Amendments to the Forests Act Proclaimed
Department of Natural Resources
April 12, 2000 12:00 PM
The Department of Natural Resources is moving forward with the
province's forest strategy. Changes to the Forests Act have been
proclaimed and the new Forest Sustainability Regulations have
been approved.
"We are continuing with our new direction for forestry in Nova
Scotia," Natural Resources Minister Ernest Fage said today at
Province House. "Amendments to the act and the new regulations
are providing the necessary framework to ensure that our forests
are managed sustainably."
The department's recent analysis of wood supply has shown the
current level of harvesting on small, privately owned lands is
not sustainable without significant increases in silviculture.
The Forest Sustainability Regulations require the level of
silviculture to be tied directly to the level of harvest carried
out on these lands, said the minister.
When fully implemented, all registered buyers who acquire more
than 5,000 cubic metres solid of primary forest products (2,300
cords of wood) in a year must submit an annual wood acquisition
plan. To meet these requirements, they may undertake a
silviculture program or contribute to a Sustainable Forestry
Fund.
The regulations, with full compliance, will increase the current
$3 million of funding for silviculture on small, privately owned
lands to $9 million per year. The total silviculture program on
industrial, small-private and Crown lands from all sources could
exceed $15 million per year.
These steps are part of the department's forest strategy released
in 1997. Implementation of the strategy has been phased in,
beginning with the Registry of Buyers in January 1998, and now
the amendments to the act and the new Forest Sustainability
Regulations.
The department is currently working on Wildlife Habitat
Management Regulations and a Code of Forest Practices for Crown
lands.
"A need for change has been clearly identified and we are taking
the necessary steps to make sure forest management practices in
Nova Scotia are sustainable," said Mr. Fage. "We have received
encouragement and support for this new approach from industry,
private landowners and the public."
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The province is moving ahead with its forest strategy.
Nova Scotia proclaimed amendments to its Forests Act today,
and approved new Forest Sustainability Regulations.
Natural Resources Minister Ernest Fage says these changes
will ensure that forest management practices are sustainable.
A recent analysis shows that the current level of harvesting
on small private lands is not sustainable without significant
increases in silviculture.
The regulations require some buyers to file a plan
describing steps they will take to ensure a sustainable wood
supply.
These buyers may participate in a silviculture program or
contribute to a Sustainable Forestry Fund.
The regulations will increase silviculture funding on small,
private woodlots across the province from three-million dollars
to nine-million dollars per year.
The total silviculture program on all lands could exceed 15-
million dollars per year.
-30-
Contact: Susan Mader Zinck
Department of Natural Resources
902-424-2354
E-mail: sdmader@gov.ns.ca
Nancy McInnis Leek
Department of Natural Resources
902-893-5749
E-mail: nrmcinni@gov.ns.ca
kjd April 12, 2000 11:34 a.m.
The Department of Natural Resources is moving forward with the
province's forest strategy. Changes to the Forests Act have been
proclaimed and the new Forest Sustainability Regulations have
been approved.
"We are continuing with our new direction for forestry in Nova
Scotia," Natural Resources Minister Ernest Fage said today at
Province House. "Amendments to the act and the new regulations
are providing the necessary framework to ensure that our forests
are managed sustainably."
The department's recent analysis of wood supply has shown the
current level of harvesting on small, privately owned lands is
not sustainable without significant increases in silviculture.
The Forest Sustainability Regulations require the level of
silviculture to be tied directly to the level of harvest carried
out on these lands, said the minister.
When fully implemented, all registered buyers who acquire more
than 5,000 cubic metres solid of primary forest products (2,300
cords of wood) in a year must submit an annual wood acquisition
plan. To meet these requirements, they may undertake a
silviculture program or contribute to a Sustainable Forestry
Fund.
The regulations, with full compliance, will increase the current
$3 million of funding for silviculture on small, privately owned
lands to $9 million per year. The total silviculture program on
industrial, small-private and Crown lands from all sources could
exceed $15 million per year.
These steps are part of the department's forest strategy released
in 1997. Implementation of the strategy has been phased in,
beginning with the Registry of Buyers in January 1998, and now
the amendments to the act and the new Forest Sustainability
Regulations.
The department is currently working on Wildlife Habitat
Management Regulations and a Code of Forest Practices for Crown
lands.
"A need for change has been clearly identified and we are taking
the necessary steps to make sure forest management practices in
Nova Scotia are sustainable," said Mr. Fage. "We have received
encouragement and support for this new approach from industry,
private landowners and the public."
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The province is moving ahead with its forest strategy.
Nova Scotia proclaimed amendments to its Forests Act today,
and approved new Forest Sustainability Regulations.
Natural Resources Minister Ernest Fage says these changes
will ensure that forest management practices are sustainable.
A recent analysis shows that the current level of harvesting
on small private lands is not sustainable without significant
increases in silviculture.
The regulations require some buyers to file a plan
describing steps they will take to ensure a sustainable wood
supply.
These buyers may participate in a silviculture program or
contribute to a Sustainable Forestry Fund.
The regulations will increase silviculture funding on small,
private woodlots across the province from three-million dollars
to nine-million dollars per year.
The total silviculture program on all lands could exceed 15-
million dollars per year.
-30-
Contact: Susan Mader Zinck
Department of Natural Resources
902-424-2354
E-mail: sdmader@gov.ns.ca
Nancy McInnis Leek
Department of Natural Resources
902-893-5749
E-mail: nrmcinni@gov.ns.ca
kjd April 12, 2000 11:34 a.m.