To: [email protected] From: Karen Beazley...
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1 To: [email protected] From: Karen Beazley, PhD; Nova Scotia citizen Full Professor, Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University Member, Minister’s Advisory Committee, implementing Lahey (2018) recommendations Member, NS Mainland Moose Recovery Planning Team Chair, NS Crown Share Land Legacy Trust Director, Canadian Council on Ecological Areas Member, Connectivity Working Group, Pathway to Canada Target 1 Date: February 16, 2021 Re: Draft Nova Scotia Silvicultural Guide for the Ecological Matrix Key conclusions The draft Nova Scotia Silvicultural Guide for the Ecological Matrix (SGEM) represents an improvement over previous published Forest Management Guides (McGrath, 2018), yet it is deficient in significant ways and requires further refinement. Given the highly technical nature of the SGEM and the extensive revisions since review of the earlier draft, another peer-review by Dr. Laura Kenefic or other arms-length expert is warranted for the current version. As the SGEM is an improvement over previous guides, it should be implemented as soon as possible as an ‘interim’ guide, with the caveate that further refinements will be required pending peer review, incorporating suggestions that arise from this public consultation, and as other parts of the Lahey recommendation implementation process advance and understanding improves. In the meantime and throughout the ‘interim’ period there should be an immediate moratorium on variable retention 10-30%, uniform shelterwood, overstory removal, salvage cuts and other clearcut and near-clearcut harvest approvals. Critical aspects to be better understood, developed, implemented and accounted for within the SGEM prior to considering it ‘final’ rather than ‘interim’ include: • A province-wide, spatially-explicit, systematically-designed, biodiversity-ecological network plan to serve as the underlying blueprint for ecological and biodiversity considerations for implementing the triad and spatial application of the SGEM, consisting of: core areas of protection; other key areas where biodiversity conservation objectives are prioritized; ecological corridors connecting them; and, buffer areas surrounding them; • Complete implementation of the current NS Parks and Protected Areas plan and expansion to protect additional areas to capture representative examples of all eco-districts and ecosites on Crown lands, including those that currently are not adequately represented; • Formal acceptance of species-at-risk recovery plans, including designated spatially- delineated core and other key habitat areas required for population and habitat connectivity; • Dramatically enhanced special management practices to better reflect the demographic, behavioural and habitat requirements of vulnerable species; • Ecologically-relevant guidelines for riparian and other buffer widths that are based on active river area (hydrological and topographical parameters) and wildlife species needs
Transcript of To: [email protected] From: Karen Beazley...
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From: KarenBeazley,PhD;NovaScotiacitizenFullProfessor,ResourceandEnvironmentalStudies,DalhousieUniversityMember,Minister’sAdvisoryCommittee,implementingLahey(2018)recommendationsMember,NSMainlandMooseRecoveryPlanningTeamChair,NSCrownShareLandLegacyTrustDirector,CanadianCouncilonEcologicalAreasMember,ConnectivityWorkingGroup,PathwaytoCanadaTarget1
Date: February16,2021
Re: DraftNovaScotiaSilviculturalGuidefortheEcologicalMatrix
Keyconclusions
ThedraftNovaScotiaSilviculturalGuidefortheEcologicalMatrix(SGEM)representsanimprovementoverpreviouspublishedForestManagementGuides(McGrath,2018),yetitisdeficientinsignificantwaysandrequiresfurtherrefinement.
GiventhehighlytechnicalnatureoftheSGEMandtheextensiverevisionssincereviewoftheearlierdraft,anotherpeer-reviewbyDr.LauraKeneficorotherarms-lengthexpertiswarrantedforthecurrentversion.
AstheSGEMisanimprovementoverpreviousguides,itshouldbeimplementedassoonaspossibleasan‘interim’guide,withthecaveatethatfurtherrefinementswillberequiredpendingpeerreview,incorporatingsuggestionsthatarisefromthispublicconsultation,andasotherpartsoftheLaheyrecommendationimplementationprocessadvanceandunderstandingimproves.
Inthemeantimeandthroughoutthe‘interim’periodthereshouldbeanimmediatemoratoriumonvariableretention10-30%,uniformshelterwood,overstoryremoval,salvagecutsandotherclearcutandnear-clearcutharvestapprovals.
