November Newsletter Contents:
- Who we are
- Cumberland News
- Provincial News
- Showcasing Local Wood Products
- Did You Know.......
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Welcome to the first issue of the monthly CFAC Newsletter! The purpose of these newsletters is to keep our forestry community in the loop on the various activities the CFAC is engaging in as well as other relevant sector information.
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The closure of Northern Pulp caused a major disruption to our wood markets. Our forestry sector was left to adapt to this new and sudden change. In response to this news our community came together to support our forestry sector in overcoming these new challenges. Along with local contractors, partners, and organizational groups we have formed the Cumberland Forestry Advisory Committee (CFAC). Originally the CFAC was first formed to assist the sector in coming up with specific ideas to prevent an entire collapse to the industry. Now, our mandate has broadened and shifted to recognize that in order to create long -term solutions, we must do it in a way that is sustainable. We must also demonstrate that the forestry industry in Cumberland County, and across the province is part of the solution to reducing greenhouse gases as we move to a low carbon economy.
Since January we have held various community engagement sessions that have led to the development of our 2020-2022 Strategic Plan. Immediate action items have been identified as next steps to assist our industry in surviving in the short-term, and to thrive for years to come. As we near the one-year anniversary of the announcement that impacted so many, we are shifting to the implementation phase of the Strategic Plan.
In our Strategic Plan six pathways were developed under two categories, (1) Advancing our Livelihoods & Communities and (2) Investing in our Forestry Future. Below is a snapshot of these pathways and immediate action items:
Pathway #1 – Investing in diverse markets and locally produced wood products.
Pathway #2 – Renewable energy from forestry products.
Pathway #3 – Creating innovative products & processes.
Pathway #4 – High Value healthy forests that support the championing of climate regulation by moving towards a low carbon and diverse economy.
Pathway #5 – Solidifying a unified forest industry with public support, education and public relations.
Pathway #6 – System, policy and culture change.
Immediate Action Items:
- Develop diverse markets for woodchips.
- Develop profitable markets for low grade wood.
- Produce bio-char from wood.
- Establish long-term, stable financial commitments for silviculture treatments.
- Work with the Cumberland Energy Authority to promote the use of our renewable forestry resources.
- To require Government tenders on new construction to allow wood for construction.
- To have the Province Establish a Forestry Credit Corporation.
Under the CFAC, numerous sub-committees have formed to work on specific issues, opportunities, and objectives. The committee has made recommendations to the Provincial Forestry Transition Team on ways to assist at this time.
To view a full copy of the 2020-2022 Strategic Plan, click here.
To view a 4-page summary of the Strategic Plan, click here.
Find us on Facebook @CumberlandCountyForestry
To view CFAC meeting minutes, click here.
In order to meet our goals and successfully implement the Strategic Plan, it requires community effort. We are always welcoming new members to join committees. Please reach out if you would like to join a committee or work on a specific pathway/objective of interest to you.
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Congratulations to Norman and Stacey Paupin, winners of the tittle of provincial Woodland Owners of the Year for 2020. In 2012, the Paupins bought a 40-hectare woodlot near Shinimicas Cumberland Co. with the goal of restoring the forest to harvest firewood and non-timber forest products for personal use. Using treatments like thinning, they have improved the forest health by encouraging growth of native species. Norman uses his mechanical engineering background in many aspects of management. He built his own tiny light weight forwarder (the buggy), which he uses to haul firewood while leaving a small footprint on his woodland. Norman and Stacey use solar powered pumps to collect sap and have adapted technology to make birch syrup, which sells for a higher price than maple syrup. Norman has continually refined his process to produce a syrup that won the World Birch Syrup Championships in 2018. He is now further developing the process with a researcher at the Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus in Truro. The Paupins demonstrate a true commitment to sustainable forestry practices and are a real representation of sustainability on an early successional woodland property.
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The CFAC has concerns around Bill 116, the Biodiversity Act. This proposed legislation has been drafted with little consultation. The limited consultation sessions that have been held have not been open to the public. All attendees at these sessions had to sign non-disclosure agreements which do not permit them to discuss the meeting with others. This lack of open consultation with affected industries including agriculture and forestry, the potential infringements on landowner rights, unreasonable fines and no visible regulatory framework in place for review has caused a great deal of concern for a number of industries in Cumberland County and the province as a whole. This Biodiversity Act, though drafted with good intentions, could very well create unintentional barriers to private landowners and our forestry sector. All levels of the general public must have confidence that this Biodiversity act will protect the rights of all. Biodiversity should be viewed as positive; this act takes on a much different tone. The act is not clear on the regulations and is difficult to comprehend for many. Before the final draft goes to the Legislature our voices should be heard, not only to remove any unintentional barriers, but to ensure the protection of all private landowners across Nova Scotia. Biodiversity is a positive thing that should be promoted and implemented in positive ways that engages and educates the public.
