Hello Woodlot Owners,
Company's coming. Summertime, and the company is coming …. Let's have a picnic in the woodlot! (No open fires though).
In this modern age when children and grand children are more likely to live in a city or even another province, summertime visits home provide one of the few opportunities to educate children and grandchildren about the woodlot, its ecology, your management practices and goals for your land. Time spent preparing the younger generations to assume the responsibilities ahead is never wasted. The added bonus is that it provides a unique opportunity to bond. When the family comes for a visit, take them to the woodlot on some pretext or other!
Acadian Forest Science Conference. The first Acadian Forest Science Conference, October 10-13, 2007, will be held in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The main goal of the conference is to showcase scientific research on the Acadian Forest, increasing awareness of its character and potential. The conference will also provide a regional forum for the exchange of ideas among scientists, forestry professionals, land stewards, environmentalists, policy makers, aboriginal peoples, and others interested in our forests. The last day will involve field trips.
Online registration is at https://acadianforestscience.dal.ca Seating is limited so please register early.
Forest Sustainability Regulations. NSWOOA has successfully lobbied NSDNR to improve opportunities for uneven-aged management under the Forest Sustainability Regulations. On June 12, 2007, DNR announced changes to the technical criteria, many of which were promoted by NSWOOA and Ecology Action Centre in a joint report released October, 2005. The changes will allow more options for uneven-aged forest management and selection treatments and will provide more focus on appropriate tree species when landowners select crop trees to manage. They will also allow fill planting in uneven-aged stands and reduce fill planting requirements to 300 planted trees per hectare. The regulatory changes are available at www.gov.ns.ca/just/regulations/rg2/2007/jn0807.pdf
In addition, NSDNR has set aside $570,000 of dedicated funding for Category 7 treatments over the next year and a half (including selection harvesting, pruning and crop tree release). It's up to NSWOOA members and friends to prove there is a demand for these treatments. Call Rebecca Aggas of the Association for Sustainable Forestry (902-895-1179) for information.
Website changes. Check out our website. See if you are not wild about the changes found there. NSWOOA member Flora Johnson's volunteer work on our site is making a big difference. Currently the site has gone to a blog style format. Whether it stays that way or reverts to the past style is as yet undecided, but this format allows Flora to make changes easily and effectively. Well done, Flora, and many thanks from all of us. Check out the materials available at nswooa.ca and give us some feedback.
Going "green". The Sunday Herald of July 8 contained an interesting article for woodlot owners. Under the title "What to ask about 'green' wood", we are advised to look for certification labels or tags that show our wood products are from well-managed forests. The article mentions that a number of programs certify wood as being harvested in a sustainable manner. "The most stringent of these programs … is run by the Forest Stewardship Council. The FSC guidelines are the ones most environmentalists trust."
Back around 2000-2002, the NSWOOA began to discuss how it could fulfill its mandate of "Stewardship, Solidarity, Prosperity" through truly sustainable forest use. Several members had woodlots FSC certified, and our Association joined FSC. We hold a seat on the Economic section of the Maritime steering committee. (See Wade Prest's history of the NSWOOA at this website and the “Demonstration” section of the website for more information.)
Honors earned, honors due. DNR has announced its woodlot Owners of the Year selections. As these woodlot owners are nominated by their peers, you can be certain that they have achieved commendable results in their management regimes. DNR also looks for woodlot owners who are community leaders, promoters of the cause, and all round good citizens. Anyone selected is a notable woodlot owner for sure.
The NSWOOA is proud that member Bob Bancroft and wife Alice of the Antigonish area achieved recognition as Eastern Division Owners of the Year. Bob's efforts to restore his woodlot, with emphasis on wildlife habitat, are well known to listeners of CBC radio, where he is featured regularly on their noon hour call-in show.
Significant also is the selection of Kevin and Susan Veinot of Northfield (Bridgewater area), who have been selected as the overall winners. This is the second time in three years that an FSC-certified woodlot has been selected. (Former NSWOOA president Tom Miller and wife Lori were chosen overall winners in 2005).
Speaking of notable achievements, Rupert Jannasch of Summerville, Hants County, has been featured in a recent article in Rural Delivery. Rupert has had a working land easement attached to his property, which protects farm land and forests from development in the future and ensures conservation and sustainability practices. Rupert is a very good presenter, and might be induced to speak to groups about why and how he achieved this protection.
