NSWOOA Update 15: June/July 2008

The photo above and others used with this update were taken during the NSWOOA members' tour of Elmsdale Lumber Company on May 31. The Elmsdale Lumber Company specializes in high-quality lumber products, and aims to produce the highest quality lumber in the province. This fits nicely with the concept that the NSWOOA has been promoting lately, that of producing high-quality logs through selection management, crop tree pruning and crop tree release. All photos courtesy Jack McLellan. Thanks Jack, and thanks to Elmsdale Lumber for hosting this great day.

Hello Woodlot Owners!

Round and Round in a Circle

How did the Voluntary planning session go in your area? This round of hearings is done now. If you were connected to one of several groups following each meeting you received reports on most of the meetings. There seems to have been good attendance with some predictable features at each meeting: industry stating that all is good, its practices based on science and sustainability; members of the public expressing distaste for clearcutting, etc. Everyone complained that there was insufficient time to do a meaningful job, that 30 seconds was more of a poll of opinions and just a bit paternalistic. Most participants were very enthusiastic and assertive of their opinions, ready do go deeper, to make specific suggestions as to regulations, structure and objectives. And many would very much like to be more deeply and meaningfully involved. Woodlot owners made their views known as well, and many had great ideas, and knew of working models of forest management they recommended. As well, local participation focused on local issues. In some sites, for example, the need to ban uranium exploration and mining was at least as popular a position as the no clearcutting stance. For all those who wish to contribute more, to discuss in depth, or to promote their concepts of forestry, the most significant way to have input now seems to be to submit your presentations to the Voluntary Planning website for posting. Submit your material to volplan@gov.ns.ca and read others' submissions at: https://vp.gov.ns.ca/projects/resources/getinvolved/results

What is to come of all of this? Will all these presentations mean any significant improvements? We don't know. What is your opinion? What next?

Uneven-Aged Management Outreach Project

The Uneven-Aged Management Outreach Project has completed 5 workshops designed to educate woodlot owners about the Category 7 Quality Improvement Silviculture Program, which provides funding for crop tree release, crop tree pruning and selection management on qualifying woodlots. Topics covered during the workshops included how to do these treatments, which focus on growing high-value trees, and how to identify suitable sites for such treatments. The workshops were held all over the province and attracted approximately 200 woodlot owners. The workshops also received publicity in newspapers around the province and features on CBC Radio and CJFX in Antigonish. This publicity has helped bring public attention to uneven-aged management and the reasons to grow high value trees.

The Outreach Project has been such a success that the $443,000 originally set aside for Category 7 funding was allocated by the beginning of April, and there are indications that the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources may put additional money into the funding program this year. Next steps for the Project include a workshop designed specifically for contractors, visits to individual woodlots, and the writing of a report to be submitted to the Association for Sustainable Forestry and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.

The Uneven-Aged Management Outreach Project is administered by the ASF and is funded by NSDNR. NSWOOA is delivering the project in partnership with Picea Forestry Consulting.

Nontimber Forest Products

NSWOOA received a couple of emails from different sources about nontimber forest products. Here are the key points:

A summer student working at the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources is putting together a directory of producers of NTFPs in the Maritimes and Maine to be called From Our Atlantic Woods. The student's name is Sarah J. d'Appollonia and her email address is dapollsj@gov.ns.ca. The letter she distributed to the NSDNR list of woodlot owners is as follows:

"Dear Nova Scotian Woodlot Owner,

"I would like to inform you about the new non-timber forest products (NTFPs) directory; From Our Atlantic Woods. The Stewardship and Outreach Section of NS-DNR is partnering with various organizations in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and the state of Maine to develop the first NTFPs directory in the Atlantic region. The From Our Atlantic Woods directory seeks to facilitate the development of a vibrant, diverse, and sustainable NTFP industry in Atlantic Canada and Maine through the provision of tools allowing growers, producers, retailers and the general public access to critical information. Once the necessary information is compiled, the directory will be available in retail outlets as a published hard copy and online at http://www.ntfp.infor.ca/. Additional information such as, recipes, modern uses, and sustainable harvesting techniques will also be showcased in the directory.

"Listing your NTFP business in the directory is free of charge. However, you may wish to include a paid ad for additional exposure. The directory will provide listings for NTFP businesses throughout the Atlantic Provinces as well as the State of Maine.

