Nova Scotia Natural Resources Strategy
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| UPDATE (Dec. 2, 2010): Yesterday, the N.S. Government released a Policy Framework for its Natural Resources Strategy which includes a directive to "reduce the proportion of wood harvested by the clear cut method to no more than 50% of all forested lands over a five-year period." (Clearcutting has averaged over 520 km2 a year over the past decade.) Another directive: "Public funds will not be directed to herbicide spraying for forestry". Read DNR Update |
From the DNR website:
The Natural Resources Strategy was announced in May 2007 as a three year process. DNR's current policies for forests, minerals and parks have been in place since the 1980s and are in need of renewal; the biodiversity strategy will be the first for the province. The decision to re-evaluate DNR's policies on forests minerals, and parks, and to establish a policy on biodiversity is in keeping with the Province's focus on sustainable prosperity and competitiveness, and the shift to a green economy. The Nova Scotia Government's Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act commits DNR to develop a new Natural Resources Strategy by end of 2010.
HFN participated in Phase 1 - Citizen involvement (See pages 4-5 in HFN newsletter).
Phase 2 - Technical expertise/Stakeholder engagement was completed this spring. There was not consensus amongst members of the Forest panel and two reports were issued. The Forests Panel of Expertise Report by R. Bancroft & D. Crossland recommends significant changes in forest management practices to conserve biodiversity and the forest resource.
Please support support their recommendations.
Write or send e-mail to Minister MacDonnell (min_dnr@gov.ns.ca)
Honourable John MacDonell
Minister, Department of Natural Resources
3rd Floor, Founders Square
1701 Hollis Street
P.O. Box 698
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2T9
Posted 4 July, 2010
halifaxfieldnaturalists.ca
Maine expert provides negative review of Bancroft-Crossland Report for FPANS
The Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia commissioned a review of the Bancroft-Crossland Report by Dr. Robert G. Wagner, Director of the University of Maine's School of Forest Resources. In his report of July 7, 2010, Dr. Wagner recognizes that change is required in forestry practices in Nova Scotia but contends that "the recommendations on clearcutting, herbicides, and whole-tree harvesting by Bancroft & Crossland were not consistent with the best available forest research or with the principles of sound forest management," and therefore believes "the underlying rationale by the Steering Panel for the regulatory restrictions of these three practices to be based on a weak scientific and/or technical justification." David Patriquin, Professor of Biology, Dalhousie University (Retired) and HFN's current President, wrote a critique of Dr. Wagner's review.
See also: EAC Response to Forest Industry Campaign against Steering Panel Report
The Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia commissioned a review of the Bancroft-Crossland Report by Dr. Robert G. Wagner, Director of the University of Maine's School of Forest Resources. In his report of July 7, 2010, Dr. Wagner recognizes that change is required in forestry practices in Nova Scotia but contends that "the recommendations on clearcutting, herbicides, and whole-tree harvesting by Bancroft & Crossland were not consistent with the best available forest research or with the principles of sound forest management," and therefore believes "the underlying rationale by the Steering Panel for the regulatory restrictions of these three practices to be based on a weak scientific and/or technical justification." David Patriquin, Professor of Biology, Dalhousie University (Retired) and HFN's current President, wrote a critique of Dr. Wagner's review.
See also: EAC Response to Forest Industry Campaign against Steering Panel Report