Amendments Ensure Sustainable Forestry

Natural Resources Minister Kennie MacAskill has reintroduced amendments to the Forests Act that will help to ensure that sustainable forestry is practised on both crown and private woodlands in Nova Scotia. The legislation was originally introduced in the House of Assembly last December.

"The amendments are the mechanism to ensure that harvesting does not exceed our capacity to grow timber," said Mr. MacAskill.

"The key amendment means that all wood buyers and exporters must register with the province so that we will know how much wood is actually being harvested."

The amendments also provide for regulations that will require sustainable forest management practices on all woodlands. The regulations will be based on the current Forest/Wildlife Guidelines and Standards, which are designed to protect the forest environment, wildlife habitats, watercourses and wetlands, and limit the size of clearcuts. The guidelines and standards, implemented in 1989, are currently mandatory on Crown land and voluntary on private woodlands.

Another amendment will require industrial forest operators to provide information on forest harvesting operations so that Department of Natural Resources field staff can monitor harvesting operations. However, this will not apply to woodlot owners or operators who harvest less than 200 cords (450 cubic metres) per year.

"These improvements represent a new direction for forestry in Nova Scotia," said Mr. MacAskill. "In addition to providing a framework to achieve sustainable forestry, this new approach will help to maintain forestry related jobs and incomes, protect the forest environment, and ensure that we don't cut more timber than we can grow."

Mr. MacAskill says the plan to achieve sustainable forestry has been well received within the forestry sector.

Note: The following is intended for use by broadcast media.

Natural Resources Minister Kennie MacAskill introduced

amendments to the Forests Act to ensure sustainable forestry

is practised on Nova Scotia woodlands.

The amendments prevent harvesting from exceeding the

province's capacity to grow timber.

Industrial forest operators will be required to provide

harvesting data to the Department of Natural Resources.

<b>Text of Forests Act (amended)</b>