Research on forestry practices to sustain the Acadian Forest in Nova Scotia

Abstract

Introduction In recent years the focus of applied scientific research efforts in Nova Scotia has shifted from determining the basis of improving and sustaining softwood timber supplies to establishing the science to manage the Acadian Forest on an ecosystem basis for all sustainable uses. This shift does not mean that sustaining timber supplies is less important, but that forestry practices to sustain the timber resource are implemented in ways that support the need to maintain the diversity of Nova Scotia’s forests for wilderness, recreation, tourism, wildlife, aesthetics, and bio-diversity of natural ecosystems. Research efforts that primarily focus on the applied science of managing the ecosystems of the Nova Scotian Acadian Forest are the priority of various organizations and companies within Nova Scotia. This article will focus mainly on applied research activities by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Nova Forest Alliance (NFA), and the major industrial landowners in the province. Research efforts to improve ecologically based forestry practices can be characterised into three general program areas: (1) development of ecological planning tools for ecosystem management; (2) development of operational forest management systems for tolerant hardwood and softwood species, and (3) development of more ecologically based forest modelling tools for Crown, industrial and small private landbases in Nova Scotia. This article will attempt to provide a brief overview of research programs by DNR, NFA, and the forest industry as a group.