Nova Scotia Woodlands
1701 Hollis Street B3J 2T9 Halifax, NS, Canada

Our team would like to hear from you. Please visit the following link to complete the survey: https://novascotia.ca//consultat/woodland-owner-survey.asp

LANDS/FORESTRY--Seeking Input from Woodland Owners ------------------------------------------------------------ Government, in partnership with the Forestry Transition Team, is inviting private woodland owners to complete an online survey, launched today, Jan. 20. This research will help government and its partners better understand the needs, values, interests and motivations for private land use, as well as management practices. ...Continue reading

COVID-19/LANDS/FORESTRY--Forest Sector Safety Measures Fund Opens -------------------------------------------------------------- Nova Scotia's forestry sector operators can apply to recover extra costs for keeping their employees and communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. An agreement between the Government of Canada and Nova Scotia will make more than $668,000 from the federal Forest Sector Safety Measures Fund available to small and medium-sized forestry businesses ...in Nova Scotia. Businesses can apply to recover costs for COVID-19 safety measures incurred between April 1 and Dec. 31, 2020. Eligible costs include personal protective equipment, handwashing stations, extra vehicles and accommodations, sanitization and facilities for self-isolation. Eligible businesses must have fewer than 500 employees and their primary activities must be in forestry and logging, support activities for forestry, wood product manufacturing, or pulp and paper manufacturing. "The pandemic has forced everyone to find new ways to work safely and businesses have invested in added health and safety measures. Now, they can access funding to offset those extra costs and that will allow our forestry sector to continue working safely," said Lands and Forestry Minister Derek Mombourquette. "We are pleased to deliver this federal relief program that will help individual businesses and the sector make a strong recovery from the pandemic." The application guide and form are available on Nova Scotia's Coronavirus website. Businesses can apply online until Feb. 26. Quotes: "We are supporting our forest sector. We said we would be there for Canadians through COVID-19 and we are delivering." - Seamus O'Regan Jr., federal Minister of Natural Resources Quick Facts: -- the Government of Canada announced the $30 million Forest Sector Safety Measures Fund in July 2020 -- Nova Scotia's portion of the fund totals $668,353, which will be administered by the Department of Lands and Forestry -- eligible expenses will be paid out by March 31, 2021 Additional Resources: Forest Sector Safety Measures Fund application guide and forms: https://novascotia.ca//forestry-sector-safety-measures-fu/ Nova Scotia Coronavirus website: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/ Government of Canada Forest Sector Safety Measures Fund announcement: https://www.canada.ca//emergency-funding-for-covid-19-safe Department of Lands and Forestry on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NSLandsForestry -30- Media Contact: Steven Stewart Cell: 902-240-8337 Email: [email protected]

The Nova Scotia Forestry Transition Team, created in January 2020, has been providing advice to government and informing short and longer-term solutions for transitioning Nova Scotia’s forestry sector. Many initiatives have moved ahead this year, and the latest Update to the Forestry Sector is now online at https://novascotia.ca/forestry-sector-support/transition.asp .

Hello all, Just a reminder that the Ingram River area Crown Lands Consultation continues to be open. The Province of Nova Scotia is gathering public input on the environmental, social and economic values of the Ingram River area Crown lands. This area is enjoyed and valued by different groups for many reasons. ... Information is being gathered in a survey and online mapping tool. The online survey and mapping tool are available here . Due to a brief period when the survey was unavailable, the consultation closing date has been extended until November 26. Input gathered will inform ongoing land-use management decisions for the Ingram River area. Local stakeholders have been asked to share information about the consultation. If you know of someone who might be interested in the consultation please feel free to share this information. For more information please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thanks, Bruce. Bruce Stewart Manager, Forest Research & Planning Nova Scotia Department of Lands & Forestry 15 Arlington Place Suite 7 2nd Floor Truro, Nova Scotia B2N 0G9 902 956-0462

2021 Woodland Conferences - Public Survey Good morning, You are receiving this message because you have attended one or more of our Spring Woodland Conferences in the past. With the current COVID-19 situation, we have been discussing how we can best continue to offer interesting and informative presentations to you in 2021 without putting anyone's health at risk.... To that end, we have been exploring several online webinar-style options and are interested in your feedback. If you could take a couple of minutes to complete this quick survey, we would greatly appreciate your input on the best format for you! Survey: https://forms.gle/BSQCJxBtHHhLidJVA Please feel free to forward this link to anyone you know who may also be interested in attending online conference sessions this year, even if they've never been to one of our conferences before. As an added incentive, you can leave your name and email at the bottom to be entered in a draw to win a $50 Tim's card and a Nova Scotia Needs Forestry prize pack! Thanks for your help! Christie Verstraten Provincial Coordinator