We encourage you to read the draft act as presented, which can be found here, and send us any comments, concerns, or questions you may have. Our policy committee is working on this issue.
For more information on the Biodiversity act, you can find the slide deck used for the consultation presentation here and the package that was sent out prior to the consultation presentation here.
Lands and Forestry Minster Derek Mombourquette has suspended the Biodiversity Act for this sitting of legislature. The reason for this suspension is that this act needs further consultation with stakeholders.
"I know how important this piece of legislation is, but we're going to make sure that every stakeholder has the opportunity to provide that feedback as we go through various drafts." said Minster Mombourquette.
We, along with many other organizational groups across the Province, have stressed the need for more consultation. We are pleased to hear Minster Mombourquette's remarks and to be given the opportunity to have our voices heard.
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Healing PTSD in Cumberland with Wood
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Gary and his wife Lee had moved to Cumberland County 4 years ago from Ontario. On December 15, 2017, Gary and Lee purchased a 45-acre wood lot. For many years he dreamed of owning a wood mill that would allow him to create wood projects from tree to finished product. With 45 acres of spruce, pine, maple, hemlock and poplar he provides a safe peaceful place for those healing from PTSD.
Have you ever stopped to wonder what it would be like to be in the shoes of police, fire, paramedics or military members for just one day? Knowing the dangers imposed on these heroes every day, do you think you could deal with an armed and barricaded suspect or enter into a burning building to rescue someone? How about performing life saving first aid on a dying child, or those who fight for our freedom in war-torn countries and live away from their loved ones for months at a time? Far too often through media outlets we are hearing the devastating affects the job-related stress our first responders are under and the tragic results endured by those who can no longer bear the burden of their traumatic event.
As a retired police officer of 36 years, Gary knows first hand the signs and symptoms related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well as the affects on those closest - family. However, with the proper treatment through counselling, one can heal with time. During Gary's treatment and recovery, the one thing that gave him peace and happiness was working with wood. Working with his hands and being creative, instead of choosing to be destructive by means of alcohol or drug abuse, was his secret to healing, since medication was not an option for him. In 2004, he had an idea to invite a few of his peers over to his workshop as he knew they too were struggling with PTSD, yet were too proud to ask for help. Knowing the impact woodworking had on him, Gary offered his shop as a safe, confidential place to escape to and realize the importance of learning to be in a positive environment by becoming constructive. Almost on the first day, he could see smiles returning as members became quite involved trying to create their projects from the very beginning. Hours seemed like minutes when members were in the shop and with each visit, their joy of woodworking was taking on a whole new meaning.
Gary now has more time on his hands to give back to our first responders in a much bigger way than he could with his small workshop in his previous home in Ontario.
Gary created a company called Rough Cuts Canada. The sole purpose is to offer a place of solitude for police, fire, EMS and military members diagnosed with PTSD and under doctor’s care. Here they can attend the property and walk the trails that have been cut for the peace and tranquility. If they chose to heal through the therapy of woodworking, they will fall a tree, they will have the joy of milling their own lumber on the LT-35 and build their own projects from tree to completion once the lumber has been dried. Since starting this project, Gary has had peers from his own police department that are currently healing with PTSD travel 1700 kilometres to help cut the trails. He has already personally witnessed the joy of an officer who has been under doctor’s care for two plus years, smiles for the first time and actually forgets about the stress and enjoys the therapeutic benefits of working with wood.
Thank you Gary Phillips for choosing Cumberland County to heal yourself and others through the healing power of wood.
If you would like more information on Rough Cuts Canada please contact Gary Phillips at roughcutscanada@gmail.com
Find them on Facebook here and donate to Rough Cuts via their GoFundMe Page here
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With a total land base of 1.056 million acres and over 800,000 acres (75.7%) being forested land, Cumberland County plays a very important role in the Nova Scotia forestry sector. The industry directly employs several hundred highly skilled workers in the Cumberland region and provides up to 15% of the total harvested wood supply in the province (which is the single largest contributor of any County in Nova Scotia).
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