Criticalaspectstobebetterunderstood,developed,implementedandaccountedforwithintheSGEMpriortoconsideringit‘final’ratherthan‘interim’include:
• Aprovince-wide,spatially-explicit,systematically-designed,biodiversity-ecologicalnetworkplantoserveastheunderlyingblueprintforecologicalandbiodiversityconsiderationsforimplementingthetriadandspatialapplicationoftheSGEM,consistingof:coreareasofprotection;otherkeyareaswherebiodiversityconservationobjectivesareprioritized;ecologicalcorridorsconnectingthem;and,bufferareassurroundingthem;
• CompleteimplementationofthecurrentNSParksandProtectedAreasplanandexpansiontoprotectadditionalareastocapturerepresentativeexamplesofalleco-districtsandecositesonCrownlands,includingthosethatcurrentlyarenotadequatelyrepresented;
• Formalacceptanceofspecies-at-riskrecoveryplans,includingdesignatedspatially-delineatedcoreandotherkeyhabitatareasrequiredforpopulationandhabitatconnectivity;
• Dramaticallyenhancedspecialmanagementpracticestobetterreflectthedemographic,behaviouralandhabitatrequirementsofvulnerablespecies;
• Ecologically-relevantguidelinesforriparianandotherbufferwidthsthatarebasedonactiveriverarea(hydrologicalandtopographicalparameters)andwildlifespeciesneeds
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ratherthanminimalfixed-widthbuffersbasedsolelyonrunoff(erosion,pollution,sedimentation)considerations;
• Embeddedguidelinesforplanning,constructing,managinganddecommissioningforestroadstominimizeroaddensityanddirectandimpactsofroadsonwildlifeandotherecologicalfunction,structuresandprocessesinbothterrestrialandaquaticsystems;
• Inclusionoftreeremovalsforforestroads,skidtracksandtrails,andotheraccessandoperationalpurposesincalculationsofareasandbiomassofharvestremovalsandretentions;
• Specificationofecosystemandbiodiversityoutcomes(notjust‘forestry’-relatedoutcomessuchasvolumesandretentions)anticipatedfromtheapplicationofSGEMsforspecificgeographicalareas/locationsonCrownland;
• Incorporationofrequiredpre-postinventories,monitoringandreportingbyindependent,arms-lengthbiodiversityorwildlifeexpertsratherthansolelybyforestersortheirconsultants;
• Proceduresandcriteriaforinventories,monitoring,auditing,reportingandenforcingaccurateapplicationoftheSGEMsinplanningandontheground;theseshouldincludeprovisionsforensuringsurveysforbiodiversityandecosystemvaluesoccurinwaysthattakeintoaccountseasonalandotherfactorsrelatedtotimingofpresence,suchasmigrations,breeding,denningandotherlife-historyrequisites;and,
• Explicitreviewschedule,processandcriteriaforassessingefficacyoftheSGEMstowardsecosystemandbiodiversityoutcomes.
Cruciallyrequired,asap,istheprovince-widespatialdelineationofthethreelegsofthetriadinawaythatdemonstratesthatitwillserveto“protectandenhanceecosystemsandbiodiversityastheoverarchingpolicypriority,”asrecommendedintheLaheyReportandcommittedbytheGovernmentofNovaScotia.
Untilthespatialdistributionsandrelativeproportionsofthethreelegsofthetriadareunderstood,theefficacyoftheSGEMsforretainingandrestoringecosystemandbiodiversityobjectivesonCrownLandwithintheecological-matrixlegcannotbeassessed.Further,appropriatelocationsforapplyingthevariouspre-treatmentassessmentsandharvestingsystemscannotbedeterminedwithoutunderstandingbroaderecologicalandbiodiversityobjectivesandconsiderationsbeyondsite-specificnaturaldisturbancepatterns,vegetationandsoiltypes,nutrientlevelsanddesignatedcorehabitatforspeciesatrisk.Bymyunderstandingonclosereadingoftheharvestingsystems,applicationofthemixofsystemsacrossallCrownlandsintheecologicalmatrixleg,unlessverycarefullyorchestratedintermsofinitiationofsequencing,couldresultinaforestthat,whileuneveninage,wouldattimesconsistprimarilyofrelativelyyoungcohortsandlittleretentionofmature-oldforests.
