Contacts November 2010

Nova Forest Alliance
Stewiacke, N.S.
The people in our forest communities have been busy throughout the summer and fall.
The Prince Edward Island Model Forest Network completed an interactive multimedia educational presentation. Part of the project was introduced at a workshop and tour on Sept. 25. Island partners are also advancing marketing and communications plans. They are working with woodland owners to help them find forest-based opportunities in non-timber and value-added forest products. A project to explore the possible effects of biomass harvesting on the Island is underway.
This past summer, the folks at the St. Mary’s River Association held field tours to educate residents regarding contemporary forest and forestry-related management practices. Work at Stonewall Park, including a new interpretive panel, brochure, and website, is underway. A forestry professional spent the fall field season collecting data on post-harvest blowdown in special management zones.
Over at the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (MTRI), a small team has been working with woodland owners and communities in the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve to help residents manage their woodlands with maximum economic, ecological, and social benefits. This summer public talks, workshops, and exhibits kept everyone busy. MTRI staff are also working on a project to help achieve landscape connectivity and land owner stewardship in the Biosphere Reserve. The first stage of the project, a literature review, has been completed.
At the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources technicians were in the field collecting data to identify and catalog plant species of cultural significance to the Mi’kmaq people of the area. The work will help to map and preserve those significant species.
Meanwhile, back at NFA headquarters, staff has been working with the team that is drafting the revision to the Best Management Practices Manual, keeping the administration and communications programs on track and working with Management Committee members as they prepare to help our Partnership undertake strategic planning activities that will chart the future course of the NFA. Watch for information about our next Charting the Course workshop.
Terry Stanislow, administration and communications coordinator
(Contact number 902-639-2921)

Nova Scotia Forest Technicians Association
Truro, N.S.
Over the last several months, there has been a debate within the NSFTA as to whether we should change the name from Nova Scotia Forest Technicians Association to Nova Scotia Forest Technologists Association. To some this might seem a bit trivial. In most provinces, however, there is a clear distinction between a forest technician and forest technologist. When applying for work outside of Nova Scotia, this distinction makes a big difference in terms of both salary and whether or not you will get a job.
A technician in Alberta for example, is a person who has received a certificate for completing a one-year training course. Duties typically include carrying out site-prep, planting, assisting with block layout, regeneration surveys, and other silviculture activities that we generally associate with contractors or forest workers in Nova Scotia.
Forest technologists work in close consultation with other land and resource management specialists to ensure forested land is managed wisely. Their objective is to optimize production of forest resources and minimize adverse impacts on the land, water, and wildlife. This generally requires a higher level of skill and training. The only recognized school in the Maritimes that offers a forest technologist program is the Maritime College of Forest Technology.
So what kind of tech are you? Well, if you graduated from a technical program that is at least two years in duration (or one-year Ranger School) and is recognized by the Canadian Institute of Forestry, congratulations, you are a forest technologist! Although the NSFTA has not made any official changes to its name, these are the people our organization represents in Nova Scotia.
Whether the NSFTA uses technician or technologist, there is one thing you can be sure of; we are not the Nova Scotia Fly Tiers Association.
Andrew Fedora, NSFTA Executive member
(Contact number 902-639-2041)

New Brunswick Federation of Woodlot Owners
Fredericton, N.B.
Well we have made it through another provincial election here in New Brunswick. The Progressive Conservative Party had a decisive win in the Sept. 27 election. Congratulations to them on their success.
Woodlot owners watched with interest the statements and commitments made during the campaign related to forestry and woodlots specifically. Our new government has promised to maintain at minimum our $6 million silviculture program, along with planned annual allocated increases. (To return us to our historic $8 million budget.) “Over the next four years we will work toward increasing the amount of funding for silviculture on private lands to the original base budget of $8 million, before it was cut by the Shawn Graham government,” said Madeleine Dube in a PC release on Sept. 21.
Another key election statement was the plan for a Forestry Summit to be held immediately following the election. (Early indications are it will be held in the third or fourth week of November). PC Leader and Premier designate David Alward said, “we will refer to the Forest Summit this fall the question of how we can put in place a process that could result in fairer market prices for private woodlot owners, where they are in competition with wood from Crown Land.”
Generally these statements have been well received by woodlot owners, although there are some mixed feelings around another set of studies or summit. Woodlot owners and their organizations feel the key issues have been identified again and again. What is needed is a plan with definitive action.
Other key platform items included:
An economic development levy on wood from temporary Crown land allocations leaving a community as a primary forest product.
Initiatives to make it easier for new entrants to get capital funding to start a new business.
Increased emphasis on R&D.
Meeting the potential that pellets and biofuel have.
Establishing hardwood and softwood timber objectives.
Including maple producers in forest management planning.
While clearly all the details are not available yet, our woodlot owner organizations will be ready and available to work with the government on these initiatives.
A successful woodlot owner field day was held on Sept. 18, with beautiful weather and an exceptional woodlot. (For more, see story on page 19.) We cannot thank Arnold Alward enough for allowing us the pleasure to access his woodlot. Thanks also go to the SNB Wood Cooperative for allowing us to “piggy-back” this event on its annual event, as well as the key contribution of their staff. And also thanks to Nairn, Barb, and Amanda at Fundy Model Forest for all their hard work and for the idea of bringing back our Provincial Woodlot Day.
Watch for next year’s event – preliminary plans are for it to take place in the northwest region of the province.
Markets continue to challenge us; some regions have seen modest recovery but overall we have a long way to go. Again we are hopeful with the change in administration in Fredericton we may see some of our key impediments dealt with, mainly our continued competition with publicly-owned Crown wood.
Silviculture season is still in full swing, but our days are getting shorter and the budget tighter. More than 70 percent of the work is complete at this time. With the commitments made during the election campaign we look forward to planning for next season. We also continue discussion with Federal representatives with our hope they will consider continued support though ACOA for silviculture as they have over the past two years.
Ken Hardie, manager
(Contact number 506-459-2990)

Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners
Stewiacke, N.S.
Winter is right around the corner and we are working fast to get prepared. Our contract management planners are completing cruising work for woodlot management plans before snow sets in. Over the winter, the final batch of plans will be finalized and mark the completion of our certification program goal of 120 woodlots that will be certified to meet the requirements of the CSA Z804 standard. All told, we estimate a total certified land base of approximately 27,000 acres of small private woodlots.
Given our recent success in obtaining group certification for CSA, we are now prepared to answer the call of popular demand from our membership and other stakeholders; we are now offering woodlot owners the opportunity to obtain group certification to FSC Canada’s Maritime standard for small and low intensity forests (SLIMF.) The decision to run two certification programs – offering both CSA and FSC – was largely due to popular demand, but also because it gave us better opportunities to collaborate with other groups that are interested in obtaining forest certification. Most landowners recognize the benefits of certification, but cannot afford the cost of implementation, including: woodlot inspections, woodlot owner training programs, contractor awareness sessions, annual updates to management plans, internal audits, and costly third-party audits. By partnering with other groups, it allows woodlot owners and their representative organizations to avoid redundancies in administration, and recognize economies of scale when it comes time to fork over hard-to-find cash to our certifiers. As we develop our new FSC system and subsequent partnerships we will keep the woodlot owner community posted. Interested woodlot owners are encouraged to inquire with us to get more information.
With many woodlot management plans in place, we are now on the hunt for reputable contractors to carry out treatments prescribed in the plans. When conducting forest operations on a certified woodlot, contractors and their crews must use practices that are consistent with the landowner’s management plan, applicable environmental protection regulations, Best Management Practices (BMP), and the requirements of the CSA and/or FSC standards. To qualify as an eligible contractor, we are looking for businesses that meet the following criteria: experience and competence in small woodlot contracting; registered with the Workers Compensation Board of N.S.; carry general liability insurance, valid first-aid, and WHMIS certification; an awareness of their Occupational Health and Safety requirements; and have BMP training. If you are an interested contractor with these qualifications, or if you know a contractor you would like to make us aware of, please contact us. We are working towards creating a master list of qualified contractors that will be posted on our website as a resource for interested landowners.
In other certification-related work, we completed two BMP training programs for woodlot owners last month. One was held in Middle River, Inverness County, for our eastern region members, and the other was held at our office in Stewiacke for our central region members. The western region session was held in Cornwallis, Digby County, back in April. The sessions were well attended by woodlot owners and small contractors. The Federation is now helping the BMP Working Group in the latest revision of the province’s BMP manual. These revisions are normally made every few years to ensure that all information in the guide is as current as possible. The Nova Forest Alliance continues its role as facilitator and distributor of the manuals.
If you are looking for information on our certification program, training opportunities, silviculture funding, the new Natural Resources Strategy, or any other woodlot-related issues, feel free to contact us. Also, we are presently updating our website with valuable resources for landowners. Check it out – follow the FNSWO link on AtlanticFarmer.com.
Mike Hutchinson, projects coordinator
(Contact number 902-670-1870)

