Winter Newsletter 2023
With winter behind us, we hope you enjoy as the days grow longer, the forests wake up again, and migratory birds return from their journeys south. The sugar maple taps are flowing and warmer weather is on its way!
We have a few updates to share as we’re back to negotiating for a long-term license agreement and preparing for some exciting spring projects and growth.
We have a number of unique job opportunities open right now. Be sure to share them with your network!
Executive Director - Full time
Strike Team Members - Contract (8 month term)
Community Outreach Intern - Summer Internship
NSWWT Outreach Intern - Summer Internship
Negotiations Update
If you can believe it, the MCFC signed our original pilot project agreement over 8 years ago, on January 31, 2015. Earlier this year, our negotiation committee began meeting again with the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables staff to negotiate a long-term license agreement and build the parameters to support self-sufficiency and investment capacity. Upon the termination of our pilot agreement in March of 2020, we opted to sign a three-year extension, which is coming to an end. We are currently in the process of negotiating a new agreement and are hopeful to have exciting news to share in the spring.
Forest Operations Update
MCFC’s recent winter operations included harvesting, silviculture, and road building activities in the Northfield and East Branch areas. Derek Lohnes and his team at Lahones Forest Tech Ltd of Mahone Bay took advantage of the above average temperatures and below average snowfall this winter to complete pre-commercial thinning work at two sites in the Medway region of MCFC’s license area. Caledonia’s R&C Weare Logging Ltd completed a 55-ha Gap Shelterwood harvest that was part of our species-at-risk Bird Beneficial Management Practices project with Dalhousie University. The team at Weare’s also built a 450m road extension that provides access to part of approximately 100-ha of upcoming harvests in several sites in the Northfield area that will feature Single-Tree Selection, Group Selection, Commercial Thinning and Expanding Gap Group Selection (EGGS) harvest approaches.
With winter operations complete, we are shifting our focus to operational and long-term forest management planning. We are finalizing our 2023 operations plan and beginning the process of updating MCFC’s Forest Management Plan in advance of receiving new guidelines for long term forest stewardship planning on Crown land.
MCFC saw an increase of harvesting activity in 2022 over recent years, and we are hopeful to be able to continue this momentum through 2023. These restorative harvests and capacity to market wood contribute to our goal of building community benefits and investment from ecosystem-based, multi-value management across the license area.
Photo: MCFC’s staff and RC Weare Logging Ltd at a Gap Shelterwood harvest, a part of the SAR Bird Beneficial Management Practices project with Dalhousie University.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment Program
Working in partnership with both the departments of Environment and Climate Change and Natural Resources and Renewables, MCFC helped launch a Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) treatment program in October. Since the end of the treatment season, we have been working to lay the foundation of a volunteer-supported treatment program which we plan to launch this spring.
Stay tuned to learn more about MCFC’s “Hemlock Heroes” initiative! We are also planning several events for woodland stewards or landscaping service providers, who want to learn about techniques for protecting hemlocks against this destructive pest. Keep an eye on MCFC’s website and social media for more information about conserving our hemlock forests.
Photo: MCFC’s HWA Project Coordinator, Donna Crossland demonstrating the drilling technique during an HWA stem injection treatment.
Outreach Update
The NS Working Woodlands Trust is on the cusp of a province-wide launch. Waiting on the final piece of the puzzle of being added to the Community Easements Act, which requires Ministerial and Cabinet approval. Tune in to CBC Radio's Information Morning on April 7th for a Good Friday special program, to hear what the new land trust is all about and how working forest easements will support wildlife conservation, carbon storage, careful forest stewardship and harvesting, while building climate resiliency.
The Woodland Conference partners are once again planning for three in-person regional conferences on Saturdays through April. Join us here for a day where woodland owners, forestry professionals, researchers, and nature-lovers gather around forest stewardship and ecological forestry! Listen to presentations, view exhibits, and network with others interested in forestry in Nova Scotia. To register and learn more visit NSwoods.ca, under the Events tab.
