carrying out a silviculture program on private
lands, by contributing money to a special fund, or some combination
of both.
The Regulations cover all privately owned woodlands and will result
in a significant increase in silviculture funding. The Nova Scotia Department
of Natural Resources (NSDNR) will continue to do its part to ensure
that provincial Crown lands are properly managed.
Why
are new forestry regulations needed?
In order to ensure that the current level of forest harvesting of privately
owned woodlands is sustainable, there must be a significant increase
in the amount of silviculture work completed.
Who
is affected and what is expected of them?
Responsibilities
of Registered Buyers
Registered Buyers are forestry companies including businesses
and individuals who; own or operate facilities that process primary
forest products (e.g. sawmills), import or export primary forest products
from Nova Scotia, acquire more than 1 000 cubic metres solid (454 cords)
per year of firewood for sale, or acquire forest products to produce
energy.
Registered
Buyers who acquire more than 5 000 cubic metres solid (2 270 cords)
per year of wood from private lands are required to:
- submit a
wood acquisition plan (WAP) and year-end report to NSDNR by February
28 each year.
- conduct
a silviculture program or contribute to the Sustainable Forestry
Fund in lieu of a program, or a combination of both.
If Registered Buyers choose to conduct a silviculture program they must:
- ensure silviculture
work is done to specified standards.
- provide
an annual report to NSDNR regarding completed silviculture work.
Opportunities
for Private Woodland Owners
The aim of silviculture is to manage a forest for specific objectives
through stand tending, harvesting, and reforesting. A woodland owner
whose property could be improved through silvicultural activity can
ensure that work is done on their property by:
- getting
information from NSDNR and woodlot owner organizations.
- contacting
Registered Buyers, or silviculture contractors, to make their land
available for silviculture work.
- working
with a Registered Buyer to have a silviculture contractor conduct
the work for them or do the work themselves.
- ensuring
that the silviculture work completed on their land meets their objectives
and is maintained for a specified period of time.
Opportunities
for Forestry Contractors
There will be significantly more silviculture funding available for
silviculture contractors who are often the link between forest companies
and the landowner. Their roles include:
- working
with and/or for Registered Buyers and landowners to carry out required
silviculture work.
- acquiring
and maintaining woodland-owner clients for conducting silviculture
services.
Role
of Government
The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources will participate in
silviculture on private woodlands by:
- establishing
standards and administrative requirements for silviculture programs.
- approving
wood acquisition plans submitted by Registered Buyers.
- monitoring
work reported under wood acquisition plans.
- providing
information to woodlot owners, forest industries and the public.
- making appropriate
referrals, recommendations and investigations of complaints.
- providing
financial support (as budgets permit) to Registered Buyers to conduct
approved silviculture programs.
Funding
for Silviculture
Registered Buyers are required to finance silviculture programs. There
are a number of different funding arrangements for Registered Buyers,
some of which may require an investment by the landowner, although generally
Registered Buyers fund most of the cost of silviculture work. The Province
may contribute annually to silviculture conducted by Registered Buyers
through forest sustainability agreements.
New
! - News Release November 14 - "Province and Forestry Groups
sign Silviculture Agreement"
Frequently
Asked Questions About Funding
Q. What is the Sustainable Forestry Fund andhow does it work?
A. The SFF is a special fund established by a Government
Order-in-Council. It providesRegistered Buyers with the option to pay
$3.00 per cubic metre for softwood, or $0.60 per cubic metre for hardwood,
into the fund rather than conducting their own silviculture program.
Q. How will private woodland owners be able to obtain funding
to do their own silviculture work?
A. Contact Registered Buyers, silviculture contractors
and/or woodlot owner organizations to find out what is available and
negotiate acceptable terms. NSDNR offices can provide contact information.
Q.
How much funding is expected to be available for silviculture
programs each year as a result of these regulations?
