MacKinnon’s cartoon in mid-July showing dollars raining down said it well. Clearly, an election was coming. Now we know it will be August 17th. Few people like the date, but important questions are at stake. Candidates will be reaching out to voters and we need to use this opportunity to convince the candidates (and our future elected representatives) of the central issues that need government action and attention.
The candidate of our choice may not be elected, making it doubly important to convince all candidates of the importance of these issues. See below a list of central issues, but you will find more information to support your discussions with candidates in the briefing notes here.
Healthy Forests need Ecological Forestry:
An end to clear-cutting has long been demanded by a majority of Nova Scotians, yet this devastating practice continues apace. The Lahey report on the forest industry was undertaken after McNeil’s pledge during the last provincial election (May 2017) to improve forestry practices. 5 years later, we are only inching towards adoption of the practices recommended by the Lahey report!
Simple asks of candidates:
1) A moratorium on clear cut harvesting on public lands until adoption of ecological forestry as recommended by Lahey
2) A halt to logging during the reproductive season of migratory birds.
3) Support landscape level planning to protect ecosystems and biodiversity, for their inherent value and as the foundation upon which other values, including forestry, ultimately depend.
4) Support inclusion of regulations in the Sustainable Development Goals Act that require public land use planning to integrate the diverse uses of public land.
5) High production forestry (softwood plantations) should be limited to 10% of public lands with no taxpayer funding for glyphosate spraying, road building and plantation silviculture.
The candidate of our choice may not be elected, making it doubly important to convince all candidates of the importance of these issues. See below a list of central issues, but you will find more information to support your discussions with candidates in the briefing notes here.
Healthy Forests need Ecological Forestry:
An end to clear-cutting has long been demanded by a majority of Nova Scotians, yet this devastating practice continues apace. The Lahey report on the forest industry was undertaken after McNeil’s pledge during the last provincial election (May 2017) to improve forestry practices. 5 years later, we are only inching towards adoption of the practices recommended by the Lahey report!
Simple asks of candidates:
1) A moratorium on clear cut harvesting on public lands until adoption of ecological forestry as recommended by Lahey
2) A halt to logging during the reproductive season of migratory birds.
3) Support landscape level planning to protect ecosystems and biodiversity, for their inherent value and as the foundation upon which other values, including forestry, ultimately depend.
4) Support inclusion of regulations in the Sustainable Development Goals Act that require public land use planning to integrate the diverse uses of public land.
5) High production forestry (softwood plantations) should be limited to 10% of public lands with no taxpayer funding for glyphosate spraying, road building and plantation silviculture.
Biodiversity protection
Covid has led Nova Scotians to a greater appreciation of nature and all the life forms with which we share the world. Healthy biodiversity protects us, and the environment, in countless, often yet unknown ways. We must make preserving and restoring ecosystem health the overarching priority in all our dealings with the natural world.
Simple asks of candidates:
1) Increase the proportion of protected lands to 30% by 2030, as dictated federally and suggested internationally. Protecting habitat protects biodiversity.
2) Stop the sale of Owl’s Head.
3) Identify and protect core habitat for species at risk. Prioritize conservation efforts to protect species at risk.
4) Outlaw open pit gold mines with their massive detrimental effects upon terrestrial and aquatic environments.
Covid has led Nova Scotians to a greater appreciation of nature and all the life forms with which we share the world. Healthy biodiversity protects us, and the environment, in countless, often yet unknown ways. We must make preserving and restoring ecosystem health the overarching priority in all our dealings with the natural world.
Simple asks of candidates:
1) Increase the proportion of protected lands to 30% by 2030, as dictated federally and suggested internationally. Protecting habitat protects biodiversity.
2) Stop the sale of Owl’s Head.
3) Identify and protect core habitat for species at risk. Prioritize conservation efforts to protect species at risk.
4) Outlaw open pit gold mines with their massive detrimental effects upon terrestrial and aquatic environments.
Climate change
If anyone doubts the reality of climate change, they must live in an alternate universe… Horrible fires, searing temperatures and massive floods have hit the northern hemisphere with a vengeance this year. Deaths, destruction and crop failures are a partial list of the consequences. Tackling the human activities driving climate change require immediate and intelligent action.
Nova Scotia has embraced renewables in its quest to stop using coal for power generation. A major error was including forest biomass in this list. The use of biomass for power generation puts more CO2 into the atmosphere per kWh than coal. Biomass must be removed from the list of renewables for power generation. Wood chips should no longer be exported for overseas power generation.
Carbon sequestration is essential to mitigating climate change and healthy forests are Nature’s best method. Protecting our remaining intact forests and restoring those that have been damaged is crucial. Reputably monitored carbon credits should be made available to wood lot owners who make a legal commitment to keep their forests standing for 60 or more years.
Simple asks of candidates:
1) Remove biomass from the Renewable Electricity Regulations for power generation.
2) Ban the export of biomass for overseas power production.
3) Establish incentives such as carbon credits for preserving forests on private lands.
4) Protect our remaining forests both on public and private lands
Presenting these arguments to all the candidates in your riding will emphasize the importance of environmental issues. Let’s push for what is crucial for our collective future!
If anyone doubts the reality of climate change, they must live in an alternate universe… Horrible fires, searing temperatures and massive floods have hit the northern hemisphere with a vengeance this year. Deaths, destruction and crop failures are a partial list of the consequences. Tackling the human activities driving climate change require immediate and intelligent action.
Nova Scotia has embraced renewables in its quest to stop using coal for power generation. A major error was including forest biomass in this list. The use of biomass for power generation puts more CO2 into the atmosphere per kWh than coal. Biomass must be removed from the list of renewables for power generation. Wood chips should no longer be exported for overseas power generation.
Carbon sequestration is essential to mitigating climate change and healthy forests are Nature’s best method. Protecting our remaining intact forests and restoring those that have been damaged is crucial. Reputably monitored carbon credits should be made available to wood lot owners who make a legal commitment to keep their forests standing for 60 or more years.
Simple asks of candidates:
1) Remove biomass from the Renewable Electricity Regulations for power generation.
2) Ban the export of biomass for overseas power production.
3) Establish incentives such as carbon credits for preserving forests on private lands.
4) Protect our remaining forests both on public and private lands
Presenting these arguments to all the candidates in your riding will emphasize the importance of environmental issues. Let’s push for what is crucial for our collective future!
