News release

Enhanced Wood Salvage Program Announced

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

The province announced an enhanced wood salvage program for landowners within the Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle restricted zone during a meeting on Dec. 7 at the Lawrencetown Community Centre in Lawrencetown, Halifax Regional Municipality.

"The aim of the program is to salvage areas where damage is most extensive, to reduce public safety risks, all the while supporting efforts to contain and eradicate the beetle," said Richard Hurlburt, Minister of Natural Resources.

The program will offset extraordinary costs that are incurred by private operators willing and authorized to work inside the restricted zone, up to a total of $1 million.

The Department of Natural Resources is currently finalizing contracts with Neenah Paper and the Association of Sustainable Forestry. Neenah Paper is now authorized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to work within the restricted zone and has agreed to produce chips for pulpwood. The Association of Sustainable Forestry will receive, assess, and prioritize program applications from private landowners on behalf of the province.

The province is also working with Barrett Enterprises and other operations that are in the process of securing CFIA approvals to also operate within the restricted zone.

"We will continue to work with our partners at Halifax Regional Municipality, CFIA and the industry to ensure the issue is resolved successfully," said Mr. Hurlburt.

More details will be announced after program components are finalized.