Governments of Nova Scotia and Finland Sign Forestry Agreement
The governments of Finland and Nova Scotia signed an agreement that will impact the forest and bioeconomy sectors in Nova Scotia. At the time of publication, the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables did not make a copy of the agreement available to Forest Nova Scotia.
According to a press release from the Government of Finland:
“Forest-based bioeconomy is a central theme of the action plan signed on 26 April 2024. New wood-based products have been developed in the past few years, some of them based on new production technologies and some on more efficient utilisation of materials such as forest industry side streams.”
The release continues:
“In the cooperation between Finland and Nova Scotia the aim is also to increase contacts between the research, development and education sectors of the two countries.”
Nova Scotia’s Minister of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions, Colton LeBlanc, signed the agreement on behalf of Natural Resources and Renewables Minister Tory Rushton.
“We’ve had many productive conversations and visits to further our joint efforts for healthy forests and to take full advantage of the valuable resource we have in sustainably harvested biomass. This action plan cements our good relationship and we look forward to this continued collaboration,” said LeBlanc in the release.
Finland and Forest NS
From left to right: Blair Dickerson, Vice President of Public Affairs for Paper Excellence; Stephen Moore, Executive Director of Forest Nova Scotia; Minister Ville Tavio, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade for the Government of Finland; Minister Kim Masland from the Government of Nova Scotia; and Ambassador Jari Vilen from the Government of Findland.
Forest Nova Scotia welcomed a Finnish delegation to its AGM in February 2024. The Finnish trade minister and Finland’s Canadian ambassador, as were several forestry experts and companies, were in attendance.
Attendees learned about the Finnish approach to wildfire management, the widespread adoption of biomass for electricity and heat, and the structures and networks that make its woodlots profitable and sustainable.
Nova Scotia Forestry Must Mobilize
According to Forest Nova Scotia executive director Stephen Moore, there is much to gain from ongoing cooperation with the Finnish forestry sector.
“We have nothing but respect and appreciation for our Finnish friends,” said Moore. “As an organization, we want to ensure the sector is ready to capitalize on the opportunities created by this agreement.”
Moore said that once Forest Nova Scotia has the full text of the agreement, the organization can work with other forestry groups to ensure the province’s sector maximizes its benefits.
“We want to mobilize to support this effort,” said Moore. We want all the forestry groups to sit at the same table to discuss how we can take action to help the sector grow.”
Details About Contractor Funding Released
The Nova Scotia Community College and the Nova Scotia Forestry Contractors Association released details about the Ecological Forest Equipment Program. The Forest Innovation and Transition Trust funds this $9.85 million initiative. The forestry trust announced the funding in November, and a briefing with officials today outlined the program details and explained how to apply.
Program Details
The program will help contractors and landowners adapt to the practice of ecological forestry. Ecological forestry requires different types of equipment, and this funding can be used to purchase new equipment or to retrofit existing equipment. NSCC outlined three goals for the program:
Scaling and expanding the capacity of forestry contractors.
Support private landowners in adopting ecological forestry.
Advance ecological forestry by improving sustainable forest management practices.
Successful applicants can receive up to $250,000 for new equipment purchases and up to $150,000 in funding for used equipment or equipment retrofits. Each applicant can submit more than one application but cannot receive more than $500,000 in total funding.
You can view the full program details and eligibility requirements by clicking here.
Why It’s Needed
Conducting ecological forestry requires new or different equipment, frequently costing over $1 million. Following the closure of Northern Pulp, contractors were placed under tremendous financial strain—they needed support to purchase equipment so we could implement ecological forestry. This program will help contractors as the sector transitions and implements ecological forestry.
Forestry’s Impact
The contractor base is an essential part of the sector. They ensure mills and plants have the materials they need. Forestry generates $1.8 billion of economic impact every year. In addition to this economic impact, forestry employs over 6,400 Nova Scotians—2,700 direct full-time positions and 3,700 spinoff jobs, including about 900 in wood supply and support services. Additionally, the sector generates $171 million in tax revenue for the provincial and federal governments—$84 million provincially and $87 million federally.
