Region Archives: Canada East

Brian Naylor

For Corbeil’s Brian Naylor, a career in the outdoors was a “dream come true.” …Naylor, known to his compatriots as ‘Doc Hawk’ for his work identifying and helping preserve and protect the red-shouldered hawk, retired about a year ago. He was recently presented the Forests Ontario Award for the work he did protecting the forests and wildlife in northeastern Ontario and around the province. “For me, this is the icing on the cake of an enjoyable career,” Naylor says. What makes it even sweeter, he says, is that the award is “coming from a group, very well respected, that is dedicated to conservation of the forests.” Past winners of the award were people “who were my role models throughout my career.” …The red-shouldered hawk is much less common than the red-tailed hawk. It lives in old hardwood forests, and Naylor “did a lot of research” and work to protect it.

Iain Rankin

Nova Scotia’s new premier-designate Iain Rankin has already indicated his strong support for forestry management and for green policies. He is developing an economic recovery policy model framed around the environment. Rankin has promised to implement the recommendations of the Lahey Report on forestry practices, which advocates among other things, a drastic reduction in clear-cutting practices in forest management.The McNeil government had been slow to implement the recommendations in the Lahey report, which called to protect some 17 per cent of the land in the province. But Nova Scotia will be able to meet only a 13 per cent protection target of the province’s land. Pressure to do so has come from the United Nations as well as from the United States, where President Joe Biden has ambitiously pledged to protect some 30 per cent of U.S. land. [We respect the copyrights of the source publication – full access to this story may require a subscription]

ST. MARY’S – The forest industry … is collapsing under the weight of government policy, market turbulence and public opinion, say local operators. … The comments come one week after the provincial government temporarily suspended spring weight restrictions on heavy transports using public roads and highways. According to the announcement, the move was designed “as a way to support the forestry sector,” enabling it to get products to market more easily. Said provincial spokesman Steve Warburton: “The permits allow the Department of Transportation Infrastructure and Renewal to formalize a frequent springtime request from contractors to move wood directly from a woodlot to the local mill, or to move equipment from one site to another… [The permits] will be reviewed again after this season.” …At one point, the area supplied as much as 30 per cent of the wood cut and processed by Port Hawkesbury Paper and Northern Pulp in Abercrombie, Pictou County. 

BEAR ISLAND – In an effort to expand its forestry operations, Daki Menan Lands and Resources Corporation is receiving FedNor funding of $209,500. The investment will allow the social enterprise, which is controlled by Temagami First Nation (TFN) on Bear Island, to enhance forestry management, increase firewood production and construct a small, portable sawmill. Corporation president Robin Koistinen explained that TFN had developed a forest strategy about 17 years ago and included in the strategy was the idea to form a corporation. …Koistinen said that in addition to working on the forest strategy, the corporation has had other partners assist it in implementing the strategy. …Koistinen stressed that the project is about “creating opportunities and employment” for Indigenous youth.

Dave Bartram

A local forestry entrepreneur has been awarded this year’s Most Valuable Planter award from Forests Ontario. Dave Bartram, owner of Bartram Woodlands, planted over 30,000 trees on behalf of Forests Ontario in 2020. The Most Valuable Planter award is given to an individual or organization who contributes to improving eco-system health by planting trees. …In addition to providing forestry services, Bartram Woodlands works in conjunction with Forests Ontario to plant trees as part of their 50 Million Trees initiative. “Forests Ontario has a funding program that provides financial assistance to people who want to plant trees on their property,” Bartram said. “We provide that service to people who own farm property and vacant land.”

Half of the members of an advisory committee to the minister of Lands and Forestry wrote to him in November expressing deep concern about continued heavy cutting on Crown land. They also called for a temporary moratorium. In submitting the letter to Derek Mombourquette, the members say they are concerned about “the extended delay in achieving the transition to ecological forestry practices” and say the pause in cutting is necessary until the recommendations of the Lahey Report on forestry practices are implemented. The letter, which the NDP received through a freedom of information request and released Friday, was copied to Premier Stephen McNeil, Lands and Forestry Deputy Minister Julie Towers and William Lahey, the president of University of King’s College and author of the report that provides the blueprint for a change in forestry practices. …A statement from the Lands and Forestry Department said the government remains committed to adopting Lahey’s recommendations. 

