The Province has found a high production forest zone to complete it’s triad model of ecological forestry.
The aim is to support the economy while making sure 90% of Crown land is managed with biodiversity.
“We now have all three parts of the triad model of ecological forestry in place, as recommended in the Independent Review of Forest Practices,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. “We started with the conservation zone first and then the mixed-use zone. Now we’re moving ahead with a high production forest zone where there’s opportunity to approach timber harvesting very much like agriculture and support our rural economies.”
The other 10%, about 185,000 hectares, will be the high production zone, where clear-cutting is allowed.
Once forestry has harvested an area in the zone, they will add nutrients to the soil then high quality, fast-growing seedlings will be planted, managing the crop for decades, producing trees in 25 to 40 years, instead of the 60 to 90 years through traditional approaches.
The work will mostly be done on Crown land previously used for forestry or agriculture, are conducive to growing spruce trees quickly and are relatively close to existing sawmills. It will not be done on land near parks, or protected areas, old growth forests, sensitive habitats, tolerant hardwood or pine forests, special wildlife management zones, buffers along watercourses or areas with high Indigenous cultural value.
The new initial sites occupy about 0.5% of Crown land. More sites will be evaluated and proposals will continue until a maximum of 10 percent is reached.
The conservation zone, about 35% of Crown land, includes old-growth forests, existing parks and protected areas. The mixed zone is currently 55% of Crown land.
Quick Facts:
— the 2018 Independent Review of Forest Practices recommended that Nova Scotia adopt a triad model of ecological forestry
— the triad model includes 1.85 million hectares of land managed under the Crown Lands Act, Wilderness Areas Protection Act, Special Places Protection Act and Provincial Parks Act
— the three zones of the triad model work together to allow ecological and economic goals to coexist, leading to healthy forests and a sustainable forestry sector
The proposals must now go through the existing review process.
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