Learn More About the Forestry Organizations in our Network

 

Cape Breton Privateland Partnership

  • 2006 - Present

    Cape Breton Privateland Partnership has been using the FSC certification program to promote best practices and opportunities for land owners and managers in Cape Breton.

  • 2022 - Present

    Cape Breton Privateland Partnership is a partner of the Family Forest Network to implement ecological forestry treatments in Cape Breton.

  • 2022 - 2023

    This project aimed to increase awareness surrounding landbird SAR on private land in Cape Breton through educational webinars and an in-person field day guided by Dr. Staicer, adjunct professor of Dalhousie University.

  • 2023 - Present

    This project began as the Nova Scotia Conservation & Biodiversity Network & Framework project and has since been renamed Nova Scotia Biodiversity Connection. The objective of this project is to connect like-minded organizations while building a background of recent initiatives surrounding conservation and biodiversity in Nova Scotia that can be accessed in a central location.

  • Bras d'Or_SAR_Modelling Phase1_2020 Link

  • Bras_d'Or_SAR Modelling Phase2_2021 Link

  • Bras d'Or SAR habitat Project Description

 

Family Forest Network

  • 2022 - 2027

    Create a large-scale pilot of approximately 160 harvest and 40 silviculture treatments province-wide that quantify and promote the benefits of ecological forestry practices; Extend the reach of ecological forestry on family woodlands through integrated solutions and strategic partnerships; Develop a steward-led network to address the key challenges of implementing ecological forestry practices on small private woodlands.

 

Medway Community Forest Co-operative

  • Ongoing

    The objective of this is to update Medway Community Forest Co-operative (MCFC) management plan, develop accurate spatial model, and screen for archeological values to guide the implementation of ecological forestry practices on MCFC license area.

  • Ongoing

    Following baseline biodiversity assessment of MCFC license in 2019, ongoing 5-year montioring strategy to gather insights on ecological integrity and abundance in permanent sample plots. SAR bird monitoring occuring on an annual basis.

  • Ongoing

    The objective of this project is to conserve and protect high-value and old growth Eastern Hemlock forests against the invasive insect, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) on protected areas and high-value private lands in Nova Scotia through chemical control.

  • Ongoing

    Testing silviculture treatments as a means to reduce impacts of HWA on tree growth and survival, and counter changes in biodiversity in infested stands.

  • Ongoing

    Research trial to test the use of irregular shelterwood treatments as alternative to even-age forest management practices.

  • Ongoing

    Evaluation of natural regeneration and planted stock following the Seven Mile Lake fire. 

  • Ongoing

    Measure the effectiveness of of tree marking to support selection harvest silvicultural methods to support the outcomes of ecological forestry while promoting operating efficiencies.

  • Ongoing

    Monitoring of harvest blocks for species at risk (SAR) birds using Autonomous Recording Units, subsequent implementation of best management practices for SAR birds and re-measurement following harvest. 

  • Ongoing

    Collection of Querus rubra (Northern Red Oak) samples to compare genetics between Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Germany.

 

Nova Scotia Landowner & Forest Fibre Producers Association

  • 2024 - 2025

    The objective of this project is to expand the existing Nova Scotia FSC program to include New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island and improve the existing certificate.

  • 2020 - 2021

    The objective of this project was to model at-risk wildlife habitat over time.

Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association

 

  • Offer outreach events, educational opportunities and resources to private woodlot owners; focus on ecological forestry and climate adaptive forest management; host workshop series, webinars, field days; help woodlot owners to identify and prioritize their personal values and goals for woodland stewardship with our free online Forest Landowner Goals Self Assessment tool; annual mail-out of resource packet to new landowners who purchased at least 10 ha in the previous year; create videos on different aspects of woodlot management

  • For more than 20 years, the Provincial government, NGOs, landowner organizations and private woodland stewards have worked to organize an annual series of conferences every spring in the Western, Central and Eastern Regions of NS. NSWOOA has served as Provincial Coordinator for the Conferences for the past 10 years. The annual conferences provide a series of informative speakers and networking opportunities for woodland owners, forest professionals, government, forest industry employees, and others interested in woodland stewardship, with a focus on ecological forestry practices.