Patricia Amero

When Patricia Amero walks around the Acadian forests of eastern Canada where she lives, she sees more than the potential for timber sales.  As the general manager of the Western Woodlot Services Cooperative, Amero helps landowners in the Maritime Provinces decide where and when to cut trees to sell for timber — and how to make their forests healthier and more productive. To make income off forested land, clear-cutting it is one of the main options available to Maritimes forest owners. But Amero says some owners are interested in other options, like getting paid to store carbon and help fight climate change — and getting that funding through carbon offsets purchased by companies. Carbon offsets are gaining popularity as a climate solution around the world, particularly because more companies and countries are making big promises to achieve net-zero carbons emissions. Amero sees these offsets as a potential way to help Maritimes woodlot owners

Growing up in the Niagara Region, Barry Porter … has seen increased commercial and residential development [lead to] deforestation. Porter is today the stewardship director for Land Care Niagara. This year he has a goal to identify and revitalize those areas in the Niagara area with low canopy cover. To that end, a planned mapping project is being used to help accomplish the goal. Land Care Niagara is a non-profit environmental restoration organization based in St. Catharines, ON. Schools, government agencies (such as the  Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority) as well as nature clubs are among Land Care’s many partners. “I’m trying to bring these (Niagara lands) back to how they were. It is important for the community and for the province, as well,” said Porter. …Land Care Niagara [with funding from the] Ontario Trillium Foundation … will map areas that are low on canopy cover … for a reforestation initiative.

It’s a classic case of better late than never.  This week the provincial government announced 20 sites for designation as parks or protected natural areas, bringing the province – barely – to its long-held goal of protecting 13 per cent of the province’s land for nature, and for people to connect with and enjoy nature, respectfully.  It’s late because Stephen McNeil promised that the goal would be achieved during his first term in office, which ended some 45 months ago.  The announcement, coming in the dying days of McNeil’s Liberal government, gives his successor a little breathing room, at least on this file. …While this week’s announcement bought the next premier a little time, the reprieve will be short-lived. As the McNeil Liberals dithered, balked and winced all the way to the modest – if not timid – 13 per cent, the world passed us by.  [We respect the copyrights of the source publication – full access may require a subscription]

A chronic truck driver shortage and a thriving sawmill industry in northwestern Ontario have steered a Crown forest management corporation toward finding a high-tech, off-road solution.  Nawiinginokiima Forest Management Corporation, managers of 1.5 million hectares of Crown forest on the north shore of Lake Superior, is offering the proving grounds this year for some ambitious and innovative trials using semi-autonomous trucks.  The Marathon-headquartered entity is partnering with Ottawa’s Provectus Robotics Solutions to conduct a year-long pilot program to see if their off-the-shelf technology is adaptable to Canada’s forest industry. Nawiinginokiima holds the sustainable forest licences for the Pic and White River Forests and was, itself, created as a pilot project in 2012 as part of the government’s overhaul of the forest tenure system. 

Jeff Yurek

WATERLOO REGION — The provincial government is simultaneously cutting protections for endangered species and funding species-at-risk projects in Ontario. In January, the province announced continued funding for projects through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, a $4.5-million fund open to non-profit organizations, Indigenous communities and other groups for projects that help protect endangered plants, animals, fish and insects and their habitats. …The purpose of the fund is a good thing, says Tim Gray, Executive Director of the environmental advocacy group Environmental Defence. “However, it is a band-aid on a hemorrhage, given the Ontario government’s gutting of the protections of existing habitats for species.” The announcement comes after significant changes to protections for species at risk were included in the province’s 2020 omnibus COVID recovery bill.

The Sackville River Wilderness Area will soon be designated a protected area. “We are thrilled to know that these ecologically significant lands will forever be protected for the community to enjoy,” Walter Regan, president of the Sackville River Association, said … “These lands are critically important for maintaining the health of the Sackville River … This new park will protect around 1,700 acres of forest, and habitat for the wild Atlantic salmon in one of the fastest growing areas of Nova Scotia.” …  The ecosystems can provide water purification, groundwater recharge and runoff control to improve habitat for species living in the river. The wilderness area was announced as one of 20 new protected areas in Nova Scotia. It contains important natural ecosystems, including intact forests, wetlands, rivers, and habitat for Atlantic salmon and wood turtles. [We respect the copyrights of the source publication – full access may require a subscription]

