Clear cutting Clear Cutting in Nova Scotia

Over the years that I have lived here in Nova Scotia I have noticed many places along the drive to Halifax or Sydney, that are wiped clean of forest. In the bac of my mind I thin , !How much land is being cleared in this province, and I wonder what it loo s li e from above." #hat would be as far as it goes and I would continue on in my travels and forget all about it. I have no doubt that$s what happens with people all across the %rovince& they 'ust have the thought for a moment and then forget about it& meanwhile, the destruction of our forests continues on in the bac ground. I decided that this would be a great opportunity to ta e the time to find answers to these (uestions. #here are currently no regulations governing forestry practices in Nova Scotia. !Northern %ulp, based in the )S, is an affiliate of *tlas Holdings ++C and ,lue -olf Capital .anagement ++C. /ohn Hamm, former %remier of Nova Scotia, is one of *tlas Holdings$ operating partners. Northern %ulp has a license to 01,111 hectares of Nova Scotia2s Crown land, and has an agreement to manage Neenah %aper2s 345,111 hectares of private land. On .arch 67th, 6114, the Nova Scotia 8overnment loaned Northern %ulp 935 million to assist its mill in %ictou." It has been a standing concern with residents of Nova Scotia that the forests are being stripped and the soil is not being treated as a living eco:system. Not only does the clear cutting of our forests harm the chance of reforestation but it harms the wildlife that live within the forest. ;ue to deforestation the economic value of Nova Scotia$s forest have declined, resulting in the loss of value species, the loss of large diameter logs and clear lumber that fetch premium prices, the loss of resistance to insect infestation that results from species diversity , the loss of wildlife habit, including decreasing populations of birds , the loss of forest recreation that can impact tourism, a decline in forest watershed protection that

Clear cutting is li ely contributing to a 51< decline in shade:dependent broo trout, and a resulting contribution to global warming. =ecently Northern %ulp has purchased land throughout northern Nova Scotia to use for sustainable managed forest and for conservation purposes. #he agreement with Northern %ulp and the %rovince of Nova Scotia also includes an investment of 5 million dollars to reduce the smell from the mill and to wor with local .i2 ma( community. !*n estimated 3,111,111,111 litres of effluent from the *bercrombie %ulp and %aper .ill > currently owned by Northern %ulp :: have flowed into ,oat Harbour, and the surrounding area since 3477, according to a 6114 ?ing2s College report, causing untold environmental and health damage. #he area has described as !otherworldly" by 8reen %arty leader @liAabeth .ay, for its ongoing pollution." httpBCChalifax.mediacoop.caCstoryCpassing:buc sC0D30 It has been estimated that since 3450, Nova Scotia forests have become younger, with only 3.5< of forest being more than 01 years old, as opposed to 65< in 3450. #rue old:growth forests have almost disappeared from Nova Scotia, along with many old:growth forest: dependent species of flora and fauna. 8%I E8enuine %rogress IndexF Gorest *ccounts found that excess clear:cutting and the loss of natural age class and species diversity in Nova Scotia have resulted inB #he loss of valuable tree species& #he loss of wide diameter and clear lumber that fetches premium mar et prices& * decline in resilience and resistance to disease and insect infestation& * diminution of wildlife habitat, accompanied by declines in forest:dependent flora and fauna species, including some fish species& * decline in forest recreation values, which in turn has lessened the potential for nature tourism& * decline in forested watershed protection, contributing to a 51< drop in shade: dependent broo trout& Soil degradation and leaching of nutrients that can affect future timber productivity& * substantial decline in carbon storage capacity and an increase in biomass carbon loss in the most recent time period for which data are available& *n overall decline in essential forest ecosystem services. E%annoAAo,+. Colman, =. /uly 6114F

It has been a continual debate as to whether or not clear cutting is the same as natural disturbances such as fire when it comes to the health of the soil and the sustainable environment for wildlife. Grom what I have learned I have the opinion that there is no comparison to the different types of destruction of our forest. Natural occurrences still leave a natural habit for animals, plants and trees to survive, where striping the land of whole trees, stumps, and everything, is not good for the future of our forests.

Clear cutting

#he picture on the left shows a burnt =ed Spruce stand. Note the standing deadwood and unburned patches which will continue to provide habitat, unli e the clear:cut forest.

?ingswood, Halifax County

+a e *nnis, Karmouth County

Sanderson, +. Colborne, =. ,eesley ?. E*ugust 6111F. -oodland Owners$ %erceptions and *ttitudes toward Sustainable Gorest .anagement. =eceived *pril 10 6131 from the Nova Gorest *lliance websiteB httpBCCpubs.cif:ifc.orgCdoiCabsC31.5550Ctfc031HD:3 Gorests are devastated by two centuries of clear cuttingB 8%I report. EGebruary 6116F. =eceived *pril 10 6131 from the 8%I *tlantic website httpBCCwww.gpiatlantic.orgCclippingsCmcIforestImasthead6:16.htm httpBCCwww.gpiatlantic.orgCpdfCintegratedCnewIpolicyIdirections.pdf .oola, G. Clearcutting ain2t Gire or Natural ;isturbance vs. Clearcutting in the *cadian Gorest. =eceived *pril 10, 6131 from Clear Cutting Nova Scotia website. httpBCCwww.clearcutnovascotia.caCarticlesCnotfire.htm Gorest ,iomass @nergy > -here do we go from hereJ E;ecember 34, 6114F =eceived *pril 10, 6131 from the @cology *ction Centre website. httpBCCwww.ecologyaction.caCcontentCforest:biomass:energy:<@6<01<4D:where:do:we:go: here Hinchliffe, *. .a ing a ,io:.ess of Nova Scotia2s Gorests. E;ecember 6H, 6114F =eceived *pril 10 6131 from the ;ominion .onthly %aper website. httpBCCwww.dominionpaper.caCarticlesCD106

Clear cutting Nova Gorest *lliance %ublications httpBCCwww.novaforestalliance.comCinside.aspJcm%ageI;L33M %rovince Supports Gorestry Industry, @nvironment, @conomy. E.arch 3, 6131F. =eceived *pril 10 6131 from the 8overnment of Nova Scotia website. httpBCCwww.gov.ns.caCnewsCsmrC6131:1D:13:forestry.asp httpBCCwww.publicland.caCissuesCclearcutting.html httpBCCwww.tobeaticwilderness.caCarchivesCcrown.pdf httpBCChalifax.mediacoop.caCstoryCpassing:buc sC0D30 =andy 8rover.