"In order to be eligible to advertise your NTFP business in the directory you must meet several requirements. Requirements for the From Our Atlantic Woods directory are as follows:

• producer/harvester/retailer/manufacturer/supplier of NTFP in the Atlantic Provinces or State of Maine
• all listings must have a link to forestry
• practice sustainable forestry on your woodlot
• have "sale-ready" NTFPs

"Excluded from the From Our Woods directory are large scale, highly-organized NTFP industries.

"If you, or someone you know is interested in advertising a Nova Scotian NTFP business in the directory, please fill out the attached file: From Our Atlantic Woods. [Webmaster's note: Please email Ms. d'Appollonia for a copy of this form.] This PDF file requires "Adobe Acrobat" in order to open successfully. Once you have opened the file you may fill it out electronically if you have the appropriate Adobe add-ons. If not, you may print the form, fill it out, and kindly return it to the Stewardship and Outreach Section of NS-DNR by email, fax, or mail (listed below).

Stewardship and Outreach Section

Department of Natural Resources

P.O. Box 698 Halifax, NS B3J 2T9

Email: dapollsj@gov.ns.ca

Fax: (902) 424-7735

(902) 424-8116

"If you have any questions or comments concerning the From Our Atlantic Woods directory, or any woodlot related questions in general, please do not hesitate to contact me."

In addition, INFOR (the forestry information organization attached to the Maritime College of Forest Technology in Fredricton) now has a web page devoted to NTFPS. This is at http://www.infor.ca/?section=5

Finally, Natural Resources Canada has started a website on NTFPS and "innovative bioproducts" (including bioenergy). This can be found at http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/subsite/forest-bioproducts

Mycorrhizal Fungi

(Excerpted from Jamie Simpson's book Restoring the Acadian Forest: A Guide for Woodlot Owners in the Maritimes, P41. The book is due to be published in a month's time. Meanwhile Jamie is taking orders for the book at bocabec@gmail.com. The price will be $20, including shipping.)

Mycorrhizal fungi form large networks of root like structures, or mycelia, throughout the upper layers of forest soil. The mycelia grow into the roots of suitable plants, and thereby become an extension of a plant's own root system. In fact, these fungi are more efficient than the plants at extracting and transporting water and certain nutrients (such as phosphorous). Plants that are colonized by these fungi have better growth rates and are more resistant to environmental stresses, such as drought, cold and root diseases, than plants that do not share a relationship with mycorrhizal fungi.

Mill Tour

The Saturday May 31 tour of the Elmsdale Lumber Company grounds and mill went well. Ten mill workers came in to run the various machines and demonstrate the processes. The mill explained how Elmsdale Lumber trades on quality, and how it produces a mixture of products to a variety of markets as a strategy to survive and flourish in today's markets. Downey Thompson acted as host, and received a gift from the NSWOOA for his efforts. A notable addition to the tour was Austin Parson's architecture class from Dalhousie University. Many thanks to all involved in making the day such a success.

Breaking News

The Woodlot Owners of the Year winners are Russell McNally, the central and provincial winner in Greenfield, Colchester County; NSWOOA member Neal Livingston, Black River, Inverness County, Cape Breton in the East; and Royce Ford of Maitland, Queens County. Congratulations to all.

Lines of Communication

Members are encouraged to contact the Board of Directors, the Executive and other members through our email address (nswooa@gmail.com) or by phone (902-633-2108 or, for member services, 902-673-3009). Please feel free to use these methods to keep us informed of what is going on in your woodlot or in your community or area. We try to keep you informed through these updates, newsletters and mail outs, our column in Atlantic Forestry Review, the Annual General Meeting, and this website.

NSWOOA Update: December

Photo by Flora Johnson

Christmas Wish
May you have a joyous and peaceful Christmas, and may you be richly blessed in the New Year.

From the Board of Directors of the NSWOOA

Hello Woodlot Owners,

The NSWOOA sometimes receives requests from university students who are looking for information to be used on school projects. Topics range from what restoration of the Acadian Forest means to low-impact forestry, and even to our views or policies on silviculture, market conditions, etc. So it was that we were not surprised when early in the spring of 2007 a young lady called the NSWOOA with a question about nontimber forest products. The student, from Newfoundland, was taking Environmental Studies at Dalhousie. She was surveying the Atlantic Provinces for a paper she was writing on nontimber forest products.