Contact! Please pass along the address of our newly updated website to friends, neighbours, and any woodlot owners or operators who might be interested and have Internet access. If you receive this update via email, please make the time to print it out and share it with any who are not on line. Likewise, if anyone would like to receive the email update, please advise them to contact us by email (nswooa@gmail.com ). Also use this contact information to advise us of markets, local achievements and other concerns.
Have a great summer!
Looking for previous updates? Click on the following:
· June 2007
· May 2007
Showing posts with label updates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label updates. Show all posts
NSWOOA Update, June 2007
This update can be emailed to members who request it.
Hello woodlot owners,
This is a busy time of the year for woodlot owners and most everyone else. There seems to be a multitude of tasks to be concerned with, from mowing the lawn to cutting hay and silage. All this and we want to spend some time in the forest as well. Take the time to visit your woodlot on a cool summer morning or after a refreshing shower of rain. Besides keeping you up on how the forest is doing, it enriches your life as well.
This Update is our third effort to communicate with NSWOOA members who are “on the net.” We know that there are other members who have access to the internet, but have not provided us with their addresses. If you know of such NSWOOA members, please forward this Update to them.
New address. For those who would like to communicate with the Directors, to share ideas and concerns, to give input or ask questions, our email address is now nswooa@gmail.com. We would like to hear from you.
Smartwood and Stora. Recently we forwarded Smartwood’s notification of its review process for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification of Stora owned and controlled lands to members who receive email from us. We hope that concerned members took time to fill out the short questionnaire concerning Stora’s forest practices and its relationship to woodlot owners and community, to add their comments, and forward this to Smartwood. The NSWOOA is doing this as well. Our submission will focus on the inappropriateness of using the DNR model of forest disturbance patterns to plan harvests. It will also ask Smartwood to require substantive quantative goals and standards, especially in developing its uneven aged multi species forestry plans.
Good news for once. Word has been passed around that the proposed amendments to forest sustainability regulations (including Section 7(c)) have been adopted. While tightening and more clearly defining criteria in some areas, the changes to the regulations do offer much more flexibility to woodlot owners trying to restore their forests and who have to deal with woodlots that did not fit previous criteria.
Web site news. A volunteer has stepped forward with an offer to manage our web site (nswooa.ca). This will be a learning experience for her and for us, but we are looking forward to seeing changes made regularly, some fresh ideas and some input from our members. Feedback can be made through our email address. Our goal is to have members and the concerned public check in regularly to see what is going on.
Woodlot seminar planned. Wade Prest, woodlot owner and former NSWOOA President, has announced his intention to hold a workshop on crop tree selection, crop tree pruning and crop tree release in a hardwood stand on his property. There will be a modest charge, and participation is to be limited to the 15-20 range. Wade sees this as a repeatable seminar, that can be adapted to any woodlot and conducted by woodlot owners who have experience in this field. The whole concept of harvesting fewer but more valuable trees is becoming more important because of the pulpwood markets we face, and the carbon storage issue. However, if we do not take steps to purposely produce these crop trees, are we not guilty of high grading?
Long Horned Beetle. Members in the restricted zone are reminded that they should react to the beetle threat in a measured and properly planned manner. This problem should be handled in the same thoughtful manner as other forests treatments, with advice from trustworthy foresters, with reference to management plans and goals, and in accordance with sound restorative forestry practices.
History of NSWOOA. Wade Prest has written a short history of NSWOOA, which can be found at this website. There is much history compressed in these few pages, and we thank Wade for preparing this document for us.
Fall Field Day. A committee has been set up to get the fall field day set up. Please watch for further Update notices and for details in the Atlantic Forestry Review.
Your Executive for 2007
President Mr. Lorne Burrows
Vice President Mr. Ken MacRury
Treasurer Mr. Greg Amon
Secretary Mr. Paul Brison
CWSD President Mr. George Johnson
CWSD Secretary Mr. Paul Brison.
Feedback is important to us. Contact us on forestry issues and concerns at nswooa@gmail.com
Hello woodlot owners,
This is a busy time of the year for woodlot owners and most everyone else. There seems to be a multitude of tasks to be concerned with, from mowing the lawn to cutting hay and silage. All this and we want to spend some time in the forest as well. Take the time to visit your woodlot on a cool summer morning or after a refreshing shower of rain. Besides keeping you up on how the forest is doing, it enriches your life as well.
This Update is our third effort to communicate with NSWOOA members who are “on the net.” We know that there are other members who have access to the internet, but have not provided us with their addresses. If you know of such NSWOOA members, please forward this Update to them.