In addition to creating thousands of jobs and billions in economic value, the forest sector is a net carbon sink. This means the sector takes more carbon from the environment than it emits. The sector also plants 12 million trees per year. When the forestry sector grows, it creates green jobs and prosperity
Forestry: A Proactive Approach to Wildfire Prevention
In the summer of 2023, Nova Scotians experienced loss and fear because of record wildfires. While forest fires can have short-term effects on our personal lives, they have long-term effects on our environment. The British Columbia Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) and Innovation Breakthrough Energy Technologies (IBET) released a report about the effects of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and its necessity for limiting global warming.
Wildfires Make Climate Change Worse
The “Catalyzing Carbon Dioxide Removal at Scale” report examines the technological and economic aspects of removing carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. It stresses its essential role in reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
While it covers the various impacts that contribute to carbon dioxide emissions, wildfires are highlighted for their role in global warming. It stated that Canada’s recent wildfire season released over 2.3 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide, which is triple the nation's average. The report also reveals a 40 percent reduction in B.C.’s wildfire emissions could prevent over 140 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually.
Wildfires Hurt Biodiversity
Besides direct impacts on global warming, wildfires are a threat to biodiversity. From 2020 to 2021, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) reported that the fire potentially affected the habitat of 508 vertebrate species.
Wildfires can also alter the forests themselves. A case study conducted in southeast Australia has found that although plants have adaptations that have been developed within their natural fire regimes, they may not be able to withstand the severity of a wildfire, causing them to be unable to survive. This could have long-lasting impacts on the understory and its seed bank.
Active Forest Management Reduces Wildfire Risk
We are now well aware of wildfires' global impacts on our health, safety, and climate. The CDR report states that much of our forested lands that are lost globally to wildfires are unmanaged forests.
The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat article from PNAS states, "Management actions, such as prescribed fires and mechanical thinning, can curb severe fire behavior and reduce the potential negative impacts of uncharacteristic fires on wildlife.”
Forestry Prevents Fires
With many of us, our loved ones, friends, and neighbors displaced this summer; we have a deeper understanding of the need for managed forest in mitigating wildfires and climate change. With preventative management, we could lessen the risk and impact of wildfires.
Want to learn more about how to Climate-Smart Conservation? Read our blog post and paper..
Forestry Generates $1.8 Billion in Economic Impact
In 2022, Nova Scotia’s forestry sector generated $1.8 billion in economic impact, according to a new report authored by Gardner Pinfold.
The Forestry Economic Task Force - a collaboration of forestry sector stakeholders whose purpose is to design and implement a strategic economic roadmap for Nova Scotia, commissioned the report with funding from the Forestry Innovation Transition Trust.
“Even after all the challenges our sector faced, it generates nearly $2 billion of economic impact every year,” said Forest Nova Scotia executive director Stephen Moore. “This shows that the forestry sector is still part of Nova Scotia’s engine.”
“We can generate this kind of economic impact while being the province’s greenest sector - we take more carbon out of the environment than we emit.”
Forestry employs over 6,400 Nova Scotians - 2,700 direct full-time positions and 3,700 spinoff jobs, including about 900 in wood supply and support services. These jobs generate $380 million in income:
The direct employees at the mills are well-paid, with an average income of $66,500.
The average income for those employed in indirect activities, including forestry and support services, is $58,200.
Nova Scotia’s average income is just over $43,000.
Additionally, the sector generates $171 million in tax revenue for the provincial and federal governments - $84 million provincially and $87 million federally.
“We employ thousands of people and pay them well above the provincial average,” said Moore. “The average pay cheque is $43,000 in Nova Scotia. We pay as much as 54 percent more than that.”
Northern Pulps’s closure in 2020 carried a substantial impact, resulting in multiple cases of job loss and financial hardship to those most closely tied to the mill’s operation.
“The closure of Northern Pulp was hard on many forestry families,” said Moore. “It also cost people their jobs, families their livelihoods, and the province revenue.”
Between 2018 and 2022, the sector’s GDP declined by 15 percent, exports by 18 percent, and employment by 14 percent.
