Province and Forestry Groups Sign Silviculture Agreement

NATURAL RESOURCES--Province and Forestry Groups Sign Silviculture Agreement

The Department of Natural Resources has signed an agreement with a forestry organization to administer and carry out a silviculture pilot project on small private woodlots throughout Nova Scotia. The project is valued at $400,000.

The Association for Sustainable Forestry will carry out silviculture work with funding from the department's current private-lands silviculture budget. The project will be completed by mid-summer 2001.

"This is an excellent opportunity to explore new ways of delivering silviculture programs on private lands," said Ernest Fage, Minister of Natural Resources. "The project will look at the possibility of this association conducting even more silviculture work in the future through the new Sustainable Forestry Fund."

This fund is a special account established under the Forests Act to ensure that silviculture work is carried out on private woodlots across the province. In future, monies for the fund will come from registered buyers who annually harvest more than 5,000 cubic metres of wood -- approximately 2,300 cords. They must submit a wood acquisition plan to the department and conduct a silviculture program or contribute to the Sustainable Forestry Fund.

"This is an opportunity for everyone, including woodlot owners, industry and government, to work co-operatively to ensure that our forests are sustainable for the future," said Greg Shay, co- chair of the association. "Silviculture funding and programs are essential components of this."

The Association for Sustainable Forestry includes the Nova Scotia Forest Products Association, the Nova Scotia Federation of Woodland Owners, the Nova Scotia Landowners and Forest Fibre Producers Association and the Forest Council of Western Nova Scotia. These groups represent most industry and the larger private landowner associations.

David Sutherland will manage the pilot project on behalf of the association and work out of the Nova Scotia Forest Products office in Hilden. Landowners wanting to find out more about the project can call 902-895-1179.