"What nontimber forest products do your members produce?" she wanted to know.

"Well, we don't have that information. We do not have a database of what each member produces and how much or how often. Maybe we should have but … We do know some products that various members produce, but we have no systematic or thorough records."

The young lady was disappointed, perhaps because the project was going to be harder than she had anticipated. She did seem pleased to know one member was making garden fixtures from willows, another was selling photos of woodland plants and landscapes, and still others were doing wreaths, mushrooms, and, yes, maple syrup. It would be interesting though to have a copy of her completed project.

Let us know of any interesting nontimber forest products you are involved with. Contact us by email or phone. Now read what NSWOOA Director Dave Parker has to say about this topic.

Nontimber Forest Products

By Dave Parker, Director NSWOOA

Many forest landowners have a growing interest in ways to diversify income from their lands without resorting to the now traditional clearcut even-aged model of forestry. The decades that are required to convert damaged stands to their Acadian Forest roots may mean a long period between paydays. Here are a few possibilities for producing income that do not require significant timber harvesting.

The options available to generate income can be divided into two categories: goods and services. Goods are the more traditional items and generally have established markets and pricing. They also will likely have more competition in the marketplace. These include fir brush for Christmas wreaths , swags, etc., and of course maple products if your holdings have suitable stands. Rustic furniture made from excess young growth is in growing demand and really is only limited by one's imagination and talents. Stout walking sticks for hikers and gardeners as well as the traditional rustic canes also have some market. An unusual forest "product" that has enjoyed some past success is the sale of chanterelle mushrooms which grow abundantly in some forest types in wet seasons like 2007. For those more agriculturally inclined, there are several types of fungi that cannot be grown domestically. They must be grown on decaying hardwood stumps or logs. I suspect this would be both an interesting and challenging way to market low-grade poplar logs being remove from regenerating sites. Finally, if you live near an urban center, there is some market for tree and shrub seedlings. These may be transplanted to containers as wildlings or they may be grown from seed. The increasing awareness of climate change and all things natural bodes well for the future of this market.

The sale of services by landowners is certainly less well established and yet may now offer more potential than the sale of goods. As our society becomes more urbanized and ever busier the peace and solitude that many of us treasure in our woodlands are becoming a marketable service. Possibilities here include the leasing of camp lots to other users or the construction and monthly rental of facilities. Facilities can range from the most rustic camps to elaborate chalets. Potential clients include snowmobilers, hikers, birdwatchers, hunters, cross country skiers, and people who just want to get away from it all. One can tailor their business to the nature of the property as well as the type of clientele they wish to do business with.

Several landowners in my area are awaiting the development of wind energy turbines on their lands. These turbines involve an access road and a relatively small footprint for the tower while leaving the remaining area free to grow forest. This idea, however, is not compatible with the one discussed in the previous paragraph!

Finally, although our woodlands provide the essential services of purifying our air and filtering our water, we cannot yet sell this service. In the near future, however, landowners who commit their forests to long term sustainable Acadian Forests may get paid for sequestering carbon. This will be a vital component in the battle against global warming. I suspect that small landowners will need to band together to provide a larger unit to interest large corporations who need to purchase carbon credits. Yet another good reason to belong to NSWOOA.

Breaking News

By Flora Johnson, NSWOOA member services coordinator

The Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association has great news for woodlot owners and contractors. We will soon be promoting uneven-aged management throughout the province, thanks to a contract we were awarded by the Association for Sustainable Forestry. This outreach campaign, which begins in January and continues through the summer, will include informational materials and educational programs that will be offered free all over the province. Some woodlot owners and contractors will even have the opportunity to receive free site visits and consultations from NSWOOA members.

This outreach project is taking place under a contract NSWOOA was awarded by the ASF in a competitive process, with funding for the project coming from the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources. Many of the services will be delivered by Picea Forestry Consulting and Woodlot Management of Bridgewater, NS, which consists of NSWOOA members Patricia Amero, a Registered Professional Forester, and Sandy Hyde, Forest Technician. Other NSWOOA members will also be assisting as needed.