When a pair of city committees suddenly voted last week that fields and forest on the city’s outskirts should become Ottawa’s next major suburb, those hundreds of hectares were thrust into the limelight in a way not seen since the 1970s. First Nations leaders in Quebec this week say they are furious they were not consulted about the land, which they say falls in their territory. They are also upset that under the proposed deal, a group they oppose, the Algonquins of Ontario, stands to be allowed to urbanize 445 hectares in an expansion of Ottawa’s urban areas. …In January 2020, land registry records show the Algonquins of Ontario Realty Corporation purchased three dozen properties from the Ontario government outright for $16.9 million. The Algonquins of Ontario (AOO), an organization that is negotiating a large land claim, in recent months met with city councillors to pitch its own, modern vision.

PETERBOROUGH, ON – Forests Ontario’s 7th annual conference, and first virtual conference, is bringing together nearly 500 landowners, forestry professionals, Indigenous leaders, educators, and students from across the province, country, and globe. Running until Feb. 5, the multi-day conference, Growing Our Future, aims to unite speakers and attendees to collaborate for a more sustainable future. …This is the largest forestry conference of its kind in the province and featured presentations, virtual exhibitors, play-to-win opportunities, and an awards ceremony which recognized important contributors to forestry. The Susan Wiecek Forestry Education Award recognizing outstanding contributions to forestry education in Ontario went to Jessica Kaknevicius (VP of Education, SFI/Project Learning Tree Canada) for her tireless work in supporting youth education for more than a decade. …The Forests Ontario Award for outstanding achievements and contributions to forest education in Canada was presented to Brian Naylor, retired forester with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. 

First Nations leaders around the Timiskaming region say they are unanimous in their disapproval of the proposed 2021-2031 Timiskaming Forest Management Plan. In a joint news release, First Nations leaders from Temagami, Matagami, Matachewan, Teme-Augama Anishnabai, Beaverhouse, and Timiskaming cited concerns that the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and Timiskaming Forest Alliance Inc. (TFAI) were not taking seriously their concerns or the long-term health and sustainability of the forest and the use of herbicides. The First Nations claim that after multiple efforts to work with the MNRF and the TFAI, “it has become clear that legitimate efforts to improve the plan, and ensure that First Nations share in the economic benefits of the forest, were not taken seriously.” They added that “many serious issues remain unresolved.” The MNRF responded that it was aware of the … media release issued by the First Nations and that it was reviewing it carefully.

THUNDER BAY – Robot trucks are coming to Northwestern Ontario in 2021. Nawiinginokiima Forest Management Corporation says it plans to use a pair of autonomous logging trucks, led by an experienced driver in a third vehicle, on logging roads, to bring felled trees to nearby mills in the Pic and White River Forests, in partnership with Provectus Robotics Solutions Inc. Testing is expected to begin immediately and will be conducted throughout the spring and summer. “Bringing the advanced technology that has been developed for off-road applications in extreme climates from desert heat to ice and snow, has enabled us to bring a robust and viable solution to the logging industry,” said Jason Scheib, director, business development for Provectus Robotics Solutions … “We believe this will be a valuable advancement to address the driver shortage in Northern Ontario and around the world, while making the transport of lumber to the mills safer and more efficient.”

The Town of Smiths Falls is pleased to announce the release of a Tree Canopy Preservation and Enhancement Policy that recognizes the importance and significance of the Town’s forest and greenspaces as vital assets to the community. The development of the Tree Canopy Policy meets the Town’s strategic objectives to improve quality of life by expanding the urban forest. A healthy urban forest benefits the community by providing various economic, community, and environmental benefits. “Council and staff in Smiths Falls recognize that the natural environment helps shape the character of the community.” said Mayor Shawn Pankow. “Trees play a vital role in our fight against climate change by cleaning our air and sequestering carbon. This policy will help ensure the preservation and expansion of our tree canopy.”