“500 families lost their jobs and income because of the mill’s closure,” said Moore.
The Forestry Economic Task Force has created an economic roadmap that looks to sustain and unlock the significant growth potential of the forestry sector.
“We believe the forestry sector has immense potential for sustainable growth,” said the Forestry Economic Task Force executive director Harvey Gray. “Building upon the strength of our foundational manufacturing segments and supply chain, we are focused on finding and capitalizing on growth opportunities that will create green jobs and prosperity for generations.”
“An economic contribution that approaches $3 billion annually is within reach.”
The task force has identified several opportunities, including:
The replacement of petroleum-based products with wood-based products, including bio-fuels, bio-chemicals, and bio-coal, and
The expansion of residential, commercial, and industrial construction using mass timber
Forest Nova Scotia Podcast Coming Soon
We are excited to announce that we are launching a new podcast with the help of the Story Studio Network. The Story Studio Network is a new media company based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was founded by Erin Trafford, a journalist formerly from News 95.7 and Global Halifax.
They produce incredible podcasts for incredible brands, and storytelling is the basis of what they do. They’re involved with the Forest Product Association of Canada’s podcast and Erin's grandfather was a scaler in Northern Ontario, and she spent many summers as a kid 'in the bush' learning about trees and the forest. So, Erin is no stranger to the sector!
Meet them at the AGM
Erin and SSN Associate Producer Jen Hudson (from Moncton) will join us for the AGM's first day.
They are coming to capture insights, interviews and the excitement of the meeting. While you don't have to talk to them, we encourage you to!
Both are warm, curious and committed to our mission at Forest Nova Scotia. We are really excited about the podcast project this year and can't wait to share more with you in the coming months.
5 Reasons To Be Excited for the 2024 Forest NS AGM
Our big AGM is at White Point Beach Resort next week, and we are almost fully booked. Fortunately, we still have a few tickets remaining. This year’s AGM will feature international speakers, industry VIPs, and many learning and networking opportunities.
Here are the five reasons to be excited.
1. Meet Government and Industry Officials from Finland
As special guests at this year’s AGM, Finland’s Ambassador to Canada and Finland’s International Trade Minister will be guests at this year’s AGM.
They are part of a trade mission bringing Finnish forestry experts and companies to our AGM.
2. Meet Provincial Decision-Makers
We have three provincial ministers joining us for this year’s AGM. This year, we will be joined by:
Hon. Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables
Hon. Susan Corkum-Greek, Minister of Economic Development
Hon. Kim Masland, Minister of Public Work
3. Learn How Forestry Fights Climate Change
Nova Scotia’s forestry sector removes more carbon from the environment than it emits. We can still do more in the fight against climate change. This year’s panels will show how forestry fights climate change while capitalizing on green growth opportunities.
Our panel topics include:
How to expand and grow the bio-economy in Nova Scotia.
The potential carbon credit market in Nova Scotia.
Lessons learned from the Heat New Glasgow district heating project
4. Our Annual Awards and Reception
On Tuesday, February 6, we have our annual rewards ceremony and reception.
The awards honour those in our sector who achieve top marks for safety and sustainability. The reception following the rewards ceremony will feature live music and entertainment.
5. Networking Opportunities Abound
This year’s AGM features many of the leading suppliers and executives in forestry. This group only assembles once a year, and this is your chance to meet these individuals, introduce yourself, and make connections that can last for years.
Head over to Eventbrite and buy your tickets today!
Job Alert! Executive Director, Maritime College of Forest Technology.
Established in 1946, the Maritime College of Forest Technology (MCFT) has graduated over 3,300 students over the last 70 years and is grounded in its deep commitment to producing quality graduates primed for work in the natural resource sector.
With campuses in Fredericton and Bathurst, MCFT specializes in natural resource education, offering a Forest Technology Diploma program focused on forestry dynamics, data collection, wildlife habitat, management, and current issues as well as an Advanced Diploma Program in Fish and Wildlife Technology focused on developing the skills and knowledge associated with monitoring and assessing wildlife species and their habitats.
