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Nova Scotia prepares to roll out new high-production forestry rules

ATLANTIC BRIEFS DESK sw-briefs@saltwire.com

Nova Scotia is rolling out a new way to manage its forests and how they’re used.

In a July 17 press release, the Department of Lands and Forestry announced a series of guidance tools for mixed forests in high-production forestry zones.

The guide, prioritizing ecological forestry, will replace the province’s Forest Management Guide and a series of interim guidelines released in 2018.

“We are transforming how we manage our public lands, creating a made-in-NovaScotia approach supporting a sustainable, diverse forestry sector that will see more trees retained when harvesting takes place, less clearcutting in Crown forests and greater protection of native biodiversity and ecosystems,” said Lands and Forestry Minister Chuck Porter.

The guidance tools are based on recommendations from William Lahey’s 2018 independent review of forest practices.

The release said the new guide will come into effect once forest professionals are trained to better understand how to apply guide rules. In the meantime, reduced clearcut harvests are approved for Crown lands.

“We will be better able to meet our province’s ecological, economic, social and cultural goals through the triad model, while still supporting an important economic sector in this province,” Porter said.

The triad ecological forestry model separates forests into three zones; conservation zones, high-population forestry zones and mixed forest (matrix) zones.

The guidelines navigate silviculture and timber harvesting within matrix zones, giving priority to lowerimpact forestry, reducing clearcutting in zones where it’s applied.

The press release said the department has also issued its final report on highproduction forestry, outlining criteria to identify, rank and choose high-production forestry zones.

Approved Crown lands will produce high-value products in long-term cycles, allowing more land to be set aside for ecological purposes.

The department noted no sites have been chosen for high-production forestry zones yet.

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2021-07-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-07-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://saltwire.pressreader.com/article/281513639174534

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