LANDS/FORESTRY--Provincial Parks Filled with Local Visitors in 2020 -------------------------------------------------------------- Nova Scotia's provincial parks had another successful year, welcoming more than 247,000 visitors at camping parks and over one million at day-use parks. The number of campsite night bookings in provincial campgrounds this year was 80,583, a slight increase over 2019. Since 2015 the number of campsites booked rose by about 31 per cent. ... Public health measures have been in place at all parks, allowing campers and visitors to enjoy and explore the parks safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. "As many Nova Scotians stayed closer to home this summer, they've rediscovered our beautiful provincial parks and the mental and physical health benefits they provide," said Lands and Forestry Minister Derek Mombourquette. "Our parks offer a full range of physical activities in the great outdoors. Hiking, swimming, canoeing and mountain biking are all part of a healthier lifestyle." All provincial parks infrastructure, such as washrooms, change houses and campsites, are now closed for the season but people are encouraged to continue visiting parks to enjoy walking, cross-country skiing and other activities. Quick Facts: --there are 20 provincial camping parks and more than 130 day-use and beach parks in Nova Scotia --to ensure physical distancing, the season started with about 30 per cent of sites closed; in mid-July additional sites opened, but more than 100 sites were closed all season --with COVID-19 restrictions and the formation of the Atlantic Bubble, about 96 per cent of campers came from Nova Scotia, with four per cent from other parts of Atlantic Canada Additional Resources: To learn more about Nova Scotia's provincial parks, visit http://parks.novascotia.ca -30- Media contact: Deborah Bayer Cell: 902-225-4982 Email: [email protected]

Hello all, The Province of Nova Scotia is gathering public input on the environmental, social and economic values of the Ingram River area Crown lands. This area is enjoyed and valued by different groups for many reasons. Information is being gathered in a survey and online mapping tool. The online survey and mapping tool are available here for 30 days, until November 22. ... Input gathered will inform ongoing land-use management decisions for the Ingram River area. Local stakeholders have been asked to share information about the consultation. If you know of someone who might be interested in the consultation please feel free to share this information. For more information please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thanks, Bruce. Bruce Stewart Manager, Forest Research & Planning Nova Scotia Department of Lands & Forestry 15 Arlington Place Suite 7 2nd Floor Truro, Nova Scotia B2N 0G9 902 956-0462

AGRICULTURE/LANDS/FORESTRY--Renewed Loan Board Provides Greater Access to Financing to Forestry Sector --------------------------------------------------------------- Forestry companies can better develop and adapt their businesses with easier access to financing. This has been a common theme delivered by the sector and that is why government has developed an improved lending program for forestry companies. The Nova Scotia Timber Loan Board now has improved lending terms, eli...gibility and a revised fee structure. The latest regulatory improvements are modelled on recent amendments to the regulations governing the Farm and Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Boards and address needs experienced most acutely by small and medium sized enterprises central to the forestry sector. "We have worked hard to modernize the province's lending boards for our key economic sectors and we're pleased to extend the same to the forestry sector," said Keith Colwell, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and Aquaculture. "Now, the Timber Loan Board can provide services to help develop and innovate our forestry sector when it is needed most." The Timber Loan Board can provide businesses with access to financing for buildings and equipment, developing business cases, upgrading facilities and land purchases at market interest rates. Loans are administered by the Department of Agriculture's Crown Lending Agency that also supports the Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board. The regulatory changes provide uniformity among the three boards under the same operational structure and standardized service fees. The Forestry Transition Team has endorsed this plan. Quick Facts: -- the Timber Loan Board has existed for more than 55 years to provide access to capital for the forest industry and rural business development through flexible lending programs -- the current regulations had not been updated since 1984 -- Nova Scotia's Farm Loan Board and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board regulations were substantially updated in 2018 -- since January, the Forestry Transition Team has endorsed spending of about $75 million in new training and funding initiatives as well as program adjustments involving various government departments and agencies. This includes the $50 million Forestry Innovation Transition Trust. Additional Resources: Timber Loan Board Regulations: https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/for8182.htm Timber Loan Board website: https://novascotia.ca/timberloan Government's Forestry Sector Support website: https://novascotia.ca/forestry-sector-support -30- Media Contacts: Bruce Nunn Department of Agriculture Cell: 902-476-6454 Email: [email protected] Jill McKenzie Department of Lands and Forestry Cell: 902-943-4394 Email: [email protected]

It was a beautiful day in the woods! Congratulations to Norman and Stacey Paupin, the 2020 Provincial WOYA winners!

Celebrating 30 years of outstanding stewardship!

Check out our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRqjgRLWmlk&feature=youtu.be

Nova Scotia Leading Virtual Forestry Trade Missions Nova Scotia’s forestry sector is evolving, and the province is exploring best practices and new markets around the world. https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20200824004

Behind the Scenes of Burn Restrictions Burn restrictions are updated using wind, rain, temperature, humidity and other weather data we collect each day. How does it all come together? Wildfire prevention officer Kara explains! https://twitter.com/NSLandsFore/status/1295784786045423618

New online tool helps Nova Scotians manage tick risk ETick identifies ticks based on photos that users submit, as well as information they provide about where they found it. https://www.cbc.ca//new-online-tool-helps-nova-scotians-ma

The Strategic Assessment of Climate Change July 2020 You can check out the Federal guideline to the current impact assessment process here; https://www.strategicassessmentclimatechange.ca/

The Plight of Pollinators Helping these small creatures is also an act of helping ourselves https://www.ducks.ca/s/wildlife/the-plight-of-pollinators/

BUSINESS--Forestry Innovation Fund Opens July 31 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Applications for the $50-million Forestry Innovation Transition Trust will open Friday, July 31. Applications for the first round will be accepted until Monday, Aug. 31. The fund was announced in February to continue to advance the transition and development of Nova Scotia's forestry sector.... The trust may be used by companies, organizations or post-secondary institutions working and researching in the forestry and biological resources sectors. A three-member trustee board will review submissions and make spending decisions. An application guide and forms are online at http://novascotia.ca/forestry-trust/.