Now, MCFT is seeking its next Executive Director to champion its vision to be the recognized leader in forestry and natural resources education and to provide a world-class educational experience that equips graduates to lead in the forestry and natural resources sectors.
This Year’s 5 Biggest Forestry Stories
This was a big year for forestry. Forestry was front and centre, from wildfires to funding to our first Our Trees campaign. Because of the support of our members, there is a growing acknowledgement of the importance of our sector and the work we do.
Wildfires
This year, 220 wildfires destroyed 25,000 hectares of land and 200 homes. That was in Nova Scotia alone. Nova Scotians now understand that if we want to get serious about combating wildfires, we must get serious about forestry.
Investment Tax Credit
The federal government’s fall economic statement contained good news for the forest economy. The statement included news that it will include forest biomass conversion technologies for heat and electricity generation in its Clean Manufacturing and Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credits (ITCs).
This announcement will make it easier to attract investment to our forest sector. Northern Pulp’s closure led to a massive surplus of low-grade wood in Nova Scotia. This tool will make it easier to attract businesses to our province to use this low-grade wood.
Funding for Contractors
The Nova Scotia Forestry Innovation Trust announced $9.85 million in new support for forestry contractors. The Nova Scotia Community College will administer the program, and the criteria and application process are currently under development. An eligible business could receive up to $500,000 from the program.
Northern Pulp
Northern Pulp requested a six-month extension until June 30, 2024, focusing on reaching a mediated resolution with the Province of Nova Scotia and submitting a detailed Environmental Assessment (EA) report. A Supreme Court judge in British Columbia extended creditor protection for Northern Pulp through the end of next June on Tuesday, but officials predict there will be a resolution before then.
Our Trees Success
In 2023, thousands of Nova Scotians helped us plant 16,000 seedlings around the province. Thousands of Nova Scotians requested seedlings as part of this program. Because of all our effort, 16,000 seedlings were planted around the province.
Click here to explore the campaign’s positive environmental impact.
Did we forget something? Leave a comment below and let us know.
Northern Pulp Seeks Six-Month Extension
A preliminary site rendering for a transformed Northern Pullp.
On December 8th, Northern Pulp filed our CCAA materials with the Court before our December 12th and 13th hearing. We have requested a six-month extension until June 30, 2024, focusing on reaching a mediated resolution with the Province of Nova Scotia and submitting a detailed Environmental Assessment (EA) report.
We anticipate by early 2024, we will know if a mediated resolution can be reached with the Province or if we will need to seek an alternative approach. We continue to move forward, but since they are confidential discussions, we cannot provide details of the mediation.
Our team continues to advance the EA for a transformed mill. We have identified the relevant studies completed since 2018 that can meet the requirements of the current environmental assessment, saving both cost and time. We are working diligently to write the EA report in time for the March 2024 deadline.
During this stay, the Mill site will remain in cold shutdown to maintain the status quo at the least possible cost, and our woodland division will continue its operations. To support our employees and retirees, we have requested to continue providing retiree benefits and honour our employee and retiree obligations throughout this period.
Since October 2020, part of our community engagement has been through an independent, community-based Environmental Liaison Committee. The committee has done significant work to better understand stakeholder issues and concerns with mill operations and developed a vision for a reimagined mill. For the coming stay period, and in keeping with our decision to suspend external studies, the activities of the Environmental Liaison Committee will be suspended until we know if a mediated resolution can be reached with the Province.
We thank the Environmental Liaison Committee members for their time and work over the past three years. The information and insights provided by the committee informed the development of the Tomorrow’s Mill transformation plan. We will continue to move forward in a manner that aligns with the Environmental Liaison Committee’s desired path for Northern Pulp, which respects the environment, promotes economic and social well-being, and respects Indigenous communities' unique culture and traditions.
As the Lahey Report has indicated, Nova Scotia’s forestry sector needs a pulp market to make the transition to ecological forestry possible. A modern pulp mill in Nova Scotia, either a transformed Northern Pulp or an investment in developing a new mill elsewhere in the province, is the solution.