Fundy Model Forest
Sussex, N.B.
A good crowd turned out on a beautiful Saturday for the provincial woodlot field day in Havelock on Sept. 18. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who helped make the day such a success, especially our generous and gracious host Arnold Alward. We also thank the N.B. Federation of Woodlot Owners, INFOR, and SNB Wood Co-op who collaborated on the project. Among the many hands and tremendous help provided by SNB, we especially thank technician Dwayne Simkins for arranging an interesting and well-organized tour. We also appreciated J.D. Irving, Limited floating the equipment used by North Fork Thinning in the commercial thin demonstration. Thanks also to the Havelock Lions Club for providing lunch, and to additional presenters: Jason Knox; Darin Clark and Rick McShane; Reg Webster and Chris Spencer (SNB); Susan Linkletter (Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance); Tom Byers (Quality Deer Management Association); Ron Smith, VarFor Consulting; Arnold Perry (Christmas tree grower); and exhibitors: Atlantic Log Works, Community Forestry International, UNB Woodsmen, Eastern Compact Equipment, Springfield Mushrooms, and the National Tree Seed Centre. Be sure to check out the gallery of field day photos at Fundy Model Forest on Facebook. FMF is interested in hearing from organizations in other areas of the province interested in partnering to host a 2011 field day.
A new publication, “From East to West: Key Lessons for Non-Timber Forest Product Development in Canada’s Model Forests” summarizes two key conferences: The Non-Timber Forest Resources Forum: Linking Policy, Research and Economic Opportunities held in Nanaimo, B.C., November 2009; and From Our Atlantic Fields and Forests, held in Truro, N.S., February 2010. These two forums served to bring together NTFP practitioners from coast to coast to discuss trends and opportunities in NTFP development and to suggest potential approaches to addressing the gaps and navigating the challenges facing NTFP sector development across Canada. The second forum was hosted by the Model Forests in Atlantic Canada. Jenny Sigalet and Tim Brigham, Centre for Livelihoods and Ecology, Royal Roads University summarized the main outcomes, lessons learned, and key messages from the two workshops in this report for the Canadian Model Forest Network. The publication is available on the FMF website.
“From Capacity to Action,” prepared by Gwen Zwicker at the Rural and Small Town Program, Mount Allison University, is also on the website. This report provides details on the FMF project to develop a sustainable development plan for the Village of Petitcodiac and surrounding areas.
A long-term project to examine the potential for wood or wood biomass as an efficient, cost-effective and renewable heating source has entered a second phase. The objective is to determine if using wood biomass to heat a public building can reduce operational costs over the long term. FMF is working with the N.B. Federation of Woodlot Owners and the N.B. Department of Energy to develop the project.
Barb Scott, communications coordinator
(Contact number 506-432-7565)

Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association
Truro, N.S.
The NSWOOA held a successful field day on Sept. 18 on the woodlot of Lloyd and Marlene Langille near Hopewell, Pictou County. There were 71 paid attendees who hiked the woodlot or traveled by horse and wagon to six stations for presentations on forest equipment (Rodney Spencer and Alan Fraser), forest soils (Kevin Keys), forest ecology (Bill MacDonald of the Red Tail Society), renovating White spruce stands (Sandy Hyde and Patricia Amero), wetlands (John Brazner), and what to cut and what to leave (Tom Miller).
After a lunch catered by the Eureka Fire Department, Wade Prest spoke about NSWOOA’s role as an intervener in the Utility and Review Board (URB) hearings on biomass power generation by NS Power and NewPage. Prest also talked about the newly formed Otter Ponds Division of the NSWOOA, which (with the participation of Eastern Shore Forest Watch, the Mooseland Community Association, the Ecology Action Centre, and the NSWOOA) will manage 1,300 acres of Crown land in the Mooseland area to restore the Acadian forest and provide woodland education opportunities for Nova Scotians. (See the article in the September 2010 issue of Atlantic Forestry Review.) Matt Miller talked about changes in forestry regulations deriving from the Strategic Review, suggesting that reducing clearcutting should reduce the spray-and-plant style silviculture and enhance the need and opportunity for uneven-aged, mixed species forestry and Category 7 type treatments. He suggested the forest industry control of silviculture funding and allocations must change to recognize this new reality. Currently, only five percent of silviculture funding is available for uneven-aged management, but this kind of forestry is what the public would like to see increased, so funding must be re-directed to make it so. A number of people spoke up about the importance of writing the minister and premier and to make known your support for the Strategic Review, noting the impact the words of concerned citizens who were interested enough to express their own ideas in their own words could have on this important process.
The meeting had just ended when DNR Minister John MacDonell arrived. The 50 or so people remaining re-convened and were pleased to hear the minister speak of his resolve to tackle the issues facing Nova Scotia’s forests. He acknowledged that compromise would be necessary, but stated that current forestry practices were unacceptable and regulatory changes and changes in resource allocation would be needed to craft a sustainable forestry sector.
Concerning the URB hearings into biomass power generation, the NSWOOA interveners opined that the focus was on cheap power, and that NewPage encouraged that focus with its promise that power prices would be locked in for eight years. They claimed 50 percent of the feedstock for power generation would come from mill waste. The other 50 percent would come from biomass from private woodlands, so these woodlot providers of biomass will be locked into eight years of low prices. One wonders if the price of wages, equipment, fuel, and other inputs will also be frozen for eight years. Unlikely. It is wood that will be de-valued and under-valued and woodland that will be degraded in this “race to the bottom” to provide cheap “green” power.
Another significant initiative of the NSWOOA concerns the uneven-aged management Category 7 workshops that have been held and are being held around the province for woodlot owners and forest contractors. Currently there is a one-year waiting period for Category 7 silviculture funding through the Association of Sustainable Forestry (ASF). The success of these workshops and the waiting list for funding are indicative of woodlot owners’ hunger for and willingness to practice ecologically sound forestry. Information on these workshops and the NSWOOA itself is available on our blog – follow the “NSWOOA blog” link from AtlanticFarmer.com. The NSWOOA prides itself on being an independent organization of woodlot owners and operators. Its initiatives are guided by the ideal of achieving prosperity, stewardship, and solidarity through the practice of ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable forestry.
Tony Phillips
(Contact number 902-633-2108)