Keyconcerns
ThereisanotableabsenceofconsiderationandintegrationoftheSGEMwithinacontextofabroadersystematicallydesigned,biodiversityconservationplanacrosstheprovince(publicandprivatelands)thatspatiallydelineatesthedistributionandextentoflandneededto:1)maintainrepresentativesamplesofallecositetypes(coarsefilter);2)supportviablepopulationsoffocalspecies(thosemostsensitivetohumanactivitiesandhabitatlossandfragmentationsuchaswide-rangingandlarge-arearequiringspecies);and,3)protectspeciesatriskandother‘finefilter’elementssuchashotspotsofdiversityandrarity.Thespatialplanshoulddelineateanecologicalnetworkcomprisedofcoreareasofformallydesignatedandstrictlyprotectedareas(PAs),supplementalhabitatandbuffersthatmaybemanagedformultipleactivitiesthatdonot
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compromisebiodiversityvalues(IPCAs,OECMs),ecologicalandripariancorridorsandsteppingstones,integratedintosustainablymanagedlandscapes.
Untilsuchacomprehensiveplanisdeveloped,decisionsonwheretoapplythethreelegsofthetriadarebeingmadewithoutadequateattentiontothebiodiversityobjectivesfeaturedinLahey’srecommendations.SpecifictotheSGEM,suchbiodiversityconsiderationsshouldinfluencewheretheecologicalmatrixlegofthetriadanditsvarioustreatmentsandsystemsareapplied,fromabroad-scaledregionallandscapeperspectivethatincorporatesthespatialpatternsofhabitatneededtosupportthesediversebiodiversityvalues.
SomekeybiodiversityconsiderationsatthestandlevelarereferencedintheSGEM,includingbiodiversityreservetreesandspecialhabitatsasdescribedintheAFieldGuidetoForestBiodiversityStewardship,andSpecialManagementPracticesforsomeSpeciesatRisk.However,theserepresentonlythethirdcomponentofsystematicbiodiversityconservationplanningrefencedabove(i.e.finefilterelements).ThekeygapintheSGEMisconsiderationofbroadspatialpatternsthatsupportviablepopulationsofspeciesthatarenotcurrentlylistedas‘atrisk’yetaresensitiveandvulnerabletoforestrypracticesandotherlanduseandlandcoverchangesthatconvert,degradeandfragmenttheirhabitatsandpopulationsintosmallerandmoreisolatedpatches.Arecentforestconnectivitystudy(Cunninghametal.2020)fundedandsupervisedbyL&Fhasfoundthat,whencalculatedacrosstheentireprovince,medianpatchsizeformatureforest(heightover12m)wasfoundtobe3.2ha(p.6)(Fig.1).Byecodistrict,medianpatchsizesrangefrom1.08to3.8hainNorthernPlateauandCapeBretonCoastal,respectively)(pp.43-45).Comparedtothehistoricalbaselineof2937.8ha,today’smedianpatchsizefornaturalecosystems(1.6ha)representsa99.9%reduction(p.6).TheSGEMreliesonnaturaldisturbanceregimesasafoundationforecologicalforestry.However,naturaldisturbanceisonlyoneofmanyfoundationalecologicalprocessesrelevanttoecosystemandbiodiversityobjectives.Othercriticalprocessesthatwarrantattentioninclude,forexample,activeriverarea,speciesdistribution,populationdemographicsandviability,minimumcriticalhabitatarea,minimumdynamicarea,geneticconnectivityandmetapopulationdynamics,edgeeffects,etc.Accordingly,asolefocusonnaturaldisturbanceecologyignoresmanyotherfoundationalprinciplesandemergingsciencesthatshouldbebroughttobear.Whileafocusondisturbanceecologymaysufficeattheoperationalscale,assumingitrepresentsasmallportionoftheoverallforest,applyingtheconcepttolandscapeandprovincialscalesisinappropriate.ApplicationoftheSGEMonCrownlandacrosslargerecologicalmatrixlandscapeataprovincialscaleentailsabroadersuiteofconsiderationsandcarefulassessmentofwhereandwhenSGEMshouldbeappliedacrossspaceandtime.Provisionsforcarefullyorchestratedcoordinationarenotsufficientlyconsidered,accountedfororelaboratedintheSGEM.Itcontinuestorelyonthecumulativeeffectofoperationaldecisions,anapproachcriticizedasinadequatebyLahey(2018).ThereseemstobenoacknowledgementwithintheSGEMthatnaturaldisturbanceswillcontinuealongwiththeadditionalmimickingofthesedisturbancesinforestharvestingprocesses,therebyresultinginexcessivelyhighlevelsofcumulativedisturbance.Thetotalfrequencyanddistributionofnaturalandanthropogenicdisturbancesacrosslargerlandscapes(e.g.,ecoregions,ecodistricts,and/orlargewatersheds/basins)needtobeassessedtoensuretheydonotexceedlevelsrequiredtoalsosustainkeyecosystemandbiodiversitystructures,functionsandprocesses,includingwildlifepopulationviabilityandminimumcriticalareaofsuitablehabitat,suchasthroughcalculationsofminimumdynamicarea.Thecumulativeeffectofnumerousstand-levelprescriptionsacrosslargelandscapesneedtobefullyconsideredinawaythatensuresecosystemandbiodiversityvaluesareretained,maintainedandrestored.