The Forestry Innovation Transition Trust is helping to bring innovation to the forefront of the Nova Scotia forestry sector. The Trust announced three more projects today, Feb 4, that allows businesses focused on new ecological forestry practices to tap into additional expertise to get their products ready for market. The Innovation Hub of Nova Scotia Inc. will receive $921,000 to support forestry related bioeconomy clients at the pre-commercial stage to overcome technical and business hurdles in their development. …The Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment at Cape Breton University is receiving $672,500 over the next six months to support the development of a Bio-technology Acceleration Centre to help advance key forestry and biomass sector innovative technology companies towards commercialization. Genome Atlantic will receive $315,500 over four years to support The Atlantic Tree Improvement Council  in producing more resilient, commercially important tree species in Nova Scotia.

Logging is ugly work. In short order, forest equipment can enter a woodland and make a mess. …It is small wonder that many will rush to this forest’s defence. We live in an era of climate catastrophe; the urge to protect Canada’s fragile natural heritage is unassailable. Almost. …There is another side to this story. Products made from wood are vital to our lives. Witness the run on toilet paper when the pandemic began. …Foresters in Ontario, like dentists or engineers, practice under licence from the Ontario Professional Foresters Association. …The success of the post-carbon bioeconomy in Canada depends on a significant increase in our sustainable use of wood products. Researchers in forestry at the U of T and elsewhere are perfecting the use of wood to replace plastic, steel and concrete in car parts, bridges, and office and residential towers. Nano-cellulose has applications in cosmetics and yoghurt. Seen this way, loggers become environmental heroes.

Marilyn Cameron

A provincewide campaign is underway in hopes of stopping clearcutting on Crown land until new rules and regulations can be implemented.  Marilyn Cameron, a private woodlot owner and farmer in Grafton, Kings County, launched a postcard campaign in January. She’s hoping to put a pause on current forestry practices.   “There are dozens and dozens of groups in Nova Scotia that care about this issue and they’re all very much on side. And they’re asking for the same thing: a moratorium on clearcutting on Crown land until the Lahey report is adopted and implemented,” said Cameron, noting they’re also looking to “protect endangered species and species at risk on those Crown lands, which is something the province is currently not doing very well.”  The Lahey report, conducted by University of King’s College president Bill Lahey and published in 2018, called for the province to drastically reduce clearcutting on Crown land. [We respect the copyrights of the source publication – full access to this story may require a subscription]    

Chris Miller (left) and Walter Regan (right)

Nova Scotia announced its intention Tuesday to protect 20 new sites, achieving the goal of protecting 13 per cent of its land — a milestone that environmental advocates applauded and urged the government to surpass.  One of the sites to be protected will form the Sackville River Wilderness area, the first of its kind in that area of the Halifax Regional Municipality.  The news was three decades in the making for an elated Walter Regan, president of the Sackville Rivers Association.  “I couldn’t breathe for two minutes,” he said. “And then after I started breathing, I started hooraying, hooraying, hooraying.”  Regan said his organization and others have been lobbying for this protection since 2011, although he has personally been working to conserve the river for 32 years.  …”We are becoming more and more of an urban civilization, and we need areas that we can call green and wild,” he said. 

Chatham-Kent’s tree conservationists are sounding the alarms after private property owners in East Kent chose to cut down a woodlot, which may contain at-risk species.  On Wednesday, cars drove Spence Line by Orford Road, North of Highway 401, and honked in protest as private landowners started clearing an area that could be covered by American Chestnut trees.  The issue with the conservationists is not so much what the property owners are doing but rather frustration with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent for not doing more to protect significant woodland.  “The city has an obligation to identify and protect significant woodlands, and it hasn’t done so. It doesn’t matter where (the woodlands) are,” said Ken Bell, a member of the Great Lakes Community Eco Initiative.  Bell said this woodland on private property is particularly important because it has been identified as a habitat for American Chestnut, which according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is endangered.

First Nations say they are being ignored as the province plans the next 10 years for the Timiskaming forest. Indigenous leaders in the Temagami area say the state of their relationship with the provincial government depends on which forest you’re talking about. First Nations, towns and logging companies recently formed a forest management corporation to look after the Temagami forest, but some of those same First Nations are saying their concerns about aerial spraying and clear cuts were not considered in a new plan for the Timiskaming forest, located to the north of Temagami. “You can see in the Timiskaming forest our voices are not being heard,” said Teme-Augama Anishnabai Chief Leanna Farr. “This is a common issue with regards to bureaucratic and government processes with regards to forest management planning. This new corporation gives us an opportunity to change that.”