Ecological forestry research on small private woodlots in Nova Scotia
Kevin S. Keys, PhD, RPF1
1Family Forest Network, Nova Scotia
The 2018 Independent Review of Forest Practices in Nova Scotia (Lahey Review) recommended a shift to ecologically focussed forestry practices across Nova Scotia. After release of the Review, the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables started implementing Review recommendation on Crown land, but there were no related initiatives on small private woodlands. In 2022, a network of 11 organizations (Family Forest Network) received funding from the Forestry Innovation Transition Trust (FITT) to conduct a 5-year research project looking at the ecological and economic costs and benefits of implementing ecological forestry practices on small private woodlots across Nova Scotia. The main goals are to acquire greater understanding of the economic costs, management challenges, and forest health benefits associated with ecological forestry practices on small private woodlands. This presentation will highlight some of the work and accomplishments to date on this project, including an overview of the field research components related to biodiversity assessment, carbon accounting, soil health, climate adaptation, and harvest planning.
Keywords: ecological forestry, woodlot management, forest biodiversity, climate adaptation, forest soils
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