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Figure1.Differentclassificationsofforestonwhichtheanalysiswasconductedinthestudyregion.Naturalecosystemsaredefinedasallforested,wetlandandbarrenclassificationsintheNovaScotiaforestinventory(a),forestconsistsofalltreedclassificationsintheNovaScotiaforestinventory(b)andmatureforestarethoseforestedstandswithaminimumageof40years(proxiedasaminimumstandheightof12m)(c).Analyseswereconductedoneachforestclassificationwithouttakingintoaccounttheroadeffectzone(i),usinga1kmroadeffectzone(ii)andusinga5kmroadeffectzone(iii).NovaScotiaforestinventorydataisfromtheNovaScotiaDepartmentofLandsandForestry;NovaScotiaRoadsdatabaseisfromGeoNova;basemapisfromESRI.(FigureandcaptioncopiedfromCunninghametal.2020,p.6).
If,asreferencedintheSGEM,silviculturalsystemsshouldbedesignedsuchthat“emphasisisplacedonnaturalpatternsandprocesses,understandingthem,workinginharmonywiththem,andmaintainingtheirintegrity”(SeymourandHunter1999),thensignificantlymorepatternsandprocessesthanthoseencompassedindisturbanceecologyarecrucial.Ageneralappealtocoarse-filtertheoryisinsufficienttocompensateforthisdeficiencyortosubstitutefortheseecologicalconsiderations.AsnotedintheSGEM,“thecoarse-filtertheoryofconservationbiologystatesthatifmanagementprovidesthefullrange(suite)ofstructuresandcompositionsthatexistedinunmanagedforests,thenwecanexpectsuchforeststoprovidehabitatformostspecies,therebymaintainingbiodiversityonthemanagedlandscape(HunterandSchmiegelow2011)”(emphasisadded).However,initspresentformitishighlyunlikelythattheSGEMwill“providethefullrange(suite)of
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structuresandcompositionsthatexistedinunmanagedforests.”Accordingly,additionalprovisionsarerequiredtoensurekeyecosystemandbiodiversityvaluesaremaintainedandrestored.Ingeneral,thesourcesreferencedinsupportoftheoverallapproachareprimarilylimitedtothosewithanarrowfocusonsilviculture,afewfocusedonecologicalforestry,andnonefocusedonecosystemandbiodiversityfoundationsandemergingsciencesorbroaderbiodiversitylandscape/conservationplanning.Assuch,theSGEMremainsgroundedin‘forestry’andisinsufficientlyrepresentativeofthescientificandprofessionalculturalandnormativechangesnecessarytothefundamentaltransitiontoaformofecologicalforestrythatcombines“ecologicalandproductionobjectives,contributingbothtoecologicalconservationandtocommercialforestry”(Lahey2018,p.v).Unfortunately,IamnotconvincedthattheSGEMadequatelyovercomestheproblemidentifiedbyLaheyinhisprimaryconclusions:
Thepre-treatmentassessmentprocessthatlargelydeterminestheprescriptionsappliedwithinthecurrentsystemofecosystem-basedmanagementdoesnotsufficientlytakewildlifeissuesintoaccount.Thelackofattentiontowildlifeinthepre-treatmentassessmentprocessisnotcounterbalancedbyreassurancethatwildlifereceivesadequateattentionintheIntegratedResourceManagementProcess(2018,p.vi).
