Report on Public Input on Forestry Regulations
Department of Natural Resources
December 8, 1999 12:07 PM
A report that summarizes public comments on draft regulations for
wood supply sustainability and wildlife habitat management has
been released by the Department of Natural Resources. The
regulations are part of the province's new forest strategy and
support recent amendments to the Forests Act.
"We have reviewed and responded to the public input on the draft
forestry regulations," said Natural Resources Minister Ernest
Fage. "Obviously, it would be impossible to implement every
suggestion, but we have tried to strike a balance."
The results of this review will be considered by the new Forest
Technical Advisory Committee in revising the draft regulations,
which will be submitted to cabinet for approval.
These regulations are the second major step in implementing Nova
Scotia's forest strategy. The first step occurred in January 1998
with the establishment of the Registry of Buyers, a tool used to
collect annual information on forest harvest and production of
secondary forest products.
The draft regulations were available for public review between
June 12 and July 12, 1999. The department also held three
concurrent open houses on June 24 in Yarmouth, Truro and Port
Hawkesbury. Sixty-four written submissions were received.
"Many comments were broad and general in nature and addressed
issues such as forest management, ecology, economics and public
policy," said Mr. Fage. "Others were specific and referred
directly to sections of the draft regulations."
The comments focused on several key areas: rights, roles and
responsibilities of the private landowner; roles and
relationships of government, industry and small operators;
funding for silviculture and who should pay and how much;
accountability for the sustainable forestry fund, requirements
for snags and cavity trees; special management zones; appropriate
harvest methods; and enforcement of the regulations.
The report, Summary of Public Comments, Public Review of the
Draft Wood Sustainability Regulations and the Draft Wildlife
Habitat Regulations, was prepared by Bruce L. Smith Consulting
Inc. for the department. It is available at Department of Natural
Resources offices, Access Nova Scotia Centres, public libraries
(for viewing only), or on the department website at
www.gov.ns.ca/natr/forestry/ .
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The public has had their say on draft forestry regulations
and a summary is available in a recently released report.
Members of the public can check out the summary at the
Department of Natural Resources, Access Nova Scotia Centres, and
on the government website. It can also be viewed at public
libraries.
Sixty-four written submissions were received. Many comments
dealt with issues such as forest management, ecology and public
policy.
A forest advisory committee will review the input before
submitting revised regulations to the government for approval.
Natural Resources Minister Ernest Fage says the department
has tried to strike a balance in implementing the suggestions.
These proposed changes are the second step in implementing
Nova Scotia's forest strategy. The first occurred in January 1998
when the Registry of Buyers was established.
-30-
Contact: Susan Mader Zinck
Department of Natural Resources
902-424-2354
E-mail: sdmader@gov.ns.ca
kjd December 8, 1999 12:04 p.m.
A report that summarizes public comments on draft regulations for
wood supply sustainability and wildlife habitat management has
been released by the Department of Natural Resources. The
regulations are part of the province's new forest strategy and
support recent amendments to the Forests Act.
"We have reviewed and responded to the public input on the draft
forestry regulations," said Natural Resources Minister Ernest
Fage. "Obviously, it would be impossible to implement every
suggestion, but we have tried to strike a balance."
The results of this review will be considered by the new Forest
Technical Advisory Committee in revising the draft regulations,
which will be submitted to cabinet for approval.
These regulations are the second major step in implementing Nova
Scotia's forest strategy. The first step occurred in January 1998
with the establishment of the Registry of Buyers, a tool used to
collect annual information on forest harvest and production of
secondary forest products.
The draft regulations were available for public review between
June 12 and July 12, 1999. The department also held three
concurrent open houses on June 24 in Yarmouth, Truro and Port
Hawkesbury. Sixty-four written submissions were received.
"Many comments were broad and general in nature and addressed
issues such as forest management, ecology, economics and public
policy," said Mr. Fage. "Others were specific and referred
directly to sections of the draft regulations."
The comments focused on several key areas: rights, roles and
responsibilities of the private landowner; roles and
relationships of government, industry and small operators;
funding for silviculture and who should pay and how much;
accountability for the sustainable forestry fund, requirements
for snags and cavity trees; special management zones; appropriate
harvest methods; and enforcement of the regulations.
The report, Summary of Public Comments, Public Review of the
Draft Wood Sustainability Regulations and the Draft Wildlife
Habitat Regulations, was prepared by Bruce L. Smith Consulting
Inc. for the department. It is available at Department of Natural
Resources offices, Access Nova Scotia Centres, public libraries
(for viewing only), or on the department website at
www.gov.ns.ca/natr/forestry/ .
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The public has had their say on draft forestry regulations
and a summary is available in a recently released report.
Members of the public can check out the summary at the
Department of Natural Resources, Access Nova Scotia Centres, and
on the government website. It can also be viewed at public
libraries.
Sixty-four written submissions were received. Many comments
dealt with issues such as forest management, ecology and public
policy.
A forest advisory committee will review the input before
submitting revised regulations to the government for approval.
Natural Resources Minister Ernest Fage says the department
has tried to strike a balance in implementing the suggestions.
These proposed changes are the second step in implementing
Nova Scotia's forest strategy. The first occurred in January 1998
when the Registry of Buyers was established.
-30-
Contact: Susan Mader Zinck
Department of Natural Resources
902-424-2354
E-mail: sdmader@gov.ns.ca
kjd December 8, 1999 12:04 p.m.