Summer 1988
An innovative research project now taking place in Nova Scotia should reveal much about the interaction of forestry practices with wildlife habitat. Over the next 5 years the St. Mary's River Forestry/wildlife Project team hopes to develop practical, effective and economical methods of integrating wildlife habitat considerations into forestry practices.
The project was initiated in 1984 by two industry foresters who wanted to learn more about how their operations affected wildlife. After they consulted with the regional biologist of the Department of Lands and Forests in Antigonish, the project caught the interest of the Nova Scotia Section of the Canadian Institute of Forestry. In September 1987, two biologists and an education coordinator were hired full-time to design the project.
The watershed of the St. Mary's River and surrounding region has been chosen because it embraces both unmanaged forests and intensive forest management activities. The area also maintains most Nova Scotia wildlife species as seasonal or year-round residents. In particular the St. Mary's river is noted for its salmon population and its active public interest group, the St. Mary's River Association.
Integrated resource management entails setting forestry and wildlife management goals and trying to achieve them. this takes cooperation between foresters and biologists. How this can best be achieved has been studied elsewhere, but not in Nova Scotia. The St. Mary's river Project should fill this knowledge gap.
One innovation is the number of agencies involved. experience in the U.S. has shown that forestry and wildlife goals are more likely to be met if there is cooperation and goodwill among the agencies involved. The St. Mary's river Project is a good example of this type of commitment. The federal and Nova Scotia governments, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Scott Maritimes Ltd., and Stora Forest Industries are providing funding and input into the project's development.
The project will focus on the managing areas along streams, the use of dead tree habitats, and the long-term effect of cutting patterns on wildlife habitat. to provide educational opportunities for industry and government, forestry and wildlife workers will help to develop and evaluate operational procedures. As the project progresses, public education programs will also be developed.
Streams and streamside areas are very important habitat for a wide variety of animals. Understanding the effects of forestry in these areas is the primary focus of the project for 1988. We have put on introductory workshops to industry groups working on the study sites.
Field research began this spring on 6 study sites along streams. We are monitoring fish and wildlife populations before and after forest cutting. Then we will assess any impacts of tree harvesting on these populations. We will also monitor changes in stream temperature and silt content. Some sites of past forestry operations will also be examined to see what long-term impact forest cutting has had on stream habitat.
As the project progresses, we will take a close look at the role of dead trees in providing habitat. It's estimated that 25% of Nova Scotia's animals use dead or dying trees for roosting, feeding, denning or other activities. These trees, useless as merchantable timber, could be left for wildlife. In our workshops we'll ask forest workers to help us identify where snags can be left so they are not a safety hazard.
The project will also study how cutting affects wildlife over time. This will involve comparing cuts to ensure that a diversity of habitats is maintained through time (e.g. providing deer habitat throughout the year).
Another major goal is to gather wildlife habitat information for computerized forest inventory systems. This will allow us develop models for predicting changes in forest wildlife habitat over time.
Our forests and the animal homes they provide are among Nova Scotia's most important resources. The St. Mary's river Project is an exciting and challenging undertaking that will benefit our wildlife and people.