The Power of Forestry in Wildfire Prevention: A Must-Read Guide
This year was Nova Scotia’s worst year for wildfires on record. This week, one group called to protect more areas from active forest management to reduce wildfire risk. Unfortunately, this isn’t a science or fact-based argument.
This group’s proposal will make wildfires more likely, worsen climate change and put Nova Scotia's forests at risk of destruction. We need to get serious about science-based policy regarding wildfire risk management. We cannot afford to follow old and dated ideologies blindly.
Wildfire Risk is Real
This year in Canada:
Wildfires burned a record 18.5 million hectares across Canada this year.
Preliminary estimates from Natural Resources Canada show emissions from those fires amounted to roughly 2,400 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent – more than triple the 670 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent reported as Canada’s total emissions for 2021 in the most recent National Inventory Report.
Follow the Science
Here are four recent studies on forestry, wildfires, and climate change.
1 | Parks Canada: Protected areas don’t store carbon like they used to
According to Parks Canada:
“The effects of climate change—including the increased frequency and intensity of insect infestations and wildfires—are whittling away at the capacity of protected areas to store and sequester carbon.”
Calls to protect more land using the approach suggested by the group above will increase carbon emissions. We cannot allow that to happen.
We have proposed an approach for protecting land in Nova Scotia. It’s called Climate-Smart Conservation. This will let us achieve our protected areas target without worsening climate change or increasing wildfire risk.
2 | PNAS: Thin to prevent wildfires
A November 2023 study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) reached a very different conclusion from the above group. PNAS, a peer-reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), is an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans the biological, physical, and social sciences. The journal is global in scope, and submission is open to all researchers worldwide.
The journal article concludes, “Management actions, such as prescribed fires and mechanical thinning, can curb severe fire behaviour and reduce the potential negative impacts of uncharacteristic fires on wildlife.”
3 | Journal of Forest Ecology and Management: Wildfires damage biodiversity
This peer-reviewed journal article concludes that wildfires "impact the forest understorey and its seed bank, which are vital reservoirs of biodiversity and forest resilience in the face of global change."
If we fail to allow for active forest management, the forest's biodiversity is at risk. The understorey suffers, and the forest’s seed bank is severely affected. This puts the future of our forests at risk.
4 | International Boreal Forest Researchers Association: Active forest management helps reduce wildfire risk
A January 2022 publication by the International Boreal Forest Researchers Association shows that active forest management in Nordic countries is helping sequester more carbon and making forests more resilient to wildfires. In those areas, fire and natural disturbance levels are 50 to 60 times lower than in Canada. This is even with harvesting rates higher than here in Canada.
Science, Not Ideology, Fights WildFires
Wildfires take lives, destroy homes, and forever harm biodiversity. We cannot afford to follow ideology blindly.
Science tells us:
Protected areas aren’t able to store carbon effectively.
Carbon emissions worsen climate change, making wildfires more likely and severe.
Thinning and prescribed burns are the best ways to reduce wildfire risk for most areas across our country. Due to our Acadian Forests in Nova Scotia, prescribed burns are less natural and more difficult to manage. That leaves active forest management and thinning as one of the best ways to manage our fire risk.
Nordic countries harvest more than we do but see fire and natural disturbance levels 50 to 60 times less than in Canada.
If we don’t listen to science, wildfire risk will be higher. We cannot afford that. There is too much on the line.
3 Forestry Stories From Around the Web
From time-to-time, we will share interesting articles from around the web.
NIMBYs Exposed By New Study
A new study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer-reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), showed that wealthy individuals are most likely to oppose wind energy projects.
NIMBY (Not In MY Back Yard) efforts aren’t limited to wind energy development. Our sector deals with this.
Many forestry workers are subject to threats and intimidation.
New Paper-Based Cup Eliminates Need for Plastic Lids
After four years of development, a new biodegradable cup for hot beverages is ready for market.
“The SOFi Hot Cup features three flaps that fold together to form a spill-proof spout. This design eliminates the need for a separate plastic lid, saving businesses money, storage space and freight costs. The company’s breakthrough patent-pending locking mechanism also ensures unmatched spill protection, while its proprietary water-based coating eliminates soggy sips.”