TheSGEMprocessstilldoesnotsufficientlytakewildlifeissuesintoaccount.RetentionlevelsandagestructureTheSGEMstatesthat,“ImplementingtheSGEMrequirestechniquesthatwillcreatestructuresthatwouldoccurasaresultofnaturaldisturbances(Neilyetal.,2013).ItisintendedtohelpcreateanolderandmorediverseforestthatreflectstheMaritimeBorealandAcadianEcositesofNovaScotia”(p.11).Beyondtheinherentlogisticalflawrelatedtothecumulativeeffectsofbothnaturaldisturbancesandtheadditionalmimickingofthemthroughharvestingpractices,aspreviouslydescribed,theclaimthattheSGEMswill‘createandolderforest’seemsunfoundedgiventheharvestingsystemsdescribed.WhiletheSGEMmayresultinanolderandmorediverseforestthanwouldresultfromcontinuedapplicationofthecurrentguides,itwillnotcreateaforestthatreflectsageanddiversitystructuresanddistributionsoftheAcadianforest.Recurringclaimsthat“thegoalistoretain1/5-2/3ofeachstand”aremisleading.Theserangesaccruetoeachharvestperiod,accumulateoversubsequentharvests,andresultinstandsthatarepredominantlyyoungerstandsforsignificantandrecurringperiodsoftime.The1/5-2/3retentionrangeisonlypresentatonepointintime:thefirstharvest.Aftersubsequentharvests‘retention’oftheoriginalforestisessentiallyzero,otherthanthefewpermanentretentiontrees(whichmayormaynothavesurvived).Forexample,thePublicconsultationwebpagefeaturestheHigh-retentiongapirregularshelterwoodsystem(Figure6)asa‘typical’exampleofhowforestswillgrowandbeharvestedunderthenewdraftguideonCrownlandintheecologicalmatrixzone.Inthishighlighted‘highretention’example,theentireareawouldhavebeenharvestedbythe40-yearmarkandthusnoneoftheoriginalforestretained:atthatpoint,theforestiscomprisedtotallyofregeneratedforest,1/3ofwhichis0-yearsold,1/3is20yearsold,and1/3is40yearsold.Afterthenextthreecuts,atthe130-yearmark,weareagainleftwith1/3at0yearsold,1/3at20yearsold,and1/3at40yearsold.Admittedly,thesearetheyoungestphasesofthiscycling,butasthehighestretentionsysteminthemix,itisfarfromsatisfactory.InthecaseofaMedium-retentiongapirregularshelterwoodsystem(Fig8),0%oftheforestisretainedatthe30-yearmarkaftertwoharvestsof1/2ofthearea.Inthisexample,atthe30-yearmarkthisstandwouldbecomprisedof½at0yearsoldand½at30yearsold.Theothersystemsresultinevensmallerareasofretention
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andthuslargerareasofyoungerforests.Addingtoremovalsprescribedthroughtheseharvestsystemsareallowancesforpre-commercialthinningandskid/machinerytractsandroads,furtherreducingtheareaofforest.Inbothofthesehigh-andmedium-retentionexamples,arguablynoneoftheoriginalforestcoverisretained,thecumulativeeffectsexceednaturaldisturbancepatternsintermsofspatialextentandrateofreturninterval,andtheforestisnot“older”thanwouldbetypicalinanaturalAcadianforestsystem.Amixofstandsacrossthelandscapethatarepredominantlyyoungerforsignificantandrecurringperiodsoftimeareunlikelytosupportkeyecosystemsandbiodiversityvalues.And,thefactremainsthat‘natural’disturbanceswillalsocontinuetotakeplace,contributingtoadditionalareasofyoungerforests,beyondthoseharvested.ThoughIappreciatetheretentionofpermanentreservetrees,theseareatriskofmortalityduetoblowdownorotherthreatfactorsrelatedtotheirsuddenisolationfromtheirsupportingsurroundingtrees/forest,andtheirisolationmakesthemlessorunsuitableintermsofhabitatprovision.Onbalance,IamfarfromconvincedthatthemixofSGEMsystemswillbeappliedacrossbroadareasinwaysthatretainsufficientmatureandoldforestsacrosstheCrown-landlandscapetosupportcomponentsofbiodiversitythataresensitivetohumanactivitiesanddependentoninteriorandmature-oldforests,andthatprovide“thefullrange(suite)ofstructuresandcompositionsthatexistedinunmanagedforests”statedintheSGEMaskeytothecoarsefilterapproachtoecologicalforestry.Forsuchclaimsofhelpingto‘createanolderandmorediverseforest’toringtrue,theSGEMwouldhavetobeappliedonlytounnaturally-low-diversity,even-agedforeststhatrequirerestorationtoincreaseageanddiversity.Arguably,uneven-agedstandsshouldincludealargepercentageofoldtrees,aswouldhavebeenthepredominantAcadianforestcoverpriortoclearingandharvesting,includingwithnaturaldisturbancestakenintoaccount.Further,theRestorationprescriptionincludesprovisionsforhighlevelsofforestremovalfollowedbytreeplanting.Analternativeprescriptionshouldbedevisedthatretainsecosystemandbiodiversityvaluesduringtherestorationphase,suchasbymaintainingareasofforestcoverwhilesupportingregenerationofmore-diversenativetreeandunderstoryspecies.