NSWOOA - Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest Division

 

  • The project’s primary objective is to contribute positively to the recovery of the Nova Scotia populations of Canada Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Common Nighthawk, and Rusty Blackbird by protecting and improving management of important habitat on private woodlots in Central and Eastern mainland Nova Scotia. To reach this objective, this project will include habitat protection and securement, habitat improvement, conservation planning, and outreach and education. Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest's deliverables are focused on the outreach and education aspect of the project through hosting a series of wetland tours, field days, webinars, and other events.

  • Dr. Cindy Staicer is doing research on forest bird SAR in Nova Scotia. Her study examines the performance of Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) in working forests on five bird SAR. Otter Ponds is one of many study sites, and four of the five study species have already been found here: Olive-sided Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Common Nighthawk and Canada Warbler. Dr. Staicer has visited Otter Ponds annually since 2021 to install audio recorders for long-term monitoring of bird populations through their vocalizations. As part of this project, we have hosted several webinars and bird walks for woodlot owners and the general public.

  • Lime upland areas to assess the impacts on forest soils and related tree growth/health, with the premise that liming of whole catchments could accelerate the long-term recovery of both soils and surface waters from acid deposition impacts.    

 

Nova Scotia Working Woodlands Trust

  • Ongoing

    The objective of this project is to uphold stewardship legacy of private land owners in perpetuity through ecological forestry and conservation. 

  • Ongoing

    We provide private woodlot owners with a Forest Stewardship Council certified woodlot management plan.

  • Ongoing

    Each property placed under an easement requires a current forest management plan which integrates carbon sequestration practices, or Improved Forest Management. Rigorous carbon inventories will inform the carbon management recommendations, which are tied to the easement agreement and property. Developing this baseline assessment will allow participating landowners to enter into a carbon agreement through an aggregated pool managed by the NSWWT. The immediate purpose of the carbon agreement is to cover the cost of the easement endowment, however, once the endowment is paid, there will also be revenue or dividends available to the woodlot owner.

  • Ongoing

    Conserve high conservation value Eastern hemlock forests and provide private woodlot owners with an opportunity to treat HWA on their woodlots.

  • Ongoing

    Provide a fine scale analyses of landscape connectivity within Kespukwik. We will use existing data and research to develop a Conservation Value Index (CVI) on private woodlands to spatially model priority parcels and preserve key attributes for landscape connectivity. The tool will be used by the NS Working Woodland Trust and shared with partner land trusts to locate priority private woodlands for easement securement.

  • Ongoing

    Develop a framework to recognize conservation zones as Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs) within working forest easements on private lands in Nova Scotia (NS).

 

Port Hawkesbury Paper

  • Ongoing

    Designate 6200ha under Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECM); most in Cape Breton; one on Eastern mainland Nova Scotia.

  • Ongoing

    Using lidar data to develop and validate habitat models for at-risk bird species in partnership with Dr. Cindy Staicer, adjunct professor at Dalhousie University. Test area to be determined.

  • Complete

    Assess ecological representation at Port Hawkesbury Paper's (PHP) management unit and to assess ecological representation at the regional level within natural landscapes that contain any portion of PHP's management unit.

  • Ongoing

    PHP implements Species at Risk (SAR) habitat special management practices and participate in seed collection in order to protect, conserve and minimize the impacts on SAR in working woodlands.

Registered Professional Foresters Association of Nova Scotia

 

  • Modernize outreach materials and develop opportunities for RPFANS and NSFTA members to access foundational knowledge to inform the transition to ecological forestry through a unified platform. Increase awareness and positive public perception of the profession and grow our future workforce

Scott & Stewart Forestry Consultants Ltd.

 

  • Reforest areas Harvested / Natural Disturbances in Nova Scotia

  • Establish forest canopy in areas with significant disturbances / new forest cover

  • Collection of native NS tree species and developing best practices for propagation in nursery culture. 

  • Provide private woodlot owners with information and provide resources to manage their lands. 

  • Planning and Development of Woodlot access and crossing contruction in line with NS Environment

  • Provide Landowners with current inventories of forest lands including marketable products on their lands. 

  • Provide landowners with market value for their land to prepare for sale or transfers.