Nighbor: Trudeau Needs To Spend More Time Thinking About Rural Communities
Derek Nighbor is President and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada. He discusses Trudeau’s carbon tax changes and the need for the federal government to consider how its decisions impact rural communities.
“To seize the potential of a prosperous rural Canada of tomorrow that delivers for all Canadians, we need to start by recognizing the tremendous value these regions bring to our country and take strong actions to keep them vibrant and viable.”
3 Surprising Products Forestry Creates
In Nova Scotia, the forestry sector takes more carbon out of the environment than it emits. That means we are a net carbon sink. We can do this while creating more than 6,000 jobs throughout the province.
Forestry is a green sector - the most green sector in the province. How are we able to make that claim?
First, we plant over 12 million trees every year. Millions of additional trees grow naturally on the land our sector manages yearly. Our industry helps grow nearly 20 million trees annually between our planting and land management efforts.
Growing trees consumes carbon and filters the air. This makes the forests we manage effective air filters. When trees consume carbon, they lock it away for the tree's life.
If we were to let the trees age and die, they would fall on the forest floor. Once dead, they would release most of their stored carbon back into the atmosphere and add to forest fire risk. Instead of letting the trees die and the carbon escape, our sector creates products from the trees we grow, and the carbon gets stored in the products we make. While those products store carbon, we continue growing forests to capture even more.
We all realize that forestry produces lumber for homes. Solid wood products (like lumber) lock carbon away for a long time. Our sector is connected to numerous other products that may surprise you. Let’s take a look at a few of those products.
1 | Biofuels
Low-grade wood and the leftovers (sawdust, chips and bark) from the creation of lumber can help create different fuels used by vehicles and machinery. This is one of the most promising new markets connected to forestry. There is a growing global demand for the commodity, and we can create it here in Nova Scotia.
There are two main types of fuel: renewable diesel and sustainable airline fuel. There are only a handful of producers, and global production isn’t enough to meet the growing demand. Canada imports much of the renewable diesel used in the country, but we can change that.
These fuels generate more than an economic benefit - they are better for the environment because they replace fossil fuels. According to Biden’s energy department, these fuels can reduce greenhouse gases by as much as 86 percent.
2 | Biochar
Biochar is a versatile compound. One of the most common uses is improving the soil for agriculture. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recognized biochar as a promising tool in the fight against climate change. It benefits crops and helps the soil lock away more carbon.
It could improve Nova Scotia's agricultural output and help us grow more local food.
3 | Bioplastics
Low-grade fibre and wood left over from lumber production can help create plastics. Wood is a possible substitute for using oil or fossil fuels to produce plastics. Creating biodegradable plastics would be less harmful to the environment once we finish using them.
Green Products, Green Growth, Green Jobs
The forestry sector can help our province in many ways. We can produce environmentally friendly fuels, products to help grow more local food, and reduce harmful plastic waste.
Federal Tax Credit Will Help Develop Markets for Low-Grade Fibre
The federal government’s fall economic statement contained good news for the forest economy. The statement included news that it will include forest biomass conversion technologies for heat and electricity generation in its Clean Manufacturing and Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credits (ITCs).
“This decision marks a significant step forward to grow Canada’s forest bioeconomy and will encourage additional market use for low-grade wood in the face of worsening fire patterns.”
FPAC President and CEO Derek Nighbor.
Sector’s Biggest Challenge
Nighbor touches on one of the biggest problems facing the forest economy in Nova Scotia. The closure of Northern Pulp caused the market for low-grade fibre to collapse. The closure of Northern Pulp created a gap in demand for low-grade fibre that amounts to 1.5 million green metric tonnes.
This loss reverberated throughout the province’s forest economy. The loss in markets for low-grade fibre harmed woodlot owners and upset the economics of our sawmills that produce lumber. It also led to a massive reduction in the number of contractors - the men and women who work in the woods and harvest.
In addition to the challenges caused by Northern Pulp’s closure, Canada’s forest economy faced tremendous pressure from the United States and Europe. Until this announcement, Canada did not offer incentives to attract investment that were on par with the US and EU. Giving biomass projects access to this tax credit helps address this competitive imbalance.