A. Provincially, with full compliance, the expected total
annual funding for silviculture on private land is expected to be approximately
$9 million. As a specific example, a Registered Buyer with an annual
wood acquisition of 100 000 cubic metres solid (45 400 cords) of softwood
per year, must complete an annual silviculture program valued at $300,000
(100 000 m3 x $3.00 per m3).
Q.
If an area on my woodlot was harvested before the new forestry
regulations became law, would I be eligible for silviculture funding,
where none was set aside at the time my woodlot was cut?
A. Yes, the Regulations do not place any limitations with
respect to harvesting and follow-up silviculture. All private woodland
is “eligible” under the Regulations. The various forest sustainability
agreements all have their own eligibility criteria and procedures.
Q. How can I access funding for silviculture work on my land?
A. To find out who to contact, visit a NSDNR office or
the NSDNR web site. Access to funding can be made through Registered
Buyers that offer forest management programs or through designated contractors,
consultants or groups working on behalf of Registered Buyers or delivering
programs under the Sustainable Forestry Fund.
Q. What are the treatment rates to be paid for silviculture?
A. There is no standard rate schedule for silviculture
work. Each Registered Buyer sets their own program rates.
Q. Will I have to pay anything towards the cost of silviculture
work?
A. Each Registered Buyer must decide how to address the
cost of the silviculture work to be carried out and negotiate with the
landowner if any contribution is required.
Q. What types of silviculture work will be eligible?
A. Traditional silviculture treatments such as planting,
weed control, pre-commercial thinning and commercial thinning are acceptable
under these regulations. Natural regeneration, selection management,
crop tree release and pruning will also be accepted to meet forest sustainability
requirements. Silviculture work could be conducted on softwood, mixedwood
and hardwood stand types.
Frequently
Asked Questions About the Requirements of Registered Buyers
Q.
When are the Registered Buyers required to submit their first
plans?
A. Registered Buyers who acquire more than 5 000 cubic metres solid
(2 270 cords) from private lands in the year 2000 are required to submit
a WAP by February 28, 2001 and February 28 each year thereafter.
Q.
How will Registered Buyers meet their requirements?
A. Registered Buyers may enter into contracts with contractors and/or
landowners to carry out the required silviculture work. Or, they may
choose to do the silviculture work with their own employees. Registered
Buyers may also opt to pay directly into the Sustainable Forestry Fund.
Frequently
Asked Questions About the Work Carried out by Silviculture Plans
Q.
How does a silviculture contractor obtain work on a Registered Buyer’s
silviculture plan?
A. Through direct negotiation between the Registered Buyer and silviculture
contractor.
Q.
Am I required to do silviculture on my land?
A. There is no legal requirement for a private landowner to conduct
silviculture on their property, it remains the landowner’s choice. For
the sake of an improved forest, landowners are encouraged to undertake
silviculture work where appropriate.
Q.
If I sold wood to a Registered Buyer, am I required to deal with them
for silviculture also?
A. No, the Regulations do not require a landowner to deal with any individual
Registered Buyer, nor to deal exclusively with only one buyer.
Q.
As a landowner, if a company cuts wood on my land, are they required
to return to that site to carry out silviculture work?
A. No, Registered Buyers will determine where and when the silviculture
work will be completed. They will likely be very interested in finding
possible silviculture treatment areas that could be part of their wood
acquisition plans.
What
If I Have a Complaint ?
Landowners who are unsuccessful in getting silviculture work done should
contact the NSDNR to obtain a list of Registered Buyers and silviculture
contractors. Department staff can also inform landowners about the process
and opportunities under the Sustainability Regulations.
Any participants in the process who have questions or comments should
feel free to contact the NSDNR to discuss their concerns.
Where
to obtain more information:
- ..about
program standards and procedures,
- extension
materials, lists of Registered Buyers
- and woodlot
owners associations, Forest Strategy details, Forest Stewardship
Programs and the Sustainable Forestry Fund.
1. Visit a NSDNR Office.
2. Contact the Registry of Buyers office.
By
Telephone: 893-6270, 893-5652
By Fax: 893-5662 By E-mail: regbuyer@gov.ns.ca
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