News release

Province Announces $1.7 Million in Funding for Silviculture

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

Small, private woodlot owners can improve their operations with help from $1.7 million in provincial funding for silviculture initiatives.

"Nova Scotians asked for positive change in the forest sector and government is delivering with more silviculture investment to help the environment and the economy," said Charlie Parker, Minister of Natural Resources.

"This funding was committed to implement the Natural Resources Strategy. It will help create healthier forests, promote growth of quality wood, improve wildlife habitat, protect water quality, and create productive and sustainable forest stands."

The funding will be administered by the Association for Sustainable Forestry.

"Any new silviculture will be based on a forest ecosystem classification pre-treatment assessment, which leads to better decisions regarding forest management prescriptions and the right treatment for the site," said association co-ordinator and professional forester, David Sutherland.

About $750,000 of the funding will be focused on small, private woodlots with certified forests. This funding will be co-ordinated by two non-profit groups, the Nova Scotia Landowners and Forest Fibre Producers Association and the Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners. About $950,000 will be provided to non-certified eligible small private woodlots to support their silviculture work. Up to 50 per cent of the funding will go to support forest management practices and treatments that are applied to uneven, aged forests.

"This is an important investment in small private woodlot owners, recognizing their commitment to sustainable forestry, absolutely essential for a future in the forest industry," said Wilma Stub, executive director of the Nova Scotia Landowners and Forest Fibre Producers Association.

"Allocating silviculture dollars specifically for certified woodlots is a win-win situation," said Andrew Fedora, executive director of the Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners. "Landowners who have invested their time and money into becoming green certified will have greater support for their efforts and the province gains further assurance that silviculture dollars will be spent in the right areas, for the right reasons."