Bigger Than Forestry
We know we need to take steps to combat climate change. This announcement helps with that fight, too. More biomass projects mean we will have access to a powerful source of carbon-neutral, renewable energy that converts wood residuals like sawdust, branches, and bark into energy and lower carbon fuels.
Adding new markets for low-grade fibre will also help reduce the chances of wildfires. Removing dead and decaying trees from the forest is harder without these markets. If these trees are left in the forest, they become forest fire fuel.
Nearly $10 Million in New Supports for Forestry Contractors
The Nova Scotia Forestry Innovation Trust announced $9.85 million in new support for forestry contractors.
Adopting ecological forestry practices means the contracting base must purchase or retrofit equipment. It is also helpful because the sector’s contract base is struggling. Following the closure of Northern Pulp, the sector’s contracting capacity shrunk by 40 percent.
“We are grateful for the support to help our contractors make the necessary equipment upgrades to assist in our transition to sustainable ecological forestry practices,” said Angela MacGillivray, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Forestry Contractors’ Association. “This support comes at a time when the sector is facing increased costs to transition to ecological forestry and will have positive impacts across the whole sector.”
This news comes as the federal government announced that biomass would be eligible for a federal tax credit that will help attract investment to the sector.
Together, these announcements help address two of the largest challenges facing the sector: the lack of markets for low-grade fibre and the challenges faced by our contractors.
Rules and Funding
The Nova Scotia Community College will administer the program, and the criteria and application process are currently under development. An eligible business could receive up to $500,000 from the program.
Available grants include:
Up to 35 percent of the purchase price for new equipment (maximum grant of $250,000)
Up to 30 percent for used equipment (maximum grant of $125,000)
Up to 30 percent for retrofits (maximum grant of $100,000)
Make sure you subscribe to our mailing list to stay up to date on the details of the program.
Understanding Climate-Smart Conservation: A Step Towards a Sustainable Future
Forest Nova Scotia believes the provincial government should embrace Climate-Smart Conservation. This call comes as the Province of Nova Scotia tries to achieve its goal of protecting and conserving at least 20 percent of Nova Scotia’s land and water by 2030.
Unless our provincial government is careful, achieving this target could put our province at risk. Without careful planning, we could see our forests emit more carbon dioxide as trees die from insect outbreaks, disease, windstorms and wildfires.
Currently, the only way for land to count as “protected” is to be owned by the government or through significant legal restrictions with some non-profit organizations. Many other pieces of land are privately held, where forestry activity cannot happen for various reasons, but these lands do not count toward provincial conservation targets.
The Current System is Broken
Based on the current system, this means there are two things the government can do.
1 | Spend Millions of Tax Dollars
Spend millions of your tax dollars to buy land and protect it. This would increase the total amount of Crown land and the total area of protected land.
It would also mean the government has less money to spend on essential things like health care and housing.
2 | Protect More Crown Land
There are two challenges with this approach.
Lost Revenue
Whenever trees are harvested on Crown land, the government earns revenue. This revenue funds important services, such as health care and education. If fewer trees are harvested on Crown land, it would mean less money for the government to spend on those critical services.
Big Problems With the Current Model
In Nova Scotia, there are two big problems with the current model used to protect land.
Increases Wildfire Risk
This last year saw record wildfires; experts say the future could be even worse. The future wildfire risk in Nova Scotia is heightened because the forests cannot be properly maintained under the current system.
When natural disasters like Hurricane Fiona hit, trees are knocked over. Right now, they are essentially being left to dry out and rot. Trees that are left to dry out add to the total amount of forest fire fuel in the province.
A January 2022 publication by the International Boreal Forest Researchers Association shows that active forest management in Nordic countries is helping sequester more carbon and making forests more resilient to wildfires. In those areas, fire and natural disturbance levels are 50 to 60 times lower than in Canada. This is even with harvesting rates higher than here in Canada.
Hastens Climate Change
We also see that protected areas cannot lock carbon away as effectively as growing forests. As trees become over-mature, they release carbon, especially as they become more vulnerable to insects, disease and wind.