Onbalance,acrossprescriptions,theregenerationrateis2.5to3.3timeshigherthanitshouldbe.Highretentionirregularshelterwoodwouldsee1/3ofthearearegeneratedinyears0,20&40(2.5%/yearharvestintensity).Mediumretentionirregularshelterwoodwouldbe1/2inyear0and1/2inyear30(3%/yearharvestintensity).Instead,maximumremovalshouldbe30%bybasalareainasingleharvestwiththefrequencyofharvesttiedtotherateofregeneration(~1%/year).Assuch,onaverage,30yearsshouldpassbeforeanother30%harvestispermitted.Gap-basedsystemsshouldbeused,consistentlyfavoringLITspeciesforretentionandpermanentleavetrees,withharvestsnotexceeding1%overatimeframeof100yearsormore,tosupportbiodiversityvalues,wildlifeneeds,andbroaderlandscaperequirementsatthesametimeasproductionvalues.
MaritimeBorealforestThecommentabout‘temporarilyseparatingouttheMaritimeBorealforest’(13%oftheprovince’sforestedCrownLand)ispotentiallyconcerning.Furtherdetailisneededastowhatthisisandwhyitisseparatedout.PreviousforestclassificationshaveidentifiedonlysmallportionsofNSas‘boreal’,largelyrestrictedtoCapeBretonhighlands.Ontheotherhand,therearecriticismsofpoorforestrypracticesthathaveresultedinthe‘borealization’oftheAcadianforest.Assuch,borealizationisnotsomethingthatshouldbeprotectedorretained.IhopethattheseparateattentiontotheMaritimeBorealforestislimitedtothenaturallyoccurringBorealforests,andthat
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itrecognizesthatsuchforestsarelikelytobetransitioningtomoremixedandtemperateforestsduetoclimatechange.Azonalsites,soildamageandnutrientlevelsThegenericdefinitionofazonalsiteswithoutindicationofthedistributionandproportionofforestconsideredtobesituatedwithinazonalsitesisproblematic.InNS,climateislesslikelytoresultinvariationsindominantsuccessionacrosstheprovinceduetothecoastalmoderationofclimate.Arguably,non-climaticsiteconditionspredominateininfluencingsuccessionalvariabilityacrosstheprovince.Largeareasoftheprovincemaybeconsideredlowinsoilfertility,asconsequenceofbothsoilandbedrockgeologyandpoorforestrypractices.Ifso,theSGEMprescriptionsforazonalecositescouldbeappliedwidely,withsignificantnegativeimplicationsforecosystemsandbiodiversity,aswellasthesustainabilityofforestryproductionvalues.Amongtheso-calledazonalecosites,theSGEMstatesthatthosewith“moreseveresitelimitationssupportmorefrequentlydisturbedandshorter-livedclimaxforeststhataremoreappropriatelymanagedwithsimplersilviculturalsystemswithlowerretentionlevels”(p.8).Whileitmaybetruethatsuchsitesmayexperiencemorefrequentdisturbanceandsupportshorter-livedforests,itiscounterintuitivetothenconcludethatthesesitesshouldbefurtherdisturbedthroughsilviculturethatprescribes‘lowerretentionlevels’.Instead,siteswithseverelimitationsandfrequentlynaturaldisturbancesshouldbesubjectedtonoorlow-frequency,high-retentionharvestsinordertominimizecumulativedisturbancesandfurtherdeteriorationofalreadyseverenon-climate-relatedsiteconditionssuchaslowsoilfertility.Suchareasdonotsupportfrequentcuttingandregenerationandyettheydosupportecosystemandbiodiversityvaluesandshouldberetainedassuch,allowingformaintenanceandrecoveryofsoilconditions.ItisfurtherunclearastohowdifferentiatedapplicationsoftheSGEMtozonalandazonalecositeswillintegratemeasurestoidentifyandminimizesoildamagehazardsandtosustainorenhancenutrientsustainability.NutrientBudgetModelguidanceshouldbeappliedinordertoimprovesoilfertilityandnutrientqualityandlimitimpactsofforestharvestingondeficientsites.RiparianbuffersAfixedriparianbufferwidthof30malongshorelinesoflakes,riversandstreamsisnotwideenoughtosupportmanyspecieswildlife.Buffersinthe20-30mrangearedefinedprimarilytoreduceerosionaleffectssuchassedimentation.Toaccommodatespeciesthataremostsensitivetoforestfragmentationandedgeeffects,riparianbuffersshouldbeatleast100mandidealy~200mfromthehigh-watermark.TheUSDANaturalResourcesConservationServiceConservationStandardforriparianbuffersrecommendsa600foot(183m)riparianforestbufferwidthastheminimumforaccommodatingsensitivespecies(USDA-NRCS-MICH,391-M,231-10/10).ForestaccessroadsandskidtrailsThereisabsolutelynomentionofroadsintheSGEM.Asearchofthedocumentrevealednouseoftheword‘road’or‘roads’anywhereinthedocument,andonlytwobriefreferencesto‘access’(e.g.,GapShelterwoodwithReserves,p.44;StripShelterwoodwithReserves,p.46).Forestroadsdegradeandfragmenthabitatandopenupforestsinwaysthatresultinnumerousdirectandindirectnegativeimpactstoecosystemsandbiodiversity.Primaryamongtheseareprovidingaccesstopreviouslyintactremnantpatchesofforest,resultinginincursionsofcompetitors,predators,diseasesandpests.Theseincludehumansandtheirassociatedactivitiesanddevelopmentssuchasoff-highwayvehicleuse;legalandillegalfishing,huntingandtrapping;fires,spreadofinvasiveanddomesticspecies;seasonalandpermanentstructures;spurroads;etc.
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Prescriptionsareneededtominimizenewroadconstruction;properlyconstructroadsandmaintainexistingroads;apply,monitorandenforcerestrictionsonroadaccess;anddecommissionroads.Treesremovalsforroadsandextraction/skidtrailsandotherharvestoperationsneedtobetakeintoaccountasharvest-relatedremovalsandaccountedforincalculationsofareasofretentionsandremovalsandofharvestvolumes.Theportionofthestandtobeoccupiedbyroadsandotherextractiontrailsshouldbeminimized,andthoseareasshouldbeincludedincalculationsoftheportionofthestandthatisconsideredmanaged(e.g.,aspartoftheareaofharvestremovals).ThenegativeimpactsofroadsandextractiontrailsonecosystemsandbiodiversityprovidesoneclearexampleofwhyLaheycautionedagainsttakingitasagiventhatprotectingbiodiversitythroughecologicalforestrycouldbeachievedwithoutanoverallreductioninharvestvolume.Achievingthesameorhigherharvestvolumeswithoutintensive(clearcut)harvestswouldentailmoreextensiveharvests,whichwouldrequireanexpandednetworkofharvestroadsandtrails.Consequently,inadditiontocarefulplanningandmanagementtolimittheroadnetworkanditsimpacts,reductionsinwoodvolumeareneeded,furtheremphasizingtheneedtotransitiontoahigh-valueforestproducteconomy.SGEMinthebroadermanagementcontextMovingforwardwithanimprovedSGEMisimportantbutitsefficacyintermsofsupportingecosystemandbiodiversityvaluesisimpossibletogaugeintheabsenceofothercomplementaryinitiativesrequiredtoimplementtheLaheyrecommendations.ItsefficacyformeetingecosystemandbiodiversityobjectivescannotbeassessedwithoutunderstandingtheintendedoutcomesoftheSGEM.NeithercanitbeassessedwithoutknowingwheretheSGEMistobeapplied(i.e.thedistributionandextentoftheecologicalmatrixportionofthetriad),andwithoutknowingthedistributionandextentof‘protection/conservation’leg.Iftheprotection/conservation’legisintendedastheprimarylegformaintainingandrecoveringecosystemandbiodiversityvaluesthataresensitivetohumanactivitiesinsufficientqualityandquantitytoremainviableovertime,thentheconservationlegwillneedtobemuchlargerthanexistingprotectedandconservedareas.Insuchacontext,theSGEMmaysufficeontheecologicalmatrixlands.However,ifthe‘protection/conservation’legissmallerornotcarefullysited,theSGEMandecologicalmatrixlandswillneedtoprovidemuchstrongerprescriptionsforbiodiversityobjectives.
