Download Natural Resources Strategy 2010

James R Turner, On behalf of Eastern Shore Forest Watch
Response to Biodiversity Panel of Expertise
Eastern Shore Forest Watch is an organization of concerned citizens with special interest in promoting
and protecting healthy forests and environment in the Eastern Shore region of Nova Scotia. We have
focused on long-term protection of forests and wildlife in our region by advocating for wilderness
designation of key areas, opposition to widespread clear-cutting of our forests especially on crown land,
and rational environmental security, notably in advocating for responsible government action to protect
our forests from the ravages of large scale mining. Biodiversity is an essential component of a healthy
environment. Forestry and land use policy of the recent past has compromised biodiversity in our
forests and has led to serious erosion of essential environmental conditions necessary for long term
sustainability of our forests.
Forestry practices over the last 150 years have led to a critical situation where only 1% of our
forests in the province still represent old growth woodlands. Many native species do not respond
normally to forestry and land use practices which have dominated over the last many years, leading to a
distorted forest with a change in species favouring a higher abundance of Boreal forest species making
the forest increasingly vulnerable to large-scale disturbances such as disease, windstorms and insect
infestation. Native species of the Acadian forest are driven to a disadvantage and the resulting species
mix does not support a healthy forest over the long term. The changes to our forest over the last 150
years do not reflect the strength and diversity of the natural forest which evolved over many thousands
of years. Many native species depend on the natural conditions of mixed age forests to endure and
thrive. For the long term protection of our forest resources, and many values, biodiversity through
protection and restoration of the Acadian Forest is critical.
A fundamental approach to biodiversity enhancement is through rational protection and
preservation of wild forests and wild spaces. Wilderness areas represent a valuable tool for natural
forest regeneration. It will take many years for forests to regenerate naturally, but protection through
wilderness designation allows the process to begin and to carry through. Wilderness designation for key
and critical areas is essential to this development. Wilderness areas should be developed in
representative habitats and ecosystems throughout the province. Wildlife refuges should also be
considered essential for forest redevelopment. Natural species will only be able to thrive when their
habitats are maintained intact. Areas which have been set aside for wildlife protection must be
reconsidered for habitat protection or the concept of Wildlife Refuge is made meaningless. Without a
viable natural habitat devoid of clear-cutting, wild species populations cannot return to normal natural
levels.
The biggest threat to biodiversity is habitat destruction. Large scale clear-cutting of forests
destroys the possibility of healthy forest biodiversity. Many species rely on old-growth and mixed age
forests to thrive. Endangered species such as the red-listed boreal felt lichen (Erioderma pedicellatum)
require long-term forest stability to survive. Forest disturbance through clear-cutting makes its survival
impossible. Clear-cutting compromises the survivalablilty of the mainland moose population through a
variety of factors including change in the environment to favour invader species such as white tailed
deer and thereby posing a threat to the natural moose population through disease and other factors.
Environmental degradation through large scale mining operations also posses a threat to a
healthy forest. The gold processing operation currently proposed for the Moose River Gold Mine area
will increase arsenic levels in the downstream watercourse to levels many times higher than those
recognized as safe for fish and other biology, to levels as high as .036 mg/L in the months where most
biological activity is present in the lake, according to the focus report of the environmental assessment
process for the gold mine permitting process. Environmental degradation of the watershed would
necessarily lead to loss of biodiversity within the water and would affect species dependent upon the
water environment. Scraggy lake and the Fish River watershed would be sacrificed. Only through
rational protection of the natural environment can natural biodiversity be permitted to develop and be
maintained.
Over the last twenty years, biologist have begun to recognize the essential importance of wildlife
corridors. Corridors connecting natural populations of wildlife allow for gene migration between
populations. Genetic isolation is detrimental to natural population survival, as well as to adaptability to
changing environmental conditions. Corridors allow individuals to find safe passage between population
groups and allow for gene transfer, enhancing species gene pool as well as individual survival. Corridors
allow development and exploitation of some land while maintaining necessary conditions for
intraspecies genetic transfer, which is essential for long term survival.
Corridors have great significance in the context of climate change. In the past, as climates have
changed, species have been able to migrate gradually toward conditions which favour their survival.
When natural habitats are widely distributed, and highly disturbed habitats interfere with the
movement of individuals, critical interruptions of migration develop. These interruptions can lead to
species extinctions, as individuals may be no longer able to survive in the changing habitat. Only through
gradual migration as climate change influences habitat, will species be able to cope.
In addition to general parameters for species survival and enhancement, consideration should
be made for specific species at risk. When scientists and naturalists are able to identify specific issues
and concerns, suitable enhancements should be considered. We are made aware that the bat
population is in danger of collapse in our region. Many of our local bat species are known to hibernate in
a specific ‘bat cave’ in the region, actually an old gold mine that has been modified by DNR to allow for
the entry and exit of bats but not for predators and man. This particular ‘bat cave’ is on crown land and
should have been included in the new Ship Harbour –Long Lake Wilderness Area as many of our
members advocated. This important opportunity was missed. Continued sustainability of this ‘bat cave’
is in jeopardy from development that could be permitted on the crown land in the area. Biodiversity
should have been a consideration for inclusion of this area into the protected wilderness area.
Protection of specific wildlife species, especially those threatened by human activity, should be a
consideration in future decision processes.
Sustainable forestry practices should be encouraged, particularly the employment of unevenaged and multi-specific forestry where practicable. Woodlots demonstrating the potential viability of
sustainable practices should be encouraged and developed. These could be valuable research and
teaching centres where foresters and the public could see and learn how forestry can be practiced while
maintaining valuable forest attributes like biodiversity. Public awareness from such a demonstration
could serve to develop community values to maintain a viable forest environment.
The Department of Natural Resources should consider natural biodiversity an essential
resource, and should consider enhancement of biodiversity through wilderness protection , and
promotion of sustainable forestry practices as an important part of its mandate. Appreciation of the
critical nature of biodiversity in consideration of future decisions should be paramount.