A longtime conservationist says the recent harvesting of old-growth forests in eastern Nova Scotia illustrates a “desperate need” to reform the province’s forestry practices.
Ray Plourde, wilderness co-ordinator at the Ecology Action Centre, says he’s not surprised by the findings of a new government report that says two of 12 stands partially harvested by Port Hawkesbury Paper contained old-growth forest.
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The report by Department of Natural Resources forester Peter Bush also found eight of 15 stands that were scheduled to be cut in the Lawlor Lake area of Guysborough County also contained old-growth forest.
The report concludes the province’s forestry policy needs to be updated, along with the scoring system used to identify old-growth trees.
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Plourde says the findings show the department doesn’t provide proper oversight, leaving too much discretion to the large companies that do the cutting.