Manyassociatedinitiativesneedtobecompleted,suchas:amendmentstotheCrownLandsActandForestryAct;requirementsforEnvironmentalAssessment;designationofSpeciesatRiskrecoveryandactionplans,includingcorehabitatandconnectivityareas;spatialdelineationofthethreelegsofthetriad;developmentofoutcomes-based-forestrycriteria;riparianbufferassessment;revisionstospecialmanagementpractices;completionoflandscapelevelplanningforbiodiversity;etc.
TheSGEMisintendedtobeappliedatthestandlevel,however,thespatialdistributionofthestandstowhichtheyaretobeappliedhasasyettobedetermined,asthishingesonbroaderdecisions.Biodiversityandecosystemobjectiveswillnotbeachievedbydecisiondrivenatthestandlevel.Meansofgroundingstand-leveldecisionswithinabroaderregional-landscape-province-wideplanaremissing,asisanyacknowledgementthatthisisnecessarytoachievingthestatedobjectives.Spatialdelineationsofrestrictionstoharvestinginordertosupportbiodiversityoutcomesshouldbeidentifiedinabiodiversityconservation/landscapeplanpriortoapplicationofSGEMsoranyharvestingapprovals.
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AsconcludedbyLahey(2018,p.55,recommendation143),…forestryonCrownlandsshouldbegovernedbyaforestmanagementplanningprocessunderwhich“FULAholders”willberequiredtodevelopaforestmanagementplanforthelandstheyaretomanagethroughaClassIIenvironmentalassessment…TherequirementforsuchplansdevelopedthroughapublicprocessisalevelofforestmanagementonCrownlands–requiredinotherjurisdictions–thatismissinginNovaScotia.Itisalevelthatshouldbeinstitutedhoweverforestryistobeconductedonpubliclands,butitisespeciallyimportantifNovaScotiaisseriousaboutconductingecosystem-basedforestryonalandscapebasis.…DoingsoinNovaScotiaundertheauthorityoftheMinisterofEnvironmentcreatesanopportunitytobringtransparencyandaccountabilitytotheprocessandtomitigatetheconcernsabouthowDNRinternallymanagesitscompetingresponsibilities.
ThereisnoapparentroleofNSDepartmentofEnvironmentinthedevelopment,implementationormonitoringofSGEMs.Withoutthesebroaderrequirementsandexternaloversight,itisunlikelythattheSGEMswillsupportecosystem-basedforestryonalandscapebasis.
Onbalance,despiteimprovements,theSGEMretainsafocusonforestryoutcomesfortimber,pulporbiomassvolume.Furtheremphasisisneededonenhancingforestvaluesandreducingthevolumeofwoodharvested.Sustainableforesteconomieswilldependonhealthierforestswhichofferhighervalue/lowervolumetimberandretainandenhanceecosystemandbiodiversityvalues.
Inclosing,IacknowledgethattheseforestsarelocatedinMi'kma'ki,theancestralanduncededterritoryoftheMi'kmaq.AscitizensandgvoernmentsinCanda,weareallTreatypeoplewithresponsibilitestothePeaceandFriendshipTreaties.Thelandbelongstoeveryoneandourhighestresponsibilitiyistothelandandallourrelations,inrespectandreciprocity.Asapeaceandfreindshipally,IfullysupporttheexpressedviewsoftheMi’kmawpeopleintheirsubmissionstothisandotherprocessesofconsultation,suchasinthelettertotheMinisterofLandsandForestryfromtheAssemblyofNovaScotiaMi’kmawChiefs,datedOctober29th.Inthisletter,theyurgeimplementationofhigh-retentioneco-forestrywithoutfurtherdelay,inlinewithLaheyrecommendationsandthestandardsofNetukulimk.Iconcur.IurgecontinuedmeaningfulengagementwithMi’kmawgoverningbodiesinwaysthatreflectethicalspaceandanation-to-nationrelationship.References
Cunningham,C.,K.F.Beazley,P.Bush,J.Brazner.2020.ForestConnectivityinNovaScotia.Researchreport.NovaScotiaLandsandForestry:Halifax,Canada.2020;87pp.Available:https://novascotia.ca/natr/forestry/programs/LandscapePlanning/Sept2020_ForestConnectivity.pdf
GovernmentResponsetotheIndependentReviewofForestPracticesinNovaScotia,DepartmentofLandsandForestry,December2018.
Lahey,W.2018.AnIndependentReviewofForestPracticesinNovaScotia.DepartmentofLandsandForestry.
USDA-NRCS-MICH.NaturalResourcesConservationServiceConservationStandard.State-WideRiparianForestBuffer391-1.TechnicalGuideSectionIV(Notice231-10/10)
