Submitted by Justin Liengme
Your Vision:
My opinion on biodiversity is to have strong, healthy populations all flora and fuana native to NS. To achieve this, the mixed Acadian forest needs to be returned to re-established throughout NS. This will takes generations to achieve. I'm on the fence with minerals. I understand the econmics of mining, but remain suspicious of its ecological footprint. The parks we have are great, and should be invested in to improve and expand services and employees.
Strengths:
Biodiversity provides for a more resilent environment. Areas with healthy mature forests are less prone to floods, fires, and disease. NS has the climate and soil for growing very valuable mixed forests. By using selective harvest techiques, these forests can be maintained, while its owner also profits from selectively harvested fiber on a regular basis. The forests we are planting today are little more then spruce and fir farms. Our oaks, maples, ash, birch, pine and hemlock need to be "re- introduced". Our next generation will enjoy these higher valued/ slower growing trees both economically and ecologically. Our parks strenghs are: Our unique scenery and the people at Parks Canada
Barriers and Issues:
Our forestry industry needs incentives to plant or maintain mixed growth, uneven aged forests. Category 7 is a start, but not enough for larger land owners. Local markets need to be established. I could not find a buyer for 40 cord of poplar logs, yet the local building supplier gets $5.00 a foot for a piece of 1x6 poplar. The Mining industry has a bad name from loss of human lives and environmental abuse. Perhaps future generations can find less harmfull means of mining. The Parks need more attention from government, this will result an increased interest of Bluenosers.
Community's Priorities:
My community needs to actively support Category 7 to all its private woodlot owners. We need to protect all special or significant areas while supporting selective tree harvest and buying local tree fiber. Rather then focusing efforts to mine the minerals, I'd like to see wind and solar energy seen as the future main energy sourse. We need our parks available to over night campers.