Chips n' Slabs November 2010
Real fresh trees
Leading into the 2010 harvest season the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia (CTCNS) partnered with a provincial buy-local initiative to promote the industry’s commitment to quality and service. Advertising banners and signage bearing the “Select Nova Scotia” logo may be purchased by retailers who sign a code of practice promising customers will be treated graciously and trees will be fresh, clean, and in good shape. Though it’s generally safe to assume Christmas trees sold in Nova Scotia are grown locally, some vendors hawk trees that “have been to Ontario and back,” says Matt Wright, the Council’s executive director.
Ready for next divestiture?
The Land Services Branch of Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources will soon make recommendations to the government on the potential role of community land trusts in the province, based on a discussion paper and a recent public consultation process contracted to Gardner Pinfold Consulting. Nova Scotia’s Crown Share Land Legacy Trust currently matches funds raised by non-governemental trusts to help purchase land for conservation, but there is some demand for other mechanisms to protect community interests in private land. In 2010 the province spent about $75 million to purchase land from J.D. Irving Limited and other forestry companies, but the government has indicated there is no budget for another shopping spree in the event that more large parcels come on the market. The discussion paper is available online by following the N.S. Community Land Trusts link at AtlanticFarmer.com.
Canadian Urban Forest Conference
Truro, Nova Scotia, hosted the 9th Canadian Urban Forest Conference Oct. 5-7, with participants from all over Canada and the eastern U.S. The conference theme, “Water, Trees, and Communities,” was of interest to a variety of professionals, and experts from across North America discussed the role urban trees and forests play. Truro was an appropriate host location as it boasts one of the oldest and most active urban forest management programs in eastern Canada. It is often used as a model for other towns and cities.
Northrup new N.B. minister
Like any new cabinet minister who formerly played a key role in opposition, Bruce Northrup will have some commitments to live up to as he takes on the natural resources portfolio for the Progressive Conservative government that came to power in New Brunswick on Sept. 27, under the leadership of David Alward. Northrup was first elected Kings East MLA in 2006, and as opposition natural resources critic he drew attention to issues such as inadequate pay rates for silviculture workers. The platform that helped his party win the 2010 election included a promise of increased funding for that sector. Other substantial wooden planks included a new economic development levy on timber from temporary Crown allocations that is not processed locally, and “wood first” construction and biomass heating policies for provincial buildings.
Sawmill theft
Security cameras at the M.R. Macdonald Holdings sawmill in Thorburn, N.S., caught theives breaking in and stealing a quantity of tools early in the morning of Sept. 29, but the Pictou County District RCMP have not been able to identify the culprits. The mill’s owner, Murray Macdonald, said it was galling to watch the video footage. “They had four-foot bolt cutters with them. They had a car and they filled it, the back seat and the trunk. They took stuff they could move fairly quickly. It’s probably long gone. It could have been a lot worse, but this industry’s tough enough without losing five or six grand in tools. . . . It’s something we’ll have to swallow for now. It’s one of those business things.”
Time to celebrate
Next year is a big one for the world’s forests. The United Nations (UN) has declared 2011 the International Year of the Forest. The goal, according to the UN, is “to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests.” What will it mean in Canada? Very little, officially, as the country is not on the list of nations holding events to raise a toast to the woods. Do we have so little to celebrate?
Pellet heating system fires up
Scott’s Nursery, near Fredericton, N.B., has fired up the first of its two pellet-burning Manitoba-built Decker boilers. The boiler has been operating continuously since commissioning in late October. The new pellet heating system consists of two 3.5 million BTU boilers which are fed by a 114-tonne storage silo (roughly two weeks supply). Bulk pellets are being supplied by local pellet manufacturer Marwood. When fully operational, the pellet system is expected to displace most of the nursery’s annual furnace oil requirement, which in prior years, has amounted to 700,000 liters
