Nova Scotia's
Forest Sustainability Regulations
Synopsis
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 eriod 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.
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 |