New address. For those who would like to communicate with the Directors, to share ideas and concerns, to give input or ask questions, our email address is now nswooa@gmail.com. We would like to hear from you.
Smartwood and Stora. Recently we forwarded Smartwood’s notification of its review process for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification of Stora owned and controlled lands to members who receive email from us. We hope that concerned members took time to fill out the short questionnaire concerning Stora’s forest practices and its relationship to woodlot owners and community, to add their comments, and forward this to Smartwood. The NSWOOA is doing this as well. Our submission will focus on the inappropriateness of using the DNR model of forest disturbance patterns to plan harvests. It will also ask Smartwood to require substantive quantative goals and standards, especially in developing its uneven aged multi species forestry plans.
Good news for once. Word has been passed around that the proposed amendments to forest sustainability regulations (including Section 7(c)) have been adopted. While tightening and more clearly defining criteria in some areas, the changes to the regulations do offer much more flexibility to woodlot owners trying to restore their forests and who have to deal with woodlots that did not fit previous criteria.
Web site news. A volunteer has stepped forward with an offer to manage our web site (nswooa.ca). This will be a learning experience for her and for us, but we are looking forward to seeing changes made regularly, some fresh ideas and some input from our members. Feedback can be made through our email address. Our goal is to have members and the concerned public check in regularly to see what is going on.
Woodlot seminar planned. Wade Prest, woodlot owner and former NSWOOA President, has announced his intention to hold a workshop on crop tree selection, crop tree pruning and crop tree release in a hardwood stand on his property. There will be a modest charge, and participation is to be limited to the 15-20 range. Wade sees this as a repeatable seminar, that can be adapted to any woodlot and conducted by woodlot owners who have experience in this field. The whole concept of harvesting fewer but more valuable trees is becoming more important because of the pulpwood markets we face, and the carbon storage issue. However, if we do not take steps to purposely produce these crop trees, are we not guilty of high grading?
Long Horned Beetle. Members in the restricted zone are reminded that they should react to the beetle threat in a measured and properly planned manner. This problem should be handled in the same thoughtful manner as other forests treatments, with advice from trustworthy foresters, with reference to management plans and goals, and in accordance with sound restorative forestry practices.
History of NSWOOA. Wade Prest has written a short history of NSWOOA, which can be found at this website. There is much history compressed in these few pages, and we thank Wade for preparing this document for us.
Fall Field Day. A committee has been set up to get the fall field day set up. Please watch for further Update notices and for details in the Atlantic Forestry Review.
Your Executive for 2007
President Mr. Lorne Burrows
Vice President Mr. Ken MacRury
Treasurer Mr. Greg Amon
Secretary Mr. Paul Brison
CWSD President Mr. George Johnson
CWSD Secretary Mr. Paul Brison.
Feedback is important to us. Contact us on forestry issues and concerns at nswooa@gmail.com
NSWOOA Update, May 2007
This update can be emailed to NSWOOA members who request it.
Hello, woodlot owners,
This is a busy time for the directors of the NSWOOA, but we are trying a new project,
to communicate with members, through this update for those on line.
New address. For those who would like to communicate with the Directors, to communicate ideas and concerns, to give input or ask questions, our email address is now nswooa@gmail.com
Annual General Meeting April 14. It was good to see many of you at the annual meeting. This year we were focusing on practical advice, especially for those beginning to manage their woodlots, but for experienced folk too. We will miss the contributions of Will Martin and Adam Campbell from the Board, but welcome Austin Parsons aboard. Minga O’Brien updated us on our involvement with Ecology Action Center’s Standing Tall Campaign which we joined at last year’s annual meeting. Presentations were made on management plans, sustainable forest funds, how Group Savoie distributes silviculture funds, progress on the restoration handbook being prepared by the North Mountain Old Forest Society, and much more.
Help wanted. The Board is searching for a woodlot owner who can offer help by taking over management of our website, nswooa.ca. The site is visited by news organizations and prospective members, as well as members looking for news and events. Frequent updates of information, changing pictures, adding pages and features would be involved. A vibrant web site is Important to our growth and influence. If you can help or know someone who can, respond to the above address.
Opportunity knocks. The Board is offering a $1000 incentive to any member (or woodlot owner willing to become a member) to host our annual woodlot tour and demonstration day. You can nominate yourself or a friend. The successful woodlot may have some interesting work done, or it may be the right woodlot because nothing has been done, and we can discuss how to get started. Time is an important factor here; act today.