During this campaign, we hope to collect information from woodlot owners and contractors for use in preparing a report for ASF and NSDNR outlining challenges that may be preventing woodlot owners and contractors from engaging in uneven-aged management. This report will also recommend improvements in the Category 7 funding program, which provides support for silviculture techniques that are consistent with uneven-aged management ( i.e., selection management, crop tree release, and crop tree pruning). We'll be talking to woodlot owners and contractors both one on one and in discussion groups during our educational programs, and we will also be asking woodlot owners and contractors to help us by completing a short survey. Those who complete the survey will be entered in a prize draw, with several prizes to be awarded this coming fall.

You can find out more about this campaign by calling the project telephone number (902-673-2278) after January 1, writing to the project email address (outreach@asforestry.com), or visiting the project website. Please help us by contacting us and completing our survey!

Information about other NSWOOA programs is available at this website, from our email address (nswooa@gmail.com), or by calling ( 902) 633-2108.

Christmas Quiz

Every interest group has its own jargon, and woodlot owners are no different. Indeed, it's hard for a civilian to understand two woodlot owners in conversation because of all the terms, acronyms, and abbreviations. To test your knowledge of N.S. woodlot-owner jargon, identify thesefollowing terms (answers below):

1. ASF


2. EAC


3. FPANS


4. GPS


5. FSC


6. rS


7. AFR


8. Neenah


9. CFS


10. FPFANS


11. PCT


12. NFA


13. CPAWS


14. NSSA


15. VP


16. CWSD


17. CFIA


18. Nagaya


19. AAC


20. NSDNR

Christmas Quiz Answers

1. ASF: Association for Sustainable Forestry (the agency that administers forest sustainability funds for registered buyers who do not have their own programs)


2. EAC: Ecology Action Center


3. FPANS: Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia


4. GPS: Global Positioning System (used in plotting woodlot treatments)


5. FSC: Forest Stewardship Council (the agency that certifies forest-management practices)


6. rS: Red Spruce, our provincial tree


7. AFR: Atlantic Forestry Review


8. Neenah: the pulp mill at Abercrombie


9. CFS: Canadian Forest Service, a Federal agency


10. RPFANS: Registered Professional Foresters Association of Nova Scotia (credentials)


11. PCT: precommercial thinning


12. NFA: Nova Forest Alliance (Nova Scotia's Model Forest)


13. CPAWS: Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society


14. NSSA: Nova Scotia Salmon Association (woodlot owners are not the only ones concerned with the forest's health)


15. VP: Voluntary Planning (the organization which will conduct the forest strategy review in Nova Scotia)


16. CWSD: Central Wood Supply Division (the now dormant division of the NSWOOA that marketed pulp in Central Nova Scotia)


17. CFIA: Canadian Food Inspection Agency ( the federal agency behind the brown longhorn bark beetle exclusion zone)


18. Nagaya: Bill McKay's company that through Smartwood provides FSC certification to woodlot owners.


19. AAC: Annual Allowable Cut


20. NSDNR: Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources

Rating

16-20: Excellent. Consider a Directorship in the NSWOOA.
12-15: You're up on your lingo.
8-11: A brush up would be a good idea.
0-8: Better shut off the chain saw and study the literature.

Check This Out

Director Gerald Romsa suggests that we all should read a November 30 Globe and Mail article available online. Titled "It Ain't Easy," the six-page article by Konrad Yakabuski deals with the worldwide market in forest products and compares our own products and producers with the competition. Stora Enso in Canada is related to Stora in Finland. A warning is appropriate: If you already have high blood pressure or are suffering stress, you may want to avoid this article.

Some points made can be quite disturbing; for example, the author writes, "Content for decades to send low-value-added lumber and paper products to a hungry U.S. market, and encouraged by government policy to maximize jobs in far-flung mill towns, our companies long ignored the need to innovate and modernize. We are now left with the most unproductive forest products sector in the developed world, unprepared to contend with either new competition from developing countries or a weak U.S. dollar."

Lines of Communication

Members are encouraged to contact the Board of Directors, the Executive and other members through our email address (nswooa@gmail.com) or by phone (902-633-2108). Please feel free to use these methods to keep us informed of what is going on in your woodlot, in your community, or in your area. We try to keep you informed through these updates, newsletters and mail outs, our Contact item in Atlantic Forestry Review, the Annual General Meeting, and this website.

Paul Brison

NSWOOA Secretary