A recent study by Parks Canada drives home this fact
“The effects of climate change — including the increased frequency and intensity of insect infestations and wildfires—are whittling away at the capacity of protected areas to store and sequester carbon.”
This means that increasing conservation will - for a brief period - protect the appearance of our forests. It also means that over time, Nova Scotia’s protected areas will move from a net carbon sink to an active carbon emitter.
The current model used for our province’s protected areas strategy hinders our forests’ ability to lock away carbon. Additionally, it puts lives at risk by increasing the risk of wildfires.
There is a solution: Climate-Smart Conservation.
Climate-Smart Conservation
Climate-Smart Conservation means we must start counting private land that is already protected. Large areas of private land cannot be forested for legislative or regulatory purposes. Failure to count this land will be expensive for taxpayers and our environment.
Climate-Smart Conservation would count the following:
Include Moose Reserve Patches or Moose Shelter Patches already reserved from harvest on private land.
Include wetlands and the riparian zones around wetlands where harvesting and other industrial activity do not occur.
Include riparian areas around lakes and along larger watercourses.
Voluntary conservation easements are offered to private landowners - they give a guarantee not to harvest or work the land.
This approach would let the province accurately count the amount of land already protected in the area. In doing so, we could avoid worsening climate change and increasing wildfire risk by protecting too much land.
Become a Member
Help us protect the forest while creating jobs and opportunities for Nova Scotians.
The Crucial Role of Forestry in Preventing Devastating Wildfires
This year, 220 wildfires destroyed 25,000 hectares of land and 200 homes.
CBC Nova Scotia spoke with Scott Tingley, the forest protection manager for DNRR.
"Tingley said less snow over the winter, combined with a dry spring, made for an excellent breeding ground for wildfires."
He added that 97 percent of wildfires are caused by human activity, "mostly accidental but sometimes deliberate."
Tingley correctly asserts, "We will probably see larger and challenging fires no doubt within the coming years."
Why we will continue to see more dangerous wildfires
We will see more fires because it is getting harder to manage our forests actively. Active management means properly managing and harvesting in the forest and thinning areas where harvesting isn’t allowed.
Following the closure of the Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County, the number of people who work in the woods declined by nearly 40 percent. The mill's closure means there is much less demand for low-grade wood (for example, trees that fell during Fiona) now that it is closed.
If forestry professionals cannot actively manage our forests, we cannot remove dead and dry wood. This means the amount of forest fire fuel is increasing.
Many people say that we just need to plant more hardwood. It's not that simple. Nova Scotia’s wildfires this summer completely burnt multiple hardwood stands. Yes, hardwood is more resilient to wildfires, but it is not fireproof. With massive amounts of forest fire fuel on the ground, hardwood will burn, too. And hardwood doesn't create lumber to build homes.
A 2022 publication shows that active forest management in Nordic countries is helping sequester more carbon, making forests more resilient to wildfires. In those areas, fire and natural disturbance levels are 50 to 60 times less than in Canada.
Our push to protect more and more of the forest will add to wildfire risk and result in our forests becoming net emitters of carbon. A recent Parks Canada study drives home this fact, “The effects of climate change—including the increased frequency and intensity of insect infestations and wildfires—are whittling away at the capacity of protected areas to store and sequester carbon.”
If we want to get serious about combating wildfires, we must get serious about forestry. So many trees are still on the ground following the aftermath of Fiona. Those trees will continue to dry out and will become forest fire fuel.
We are facing increased wildfire risk because our forests are not as actively managed as they should be, and fewer women and men work in the woods.
Our Trees Success
In 2023, thousands of Nova Scotians helped us plant 16,000 seedlings around the province.
This happened because of our first OurTrees campaign.
In 2023, Forest Nova Scotia launched the Our Trees campaign.
The Our Trees campaign was a chance for us to tell our story. Our sector is filled with hard-working men and women prioritizing the forest’s health.
The environmental impact of this campaign is profound. Just look at what it will do in one year.
We are excited to grow this program in the future and want to thank you for your help.