We are also contemplating workshop style events at the field day. Participants might for example spend a whole morning pruning trees, or learning to select which trees to harvest. Let us know your preferences.
Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle. The only resolution from the membership at the annual meeting directed the Board to represent the rights and welfare of woodlot owners under the new regulations for containment of the BSLB. Of particular concern to the Board is the inflammatory language used to describe the beetle and its possible impact. The fear of utter devastation could possibly lead landowners to rashly agreeing to have their woodlots stripped. The more advisable course is to assess the real damage and potential risks on your woodlots, and to make plans to deal with these areas. If you are unskilled at management planning yourself, getting the advice of a forester or management planner who uses multiple techniques to manage the forest and to keep the forest structure as intact as possible is advised.
Seeking Input. Have you heard talk about biomass harvesting? Cogeneration? The NSWOOA is preparing to represent woodlot owners on these and other issues, and it is helpful to have your input. Is it a good idea? Can the allowable cut for NS support another market? What restrictions should reasonably be put on this market? The NSWOOA expects to be making presentations to the forest strategy hearings when they commence, so give us your thoughts on this and other issues that need to be dealt with.
Pay the Piper. Membership fees are the only source of income for our Association. By oversight, the membership renewal form was omitted from the pre Annual meeting mail out. If you also had an oversight and forgot to renew your 2007 membership, please send it in to our mail box:
NSWOOA
P.O. Box 823
Truro, N.S. B2N 5G6
Hello, woodlot owners,
This is a busy time for the directors of the NSWOOA, but we are trying a new project,
to communicate with members, through this update for those on line.
New address. For those who would like to communicate with the Directors, to communicate ideas and concerns, to give input or ask questions, our email address is now nswooa@gmail.com
Annual General Meeting April 14. It was good to see many of you at the annual meeting. This year we were focusing on practical advice, especially for those beginning to manage their woodlots, but for experienced folk too. We will miss the contributions of Will Martin and Adam Campbell from the Board, but welcome Austin Parsons aboard. Minga O’Brien updated us on our involvement with Ecology Action Center’s Standing Tall Campaign which we joined at last year’s annual meeting. Presentations were made on management plans, sustainable forest funds, how Group Savoie distributes silviculture funds, progress on the restoration handbook being prepared by the North Mountain Old Forest Society, and much more.
Help wanted. The Board is searching for a woodlot owner who can offer help by taking over management of our website, nswooa.ca. The site is visited by news organizations and prospective members, as well as members looking for news and events. Frequent updates of information, changing pictures, adding pages and features would be involved. A vibrant web site is Important to our growth and influence. If you can help or know someone who can, respond to the above address.
Opportunity knocks. The Board is offering a $1000 incentive to any member (or woodlot owner willing to become a member) to host our annual woodlot tour and demonstration day. You can nominate yourself or a friend. The successful woodlot may have some interesting work done, or it may be the right woodlot because nothing has been done, and we can discuss how to get started. Time is an important factor here; act today.
We are also contemplating workshop style events at the field day. Participants might for example spend a whole morning pruning trees, or learning to select which trees to harvest. Let us know your preferences.
Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle. The only resolution from the membership at the annual meeting directed the Board to represent the rights and welfare of woodlot owners under the new regulations for containment of the BSLB. Of particular concern to the Board is the inflammatory language used to describe the beetle and its possible impact. The fear of utter devastation could possibly lead landowners to rashly agreeing to have their woodlots stripped. The more advisable course is to assess the real damage and potential risks on your woodlots, and to make plans to deal with these areas. If you are unskilled at management planning yourself, getting the advice of a forester or management planner who uses multiple techniques to manage the forest and to keep the forest structure as intact as possible is advised.
Seeking Input. Have you heard talk about biomass harvesting? Cogeneration? The NSWOOA is preparing to represent woodlot owners on these and other issues, and it is helpful to have your input. Is it a good idea? Can the allowable cut for NS support another market? What restrictions should reasonably be put on this market? The NSWOOA expects to be making presentations to the forest strategy hearings when they commence, so give us your thoughts on this and other issues that need to be dealt with.
Pay the Piper. Membership fees are the only source of income for our Association. By oversight, the membership renewal form was omitted from the pre Annual meeting mail out. If you also had an oversight and forgot to renew your 2007 membership, please send it in to our mail box:
NSWOOA
P.O. Box 823
Truro, N.S. B2N 5G6
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)