Forestry
Planning
Our planning and operations staff use information from the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) geospatial data on species at risk and sensitive features, and field data from pretreatment assessments, to develop and implement operational plans that minimize the environmental impact of harvesting, road construction, and silviculture treatments.
- Multiple assessments are carried out on each potential operating area, using information available from DNR’s GIS data, to determine setbacks required to protect wetlands, watercourses, Old Growth, Protected Areas, Species at Risk and other sensitive features.
- Pre-Treatment Assessments (PTA) are carried out on all operating areas by certified PTA Practitioners, adhering to the procedures established by DNR that provide information on Forest Ecosystem Classification, wetlands, watercourses, wildlife habitat, forest health and human created features that must be considered in the planning process.
- We use a Forest Ecosystem Classification that uses field data on soils, vegetation and ecosite.
- The size of potential operating areas is reduced to ensure that sensitive features are protected.
Triad Model
Ecological forestry separates Crown land into three interconnected zones designed to balance a variety of interests:
High Production Forestry
Emphasizes timber production to support the forest products sector and the economy.
Conservation
Prioritizes biodiversity conservation and protects natural conditions.
Ecological Matrix
Balances conservation and timber production allowing for various forest management practices.
Through the triad approach to forest management, we’ve worked with DNR to establish an Ecological Matrix Zone where the principles of ecological forestry are used to create uneven-aged, multi-species forests that promote biodiversity and increase resilience to climate change and natural disturbances.
Silvicultural Systems
Irregular Shelterwood Systems
Irregular shelterwood systems are used in forests with trees of varied lifespans, relying on the natural forest variability to create multiple age classes. They are implemented by either retaining a continuous cover or by creating small openings.
Two aged Silviculture Systems
Applied when natural regeneration is absent or to restore a natural forest, through one or two partial harvests, the overstory is removed uniformly, in strips, or by creating small openings to develop and maintain two distinct age classes.
Selection Silviculture Systems
When four or more age classes are desired, selection silvicultural systems use a series of partial harvests to create space and light conditions necessary for new regeneration while removing low-quality trees. This ongoing thinning process maintains a diverse, uneven-aged forest dominated by healthy, long-lived species.
Salvage with Retention
After a severe natural disturbance such as a fire, wind storm, insect infestation or disease, a Salvage harvest may be used to support regeneration in the affected area by removing dead or dying trees. This treatment focuses on recovering damaged timber while retaining seed trees that can renew the forest and leaving large downed trees that contribute to biodiversity.
Pre-commercial Thinning (PCT) and Planting
Used in high-production forestry, and less so in ecological forestry treatments, tree planting and pre-commercial thinnings establish healthy, long-lived trees used for high-quality timber products. Planting introduces site-suited species while pre-commercial thinnings remove competing vegetation to free up light, space, and nutrients for the desired crop trees.
Commercial Thinning
Commercial thinnings remove suppressed and lower-quality trees in plantations to increase growing space for the remaining crop trees. This practice improves overall stand quality, accelerates the growth of healthy trees, and enhances timber value.
Final Felling
The Final felling treatment completes the high-production forestry rotation by harvesting tree plantations to yield high-quality wood products. Patches of trees are left unharvested to support wildlife and biodiversity, after which the site is replanted and managed for the next rotation of high-quality timber.
Safety and Environmental Standards
Our forest management operations are conducted under “Approval” from DNR on the condition that we meet standards for employee health and safety, and environmental performance defined by the Code of Forest Practices and all applicable laws, policies, guidelines and regulations issued by DNR or other government authorities.
We’ve established an on-going Contractor Training program to ensure that everyone involved with their forestry operations understands the standards and procedures relevant to the work they do.
Standards:
Requirements related to Occupational Health and Safety
Harvest Prescription Specifications
Protection of Soil and Water
Identifying and protecting wildlife habitat features and nest sites
Fuel Handling and Emergency Response
Forest Fire Regulations and Emergency Response
Awareness of Species at Risk and Special Management Practices
Site specific conditions of approval
We acknowledge that we operate in Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral, unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq
